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Byrdie / Kevin Liang
Almost 75% of American women and men color their hair. If you're one of them, you've probably walked away from a salon appointment—or DIY scenario—unhappy with the result. Hey, hair color snafus can—and do—happen! It's how you handle them that matters. Enter: hair color removers. They're essentially magic color erasers that strip out unwanted dye or help fade it to the point where it's more to your liking. In an ideal world, you'd have a professional do any kind of color removal or correction, cautions colorist Kristen Fleming, color director of 3rd Coast Salon in Chicago. She stresses that it’s a complicated process, even for the pros. But, if you are going to take matters into your own hands, here’s what you need to know.
“Every time color is removed from your hair you run the risk of damage, so I recommend looking for one that’s gentle, moisturizing, and free of bleach and ammonia,” advises Fleming. Los Angeles-based colorist and owner of Highbrow Hippie salon Kadi Lee agrees: “If these two ingredients are present, you’re just asking for more trouble.” She advises washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo first—it will help remove some of the dyes and enhance the results of the remover. It’s also imperative to follow the directions of the particular product you’re using to a T—now is not the time to get creative. She also stresses starting with the ends since they tend to be more porous and hold onto color. Finally, once you’re done, both experts suggest following up with a reparative mask ASAP to add back much-needed hydration.
We conducted hours of research on the best color removers on the market, evaluating them on formula type, what types of color they're effective in removing, and how gentle they are on your hair. After consulting with two celebrity colorists and considering dozens of formulas, we landed the list of 10 pro choices below.
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Contains hydrating ingredients
Effective for both permanent and semipermanent color
Gentle on hair and skin
Strong chemical smell
The name says it all: this product is the remedy our stylist experts recommend if you've had a "color oops." It checks all the boxes we were looking for when it came to a color remover. “It’s affordable and gentle, and even though your hair may feel dry after, it won’t be damaged,” says Fleming. (Credit the addition of moisturizing soy proteins and aloe in the formula.) We love that it only takes 20 minutes to work and is effective on both semi-permanent and permanent color. You can even recolor your hair the very same day, and anyone whose color has gone array knows what a godsend that is. Yes, it does have a strong smell, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a color remover that actually works that doesn't.
Who It's For
If you (or your colorist) have botched their color, this is our go-to choice—it's affordable, effective, and won't damage your hair.
Active Ingredients: Hydrosulfite | Size: 60 milliliters | Application Method: Liquid | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Customized experience
Provides helpful instructions
Ammonia and Formadlehyde-free
Strong smell
Some say it doesn't work as well on certain colors
Processed color is never a one-size-fits-all experience, so we appreciate a remover that's similarly customizable. One 'n Only Colorfix has a three-step color removal system that allows you to mix as much remover as you need based on the density and length of your hair. (There are also instructions for mixing it with shampoo if you need only slight color correction, rather than a complete one.) It’s specially formulated to remove unwanted permanent color, but it can also remove semi and demi-permanent color. We love that it's easy to mix and use, contains argan oil to help bring moisture and smoothness back to the hair, and doesn't contain ammonia or formaldehyde.
Who It's for
If you want more control over how much color you want to strip out of your hair, we love this customizable remover. A word of caution though: some users said it didn't work as well on fantasy semi-permanent color.
Active Ingredients: Sulfinic acid | Size: 118 milliliters | Application Method: Liquid | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Removes stains from all skin types
Gentle on skin
Easy to use and smells good
Might take more wiping than desired
While these wipes don’t exactly fit the mold of all the other color removers here—they’re made for skin and not hair—you'll likely need to remove hair color from your skin during the dyeing process. These wipes wipe away stains from areas where you're most likely to get dye (think around your hairline, the nape of your neck, your ears, etc) with minimal effort. We love a product that quickly and effectively does what it says it does. The wipes are also very gentle—they exfoliate the skin with lactic acid and sea salt and also impart hydrating aloe to keep your skin from drying out. They smell lovely, too.
Who It's For
We love these wipes for DIY dyers who will likely need a quick, easy way to wipe hair color off of their skin.
Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, sea salt | Size: 100 wipes | Application Method: Wipes | Cruelty-Free: Unknown
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Effective for skin, clothes, and hair
Easy on the skin during application
Brings quick results
Can’t be used all over the hair
Contains ammonia
Multi-tasking for the win: You can use this formula to remove extra color build-up from ends (remember what Lee said about them being the most porous and soaking up the most color?), as well as to clean up dye stains on your skin. It even removes color from clothes, too (so no panic trips to the laundromat). FYI, this particular pick does contain ammonia, so it’s not a great pick to use all over your hair; save it for just small spots or to even out the ends.
Who It's For
Trying to kill two birds with one...color remover? This product has your name all over it. It'll remove color dye from skin, clothes, and even your ends. Just don't use it all over your hair as it'll be too drying for that.
Active Ingredients: Ammonia | Size: 11.8 ounces | Application Method: Liquid | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Stylist-approved
Works with all types of hair color
Removes product build-up
Requires multiple mixing steps
If you've got bold, bright, fantasy colors going on, such as blues, pinks, and purples, this stuff can knock them out in no time, says Fleming. We love that the bleach- and ammonia-free formula removes not only color but also product build-up and pollution. It also nourishes the hair while it lifts the color, she adds, thanks to hydrating baobab oil. It works on permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary colors, not to mention it is super affordable, too.
