Removing Unwanted Hair Color

Shampooing hair — Photo: LightField Studios/Shutterstock

Q: Basically, I colored my hair with a temporary wash-in/wash-out "cherry red" color which they said would take 8-10 washes to fully rinse out. However, it has been 2 weeks and after frantically washing my hair with 3 shampoos a day, it is still there and just looks very cheap.

Is there anything I can wash it with or anything I can put on it or ANYTHING? I'm seriously desperate because I have an important function coming up and I cannot go like this no way! Help, please!

A: The most common cause of temporary color lasting longer than expected is that the hair was porous when the color was applied and therefore penetrated much deeper than anticipated into the hair shaft. If the cuticle was subsequently treated and smoothed, it's likely that the color became sealed into the hair.

What you actually used wasn't "temporary hair color" but "semi-permanent hair color" which is designed to wash out of the hair in 8-12 shampoos generally. Temporary color is formulated to cover the outer layer of the hair shaft, while semi-permanent color is designed to penetrate a little into the shaft.

There are products available for removing unwanted hair color, but you need to be sure to get the correct one for your situation. What you want to look for is a product specifically for removing semi-permanent hair color, that clearly states that it won't remove the natural color. Use the product only as directed, and be sure to read the directions carefully before using it.

You will want to look for this product at a beauty supply store or online. It is unlikely that you will find it at a drug store or supermarket.

If however, you cannot locate a product that specifically states that it is for removing semi-permanent color and won't change your natural color, you do have an alternative. At the Beauty Supply store, you will want to purchase a small bottle of 10-volume peroxide. This is the developer used with "no-lift" hair colors. Mix, one ounce of the peroxide with one-ounce of your regular shampoo and use this to shampoo your hair. Massage the mixture into a lather and leave it on the hair for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

The 10-volume peroxide will help to open the cuticle layer and should allow the shampoo to remove more of the semi-permanent color. After rinsing, dry the hair and check the results. You can repeat this process as needed, but be sure to condition the hair carefully between the subsequent applications.

Be aware that this is still peroxide, and that the longer you leave it on the hair, the more likely you will lighten your original color, too. So be sure to use it only in 10-minute increments and to rinse the hair thoroughly.

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See also:

Hair coloring

Hair porosity

The different types of hair color