When you have dyed your hair, it can often feel like a brand new you. However, sometimes we want a change of scene. So how to lighten already dyed hair?
You may have to take a little time and effort to work out what you are dying your hair to, and some colours can be harder to strip – but it is definitely possible! Read on…
How To Lighten Already Dyed Hair
Lightening hair that has already been dyed is not always the easiest, but it is possible, with a few tips and tricks.
- You will need to lift the existing colour before you apply any lightener – you can do this in a number of different ways.
- Using a product that contains ammonia, peroxide or bleach will strip the colour from your hair – but this is a harsh process which can damage your hair.
- Home remedies, such as lemon juice or vinegar, can help to lighten hair – but the results won’t be anywhere near as fast. However, this method will not damage your hair.
- You can also choose to simply wait. The colour will start to fade out from your hair, leaving you able to lighten it.
- A trip to your salon can really help if you feel your dye job is too dark – qualified hairstylists can be a great option.
Here’s an interesting article that delves into everything you needed to know about hair dyeing.
How Do I Lighten My Hair After I Dyed It Too Dark?
That feeling when you take the towel off and reveal that you went way too dark can be a stomach-dropping one!
Once you have dyed your hair, it can be difficult to go back, as the hair follicles will be saturated with the new colour.
However, there are a few things that you can do that will lighten the hair, even if they do not completely change the colour back.
- Use a clarifying shampoo. This is designed to remove product build up, but can also help to fade out hair dye.
- Try baking soda. Simply mix a generous handful of baking soda with your regular shampoo to make a paste, then apply to hair and leave for 10-15 minutes before rinsing out.
- Use vitamin C. Crushing up vitamin C tablets and adding them to your shampoo, then applying to your hair and leaving for an hour can help to strip colour out.
- Go for bleach. This can be quite a radical method, and it is very harsh to hair (especially hair that has already been dyed) but it can help in an emergency.
- Seek professional help from your salon. Qualified hairdressers are generally the best people to go to for help if you have messed up!
How Do You Fix Hair Dye That Is Too Light?
If your lightening experience took it too far, there are things you can do to tone it down a bit.
The most simple would be to add a darker shade over the top, but make sure you don’t go too far the other way, as lightening it again is harder!
Apply the darker colour, but only leave it on for half the time specified. This should give you a darker tone that is closer to your original idea.
Alternatively, you can buy tinted conditioners online, that will at least mask the problem and stop you feeling self conscious.
A clarifying shampoo will help to strip product build up out of your hair, and by the same token it can help to fade hair dye too.
Purple shampoo can really help if you have gone too blonde and ended up looking brassy – simply follow the instructions on the bottle.
You can also buy colour removers to remove the excess pigment, but bear in mind that you might end up right where you started!
Finally, we would always suggest a visit to your local salon, to avoid potential disasters. After all, your hair is your pride and joy, right?
How To Remove Hair Dye From Hair?
Removing hair dye is fairly simple, and although it might take a couple of goes before you’re fully satisfied, it’s definitely better than reaching for the bleach bottle!
- Clarifying shampoo can really help to remove unwanted colour for your hair – you can get them at chemists, supermarkets or online.
- Make a paste of baking soda and lemon juice. Apply this to your hair, wait 30 minutes then rinse off.
- Shampoo and baking soda. If you don’t fancy the lemon, simply add baking soda to your shampoo and follow the same steps.
- Commercial hair dye removers. If you don’t want the more natural root, hair colour removers are widely available, safe, and effective.
- Bleach. We would just like to say that bleach should be a last resort! It can damage your hair and give you a frighteningly light colour.
- Vinegar. Dilute white vinegar with water and apply it to your hair, where the acidity will open the hair cuticle and loosen the dye.
- Hot oil. These treatments can not only help to fade the dye, but they are also deeply nourishing to your hair.
- Go to the hairdresser. As always, to avoid disasters, speak to your hairdresser if you are struggling; they will be able to help.
This useful video shows you how to use baking soda to remove dye from your hair:
Can I Dye My Hair Again To Make It Lighter?
The short answer is yes; the long answer is yes, but it will take some time and a few steps, and it’s not the easiest thing!
You will need to lift the existing colour on your hair using bleach or a colour correcting process, after which you will have to wait a few weeks for the colour to fade.
This one is definitely best left to the professionals – or, you could always let time do it’s thing and wait till it grows out!
Final Words
Lightening hair that has already been dyed – or lightening after a bit of a dyeing accident – can be tricky – but it is perfectly possible.
Hopefully you now have a better idea of how to lighten your hair to the shade you want it, without too much trauma or emergency trips to the salon!
