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Oh, the dreaded hair-dye mishap. Whether you've gone a little too color crazy when dyeing your hair at home or gave your colorist a bit too much creative freedom, the need to fix your dye job is a rite of passage for just about everyone. Few beauty mishaps are worse than looking in the mirror and panicking over the hue that's staring back at you.
Luckily, there's a fix for almost any situation, and Los Angeles colorist Amy Huson is sharing a few of her favorites. Read on for tried-and-true products and tricks that'll help relieve you of your panic—and unwanted pigment—almost instantly.
Pros
- Great product to have on hand
Cons
- Needs to be mixed to see results
For a DIY treatment, Huson recommends pairing her favorite clarifying shampoo with a household immune-boosting staple: chewable vitamin C tablets. "Take a chewable vitamin C from your cabinet, or even the Emergen-C Vitamin C packs, and mix with water and a clarifying shampoo, like Olaplex 4C. Leave the mixture on for 10 to 15 minutes."
Pros
- Budget friendly
Cons
Want to go from black to your natural shade? This might be your go-to. "I've been dyeing my hair black for many years and wanted to remove the black out of my hair and Color fix did an amazing job. It not only removed all the black color out of my hair but it left me with a beautiful light brown color looked almost like my natural color," one reviewer wrote.
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Pros
- Budget friendly
Cons
If you're dealing with semipermanent color that needs to go, Manic Panic has the secret. "This is literally the only thing that got out old semi-permanent hair color that wouldn't budge," one reviewer says.
Pros
- Budget friendly
Cons
Stained your skin? These wipes from Lime Crime will wipe the dye right off. "This is the only thing that successfully got the blue dye off of me! Definitely a must have for colored hair," one reviewer writes.
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Pros
- Works for darker shades
Cons
- Doesn't work on natural hair colors (or roots)
"This product is GREAT," one reviewer says. "Used permanent dye and got a frightful shade of strawberry. This product completely removed dye and was able to re-dye immediately."
Pros
- Great for brights
Cons
- May bleach certain colors, so read the box fully
If you go for bold, bright colors and like to change things up on the regular, this might just be your savior between shades. It'll remove the remnants of your old hue so you can layer a new one on top.
Pros
- Budget friendly
Cons
Huson also swears by Roux's Clean Touch, which works great on skin and clothes, as well as washing excess color out of over-dyed ends.
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Pros
- Works in 20 minutes
Cons
- Doesn't work on bright colors
"I love it, and I know I can rely on it and it's reasonably priced. Saves me hundreds of dollars at the salon to take my process down a few steps," one user says. But be warned, your hair may be fragile afterward. "Be sure to heavily moisturize and baby your hair for a little bit after to restore your moisture."
Pros
- Contain nourishing aloe
Cons
Another game changer for Huson: these convenient Kolor Killer wipes that she always keeps on hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should you prep to avoid hair color mistakes?
One of her go-to tips? When it comes to protecting your skin from unwanted pigment, it's all in the prep, she shares. "Protect your skin from the start by lining your hairline with Vaseline or Aquaphor before any color service. This creates a barrier between your skin and the color." And to make the barrier work even better, Huson says, "Five minutes before you rinse the color off, gently massage it into your skin in small circles. This helps to break it up and rinse off easier."
What should you do if you make a mistake with the hair color remover?
Contact a professional hairstylist. Immediately. These products can help—but they aren't foolproof, and your pro will have the best plan to fix mistakes. And be sure to read the instructions in their entirety before using to avoid unnecessary mishaps!