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Coloring your hair can be a tricky business and many times, the desired shade remains elusive. Once the dyeing job is completed and your hair is washed and dried, you may be faced with a situation where your hair color has turned out to be quite different from what you wanted it to be. Removing color from hair isn’t as easy as its application and unless you are willing to live with the disaster, it can prove to be quite an uphill task.

Before attempting to get rid of your hair color, you should know a few facts about hair color. The color of hair appears due to the reflection of light off the color pigments in the hair shaft. The exact shade of hair is determined by the kind of light that falls on the hair. This is why your hair looks different under the sun compared to its appearance under a fluorescent light or in colored light.

If you feel dissatisfied with the result of your hair then you can attempt to remove the hair dye using either conventional hair color removal products or try some home remedies. The effectiveness of any of these remedies will depend on the porosity of your hair and the timing. Your hair’s cuticles remain slight open for up to 48 hours after the application of the dye and this is the best period in which to attempt removing the dye. If you wait for too long after dyeing, your chances of success will diminish and you will have to be happy with your current hair color.

What Works!

There are many products available to help you remove hair color at home. Some of these allow you to correct the entire head of hair while others allow for only a partial correction. These hair color removal products should be left on for between 20 to 30 minutes as instructed, before being rinsed off. This should remove most of the unwanted hair color. Your hair may look a bit patchy, with some lighter and some darker patches, but this should clear up within a few days.

There are some products that are more effective against darker colors and the advantage with these is that you can attempt to re-color your hair almost immediately. However, before attempting to re-color your hair you should wait for a day and use the time to give your hair some deep conditioning treatment. There are some hair color removers that help remove the hair dye from both the skin and the scalp. They may also be used to remove excess color from the hair shafts.

If you prefer not to subject your hair to further chemical assault then you should try natural products to remove hair color. These home remedies include:

• Shampooing your Hair: Use a shampoo with high pH levels immediately. You can try using a clarifying shampoo to remove excess hair color. Some hair stylists recommend using a dandruff shampoo at least two to three times in a row. The chemicals contained will help to remove some of the color. The shampooing will have to be repeated for a few days before you will notice the difference.

• Vinegar: Apply vinegar to your hair after a day and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat this treatment for a few days. Your hair color will begin to fade. You can discontinue the treatment when you are satisfied with the shade of your hair.

• Lemon Juice and Tartar: Mix lemon juice and cream of tartar to make a paste. Apply this paste to your hair and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing.

• Baking Soda: Mix some baking soda with your shampoo and apply it to your hair. This will help to remove a large portion of your hair dye. This treatment should be followed with a deep conditioning treatment to minimize damage to your hair.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.