Copper, cherry red, cinnamon brown—red hair has been the “it” color for countless celebrities over the past year or so. If you, too, went red but are finding yourself craving a change, fret not—it is possible to remove red hair dye without ruining your locks.
Though red tones are notoriously difficult to move, there are several options for those looking to either cool down their color or embrace a new hue entirely. Ahead, we’ll explain why dyed red hair can be so stubborn and explain how to remove red hair dye without destroying your strands.
Red hair color tends to lose its vibrancy quickly, which would make it seem like removing red hair dye would be easy. However, as anyone who’s dyed their hair red likely knows, the opposite is true. There are a few reasons for this.
Firstly, red hair dye tends to be pretty vivid—even if you’re opting for a softer reddish hue, the pigmentation is intense. Generally speaking, the more pigmented your dye, the more color your hair will absorb. Secondly, all hair—excluding natural white hair—has some warm undertones (that’s why your strands may get brassy when you bleach your hair). Red dye, too, is warm in tone, even if you’re dyeing your hair a cooler red shade. So even if some of your red color fades, that additional warmth will remain present—and it can be tricky to neutralize or remove.
Not all hair dye works the same way. Some hair dyes are made to be washed out, while others are formulated to last for months without fading. If you’re ready to leave your red hair color behind, it’s important to understand which type of hair dye you used in the first place in order to properly remove it.
Red is a vibrant color that will show up bright on nearly any hair base (from bright blondes to dark browns), which makes it the perfect color for a temporary color formula. Temporary hair dyes can be found in various wash-out forms like all-over hair dyes, hair paints, and pigmented hair sprays, such as the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Red. The ammonia-free formula coats the hair in vivid color, dries quickly, and works on all hair colors—no bleaching required.
Semi-permanent hair dyes last longer than temporary hair dyes—usually, about a week or two—and gradually fade with each shampoo. The L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Bright Red, for example, is designed to last for around 10 washes. The conditioning formula is ammonia-free, though if you want an ultra-vibrant end result, you may want to apply bleach before applying your color. While it’ll fade on its own with each shampoo, there are ways to help speed along the process if you want to try on a new color—more on that in a bit.
If you dyed your hair with a permanent hair color, like the L’Oréal Paris Feria Midnight Bold Multi-Faceted Permanent Hair Color in Blood Moon, you probably were planning for it to not come out or fade as quickly as the other dye types. And good news: It won’t. This dye type is more tricky to remove because it is designed to last. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible—just that you’ll need to plan for the process to take longer (or potentially enlist the help of a professional).
Maybe you’re done with red and want to go back to your natural roots, or maybe you want to try a new color. Whatever the reason, removing red hair dye can be a challenge since the crimson hue likes to linger, even after it has lost its vibrancy.
So how do you remove red hair dye without damaging your strands? There are several ways to rid hair of a fiery hue without having to schedule a visit with your colorist. Keep reading to learn how to remove red hair dye naturally, discover products you can use to speed up the fading process, and find out what you can do to soften unwanted red tones in a pinch.
Contrary to popular belief, once you commit to a red hair color, you’re not necessarily stuck with it until it fades. As mentioned above, there are a few solutions to get rid of red pigments, and the first one you should get acquainted with is a red hair color remover.
As the name suggests, hair color removers for red hair help remove unwanted pigments, returning your strands to a clean(er) slate. While hair color removers won’t restore your hair to its natural hue, they can remove a lot of pigment to prep your strands for new hair color.
If you’re interested in trying a hair color remover, we suggest giving the L’Oréal Paris Colorist Secrets Haircolor Remover a try. The salon-inspired formula helps remove unwanted pigments from both at-home and salon dyes, leaving your strands ready for your next dye job.
If you’re over the red hair and want to go darker for your next mane makeover, you’re in luck. Coloring over a red hue won’t be hard. You can use a permanent at-home dye to overhaul your look without a ton of effort.
Keep in mind, it may be best to stick with warm-toned brown and black shades, as those will play best with the undertones of your red hair. Try the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in French Roast for a soft, medium-to-dark brown, or the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Crème Permanent Triple Care Hair Color in Dark Brown if you favor a darker, moodier hue. If you think an ultra-dramatic—but still natural-looking—transformation is in order, it’s hard to go wrong with a deep, rich black. Try the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Universal Nudes in Natural Black (it’s ammonia-free!) to nail the look.
Much in the way that purple shampoo can help neutralize brassy tones in blonde and silver hair, green shampoo can help tame unwanted warmth in red hair. It’s all about the contrast—shades that lay opposite each other on the color wheel are considered opposite (read: contrasting) colors, and when paired together, effectively cancel one another out.
Keep in mind that if you’re trying to figure out how to get rid of red hair completely, a green shampoo—even a great one—may not be enough. The right formula may, however, help tamp down on excessive warmth and help you attain a softer golden brown or warm brunette hue. You’ll likely need to continue using it once every week or so to maintain the results.
When in doubt, bleach your hair. While you may have used hair bleach in the past to lighten up your strands, it can also be great at removing unwanted color from your hair. At one point, bleaching hair at home was an incredibly difficult process. Thankfully, now you can safely bleach your hair all on your own with the right hair-bleaching kit.
Grab the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach and simply follow the instructions on the box to get your desired results. After you’ve bleached your hair, you can leave it as is, tone it with the L’Oréal Paris Féria Power Toner, Long-Lasting Anti-Brass Toner for an icy platinum blonde, or snag a boxed dye and try on a new shade.
While it may be the last thing you want to do, giving your red hair color time to fade or grow out might be your best option if you’re looking to keep damage to a minimum. With semi-permanent shades, the color will fade quickly, meaning you won’t have to wait long. However, for permanent dye, the color will last longer, so you may have to wait for your strands to grow out if you’re open to rocking a rooted look for a while. You can also embrace the changing color and opt for a brown to red ombré for a color that grows naturally. Or, as hair grows, try a short haircut to limit the color-blocking of red ends and your natural hair color near the roots.
How To Fade Red Hair Dye Fast
If you’re wondering how to strip red hair dye quickly, know that it’ll probably require a trip to the salon. Professionals may have access to formulas that can effectively (yet gently) remove unwanted color, or they can perform a color-correction service to help you attain your desired hue.
Before your appointment, you can try using a clarifying shampoo to lather up. Though the evidence that these formulas fade hair color is largely anecdotal (and, in fact, many are made to preserve color), it can’t hurt to try using one before your appointment. If all else fails, you’ll at least know that your scalp and strands are squeaky clean.
Next Up: 14 Beautiful Hair Colors for Warm Skin Tones
Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris/Photo credit: TK for Jellyfish team
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