In this guide, we give you the top advantages and disadvantages of our five favorite hair color removal products. We hope that the information and answers we provide will help you make the best choice for your situation. We all have a mishap with hair color at some point, so we understand the importance of knowing what products can help you out of a jam. These five removers can get you ready for an important meeting, event, or photo opportunity.
Hair Color Remover: Buyer’s Guide
We advise all users to be careful with permanent treatments
One important thing to note is that a few of our removers use bleach to get rid of the most intense colors. We do not recommend using these products for longer than the time on the instruction page. You may want to avoid using bleach products more than once in a sitting because these chemicals are very harsh on your hair. Once the hair bleaching is over, there is no way to get rid of any damage from using too much or leaving the remover on too long. We recommend following all manufacturer directions carefully for the best results.
Keeping those warnings in mind, we think that you might like how well some of our choices can remove the most intense shades of permanent hair color. Even if you use a temporary hair dye, it can be hard to rinse all of the colors out right away.
For instance, if your daughter wants to dye her hair dark to be a witch for Halloween, then you might find that one of our top five removers can help get rid of it afterward. The products may get her hair back to normal before school on Monday.
Our choices for hair color remover include options that use conditioning agents and those without oils. The top five products offer a variety of features giving you options depending on your needs. Some products use harsher chemicals than others, so we suggest using no bleach and ammonia products for people with thin hair, sensitive scalps, and problems breathing.
As usual, we recommend plenty of ventilation when using any hair dye removal product. You may find that one of these five options will become a staple if you color your hair a lot or like to switch shades often.
While we give you five helpful options to choose from, how do you pick one product for your needs? We cover some of the top hair color remover questions and answers in this section of the guide. I hope that you find a product or two that will work when you have a hair color accident or get an uneven coat right before a major event. There is nothing worse than showing up to work with a muddy color or splotchy shading after a bleaching mishap.
Best For Most Intense Colors Best For for Red or Dark Colors Ideal for All Color Corrections Same day recolor. No toner required for red tones. Works for any shade.
Bio-advanced peptides. No toner necessary to remove brassy colors. Testing never involves animals.
Removes the most intense colors effectively. Use as a touch-up or full head application.
Variable timing. Top choice for colors that normally require toner. No bleach or ammonia.
Leaves hair ready for immediate re-coloring. Removes all unwanted permanent hair color. For a broad range of colors.
Editor's ChoiceSame day recolor. No toner required for red tones. Works for any shade.
Ideal Color ChangeBio-advanced peptides. No toner necessary to remove brassy colors. Testing never involves animals.
Best For Most Intense ColorsRemoves the most intense colors effectively. Use as a touch-up or full head application.
Best For for Red or Dark ColorsVariable timing. Top choice for colors that normally require toner. No bleach or ammonia.
Ideal for All Color CorrectionsLeaves hair ready for immediate re-coloring. Removes all unwanted permanent hair color. For a broad range of colors.
No matter what problem occurs, you may want to have a go-to product that will work in any situation. By using Color Oops, you might appreciate that there are no harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia. This product is safe for use on people with sensitive skin, and it might be easier for individuals with breathing problems to use.
When you need a fast fix that will let you get rid of a bad color, then we think you might prefer this color stripper. Our Editor’s Choice pick for best hair color remover is Color Oops because you can go back to your lightest shade in as little as 20 minutes. If your hair dye is lighter than your original color, then this product will make your hair the lightest of the two.
Pros
- Same day recolor
- No toner required for red tones
- Works for any shade including exotic and hard to remove colors
Cons
- Runny application
- Smells like bad eggs
When you have an important conference the following day, then you need to look and feel your best. If you color your hair, and it does not turn out, then this product could be a huge help. This remover is also a great choice for individuals looking to get rid of any spotty color and go all gray.
2. Color X-Change Phase-Out Gentle Dye Decolorizer + Intensive Hair Mask – Ideal Color Change
Color X-Change Phase-Out Gentle Dye Decolorizer + Intensive Hair Mask
- PPD, ammonia, peroxide and paraben free
- Contains no fragrance, peroxide, ethyl alcohol or sulfates
- Vegan, gluten free, cruelty free; Made in the USA
Are you super busy? We understand how frustrating it is to dye your hair, then wait to remove it, and then wait again to recolor it. That reason is why we like Color X-Change. We think you might find this remover a professional one. When you want to go from one extreme to the next, then you may discover that this treatment works the best. You can easily remove black hair and go
blonde the next morning with the conditioning treatments in the Color X-Change.
This remover does not contain
sulfates and
ammonia. It is absolutely vegan and is free of gluten and cruelty. We think you may like that this remover has conditioners to help your hair stay shiny and beautiful after using it.