Who It's For:
We love this formula for anyone with fantasy hair color, although it works well on more traditional, permanent dye as well. It does take a few different steps though, so it's not great if you prefer a simple one-and-done process.
Active Ingredients: Sodium oxymethylene sulfoxylate | Size: Unknown | Application Method: Liquid | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Clean and cruelty-free formula
Works in just five minutes
Easy to use
May not achieve the color you want with it
Short on time? Lee and Fleming say this is the color remover for you. “This product is a staple in many colorist’s arsenals,” says Lee. It’s fast-acting, too, getting the job done in just five minutes. Plus, the single-use packs are super easy to use (we do wish the packaging was more sustainable, though). Fleming is also a fan of the vegan formula, though notes that, like any other remover, while it removes color, the result may not necessarily be your desired hue.
Who It's For
If you prefer a clean vegan formula that also happens to work lightning fast, try Malibu C.
Active Ingredients: Ascorbic acid | Size: 0.17 ounces | Application Method: Dissolvable crystals | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Contains hydrating and strengthening ingredients
Very effective
Minimizes breakage during application
Need to purchase a developer
Lee calls this a heavy-duty hair color remover; use it for hard-to-remove permanent shades (think blacks and reds). You can also mix it with water to remove less intense color or use it with a developer, purchased separately, for more complete removal. Despite its strength, it's also infused with avocado oil, bamboo oil, and a protective complex to moisturize and minimize damage and breakage—always a good thing when you're coloring your hair on the regular.
Who It's For
Color-treated folks with darker, more intense shades should find this product works like a breeze. It'll also help protect against hair breakage.
Active Ingredients: Bleach alternative | Size: 4 ounces | Application Method: Liquid | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Works well on fantasy colors
Easy to use
Comes with a handy hair mask
Has to be left on overnight
Only works on semi-permanent color
Despite its name (and the fact that it's supposed to fade out over two dozen or so washes), semi-permanent color can be a pain to remove in a pinch. Yes, clarifying shampoos can help fade it, but when you want fast results, we recommend going with this very affordable, single-use option. It's ammonia- and bleach-free rather than reliant on ascorbic acid to lift color. It’s easy to use (just mix the packet of crystals with water to create a gel), though it does have to be left on overnight or for at least eight hours. FYI, it’s only formulated to lift semi-permanent color, so if you've got permanent color, check out the other great options on our list.
Who It's For
This is our pick for those experimenting with semi-permanent color who want a change ASAP.
Active Ingredients: Ascorbic acid | Size: 0.54 ounces | Application Method: Jelly-like cream | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Mixes with semi-permanent color for lighter look
Easy to use
Doubles as a conditioning hair mask
Won’t remove color on its own
Remember when we mentioned that semi-permanent color likes to fade? Well, that's where this pick from Good Dye Young works its magic. True to its name, this won’t remove color completely, but it will help fade it. That said, it's not meant to be used on its own, but rather as a mixing medium, you use in tandem with one of the brand’s dyes to create a softer, more subdued effect. You can also use it as a conditioning mask to make your color to boost the moisture in your hair. We love that it's super user-friendly, free of parabens, ammonia, peroxide, bleach, and phthalates, and vegan and cruelty-free.
Active Ingredients: Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate | Size: 148 ml | Application Method: Cream | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Where We Stand
Removing hair color is a tricky process that’s best left for the pros, but if you do want to go the DIY route, the experts we spoke with agree that the Color Oops Extra Conditioning Hair Color Remover is your best bet because it's as gentle as it is effective. Many colorists also use the Malibu C Color Correction, which works in just five minutes and has the added benefit of coming in easy-to-use, single-use packets. The Roux Beauty Clean Touch Stain Remover is our multi-tasking pick, effective for both removing excess color from porous ends, as well as dye stains on clothing and skin.
How We Researched
To come up with this list, we conducted hours of research on the best color removers on the market, evaluating them on formula type, what types of color they're effective in removing, and how gentle they are on your hair. We also checked out countless reviews consulted with two celebrity colorists and even tried out a few of the products ourselves. Then, we consolidated all our research considering dozens of formulas, and rated the products from one to five. The highest-rated products made this list.
Additional attributes we considered:
- Whether ingredients were clean
- Size of product
- Price of product
What to Look for in a Hair Color Remover
Ammonia- and Bleach-Free Formulas: Hair color remover in and of itself is stripping and has the potential to damage your hair. The experts we spoke with warned that formulas that contain these additional ingredients are only going to dry out your hair even more and increase the likelihood that the process leads to lasting damage.
Hydrating and/or Reparative Ingredients: In related news, if you can find a formula that touts hydrating or conditioning ingredients (think butters, oils, and silicones) and/or strengtheners such as keratin or proteins, you’ll greatly reduce the risk of damaging your hair during the process.
What Types of Color It Can Remove: Not all types of hair color are created equal, so you want to ensure the remover you’re choosing is intended for use with the type of color you’re trying to eliminate. The box will usually specify whether the product is best for temporary, demi-, semi-permanent, or permanent color. If you use the wrong one, you risk damaging your hair or simply not getting the color out as effectively.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Since she has her hair professionally colored, she relied on the input of experts and plenty of consumer reviews to compile this list. Senior Beauty Editor, Ally Hirschlag, who updated this article, also colors her hair regularly and is no stranger to color mishaps (and, accordingly, color removers).
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any hair color removers from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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