The Fast and Easy Way to Fix a Bad Dye Job
You knew it the instant you looked in the mirror: Your new hair color is everything you hoped it wouldn’t be: brassy, patchy, mousy or just spectacularly unflattering (your skin is suddenly looking kind of ... grayish?!). Take a deep breath. It’s bad, but you can come back from this—even if you don’t have the time or money to run out and get your color fixed at a salon, which to be honest, still doesn’t guarantee great results. Here’s how to undo a bad dye job at home in well under an hour, so you can start from scratch and pretend this day (and dye) never happened.
Call in a fixer.
Purchase a color-removal product that’ll get you back to your original shade without causing more damage in the process—which some of them can. Look for one that’s ammonia- and bleach-free and contains conditioning ingredients, like Color Oops Hair Color Remover Extra Conditioning, which uses soy protein and aloe vera to offset the drying effects of your current hair adventures. If your hair is strong (not damaged or dry) and your dye super-stubborn, you could use the extra-strength version.
Rinse and rinse some more.
The removal process is painless. (Or, it should be: It’s always smart to patch-test any color-related product on a small area of skin behind your ear, to see if you develop any irritation.) Just apply the product to your dry hair, sit wearing a shower cap for 20 minutes, then shampoo two to three times and thoroughly rinse for a full 15 minutes. (Hey, you can probably use a long, soothing shower right about now!) One note: This product won’t remove direct dyes, i.e. the kind that you apply directly from a single bottle vs. mix with a separate developer.
Add extra insurance against damage.
Considering how hair-color drama can stress hair out, the more you can do to protect it and replenish its strength, the better. One smart add-on option: a kit that lets you prep hair before color removal and rehab it afterward. The new Protein Kit by Color Oops includes a nourishing serum you apply before color removal and a post-process treatment that helps minimize moisture loss. Color Oops Protein Kit, $11.99.
Do better next time.
If you’re feeling up for it, it’s safe to color your hair again right away. Just keep this important tip in mind before you buy your dye: This time, choose a color that’s one or two levels lighter than your desired shade, since hair tends to “grab” more pigment after you use a remover, resulting in slightly darker color. This time, do a strand test first, to be sure the results are what you want. And once you achieve the hair color you were hoping for all along, keep it looking perfect for longer by switching to a sulfate-free, color-protecting shampoo.
Check out the full selection of Color Oops products at coloroops.com.