Pros
- Bio-advanced peptides
- Made in the USA
- Testing never involves animals
Cons
- May be difficult to remove permanent colors
Video Review
3. L’OREAL Effasol Color Remover – Best for Removing Mermaid and Indigo Colors
L'Oreal Effasol Color Remover Single Packet 7/8 oz HC-LRL500500
Are you the fashionista who knows that trying every hair color option is a must? Are the teal, aqua, and royal blue colors the ones you currently rocking? The latest trend is the rainbow hair colors. We feel that you may find the L’OREAL Effasol Color Remover a helpful item because it works on multiple shades of permanent hair dye.
The small packet lets you take this product anywhere you need to go. You may like that you can take it to your friend’s house after work without carrying a bunch of extra stuff all day long. Lighter colors and splotchy hair dye might come out in as little as ten minutes. For the black hair, this product works best when using it for the full hour.
Pros
- Removes the most intense colors effectively
- Use as a touch-up or full head application
Cons
- Contains bleach
- Requires deionized water or creme developer
When your hair color experiment turns out wrong, then this color stripper can help you fix things fast. We think you might like this product is made for hard to remove colors like indigo and royal blue. When you have work the next morning, then you might find that this product can help you even out your color or get it ready for a more appropriate choice.
This powder mixes best with warm water. You may notice that the heat evens out the mixture letting you apply it to remove color uniformly. We do not recommend using the second application before 24 hours is up if you feel you need extra. You may find that L’OREAL hair products like this remover are more affordable than most erasers.
4. Colour B4. Extra Strength – Professional Remover for Red or Dark Colors
Colour B4. Hair Colour Remover Extra Strength
- recommended that you read the instruction provided with the product before use
Do you love red hair color? We do too! Removing this tone is not always a quick process. When you dye your hair, you want to have a backup plan in case the hue you like in the store turns out very different when it is on your head. Colour B4 might be your top eraser when you need to get out a stubborn shade that tends to hold on tight with other bleaching agents.
The box is quick to spot in the beauty supply store. It is gray with gold hair on the front. It has a bright, green label that states World No. 1 Best Seller in the upper right corner. For darker shades, we suggest using this product for the full hour to get rid of all the hair dye.
Pros
- Variable timing
- Top choice for colors that normally require toner
- No bleach or ammonia
Cons
- May take full processing time for stubborn colors
- Dries out hair – you may want to use a hot oil treatment after applying the remover
- Has a smelly odor like eggs because of the sulfates
Video Review
If you have a thick head of hair, then you may want to purchase two of these removers to be sure that you get a smooth coat. We recommend this product for anyone with sensitive skin or stubborn hair color. You may like that you can dye your hair again the following day with the Colour B4 Extra Strength Remover.
5. L’Oreal – ColorZap Haircolor Remover – Ideal for All Color Corrections
L'Oreal - ColorZap Haircolor Remover, Removes all Unwanted Permanent Color
- Removal of unwanted dark shade, muddy or uneven results or color build-up
- Ideal for all color corrections
- Allows any desired color changes
Are you the one who wants a different hair color every month? You might like that the L’Oreal – ColorZap Haircolor Remover lets your hair be re-colored just after removing unwanted color.
L’Oreal – ColorZap Haircolor Remover softens your hair and protects it during the erasing process. You may like that this item will remove light and dark color applications. It will also remove permanent colors including stubborn reds and blues.
Pros
- Leaves hair ready for immediate re-coloring
- Excellent for a broad range of colors
Conclusion
We hope that this Top Five Best Hair Color Remover Buyer’s Guide gives you the in-depth information you need to choose a color eraser. We know it is not fun to have a coloring mishap that leaves you unhappy and feeling less than your best. When you want to avoid these issues, then we suggest keeping one or two of these hair color removers in your bathroom closet.
You never know when an emergency meeting or impromptu event will interrupt your time off from work. When you need to get rid of an experiment fast, then having an option like Color Oops at the ready might make things better.
When your Friday impulse buys do not look as good at work as they do in the club, then you may want to use a color remover. By choosing an option that lets you recolor your hair the same day, then you can get rid of embarrassing colors fast.
Read the instructions!
We recommend reading all the manufacturer’s instructions before using any of the five products on our list. You may also want to have vinyl or nitrile gloves and plastic containers and tools handy specifically for coloring or removing dyes. These items may be helpful when you change colors frequently or plan to change styles. We recommend using these products after Halloween when temporary dyes do not come out as easy as the package states. Keeping a box of hair color remover in your cabinet may give you the boost you need to try out a color you think is outrageous yet fun.
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links.
