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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
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.
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.
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.
Who needs hair color remover?
Are you a trendsetter? If you decide to go with the newest look with a unicorn, mermaid, or rainbow hair color, then what happens if you find out that it is not for you? We have five of the leading products to help you get rid of the deep purple color you woke up with this morning after going out to a party with your friends. Did your sister mix up the bottles of dye and give you the wrong shade of red? When you need a remover that will get out deep reds or intense colors, then not every product will do the trick.
FAQ
Do you need to use a toner after applying hair dye remover?
The products on this Top Five Best Hair Color Remover list do not require you to use a toner. You might find that two applications of the non-bleach products are necessary to remove all of the colors. If you want to remove red dyes, then we suggest having a toner on hand or purchasing two of the remover kits. If you feel you need a second application, then we suggest using a hair dye brush to apply the remover to specific spots. A full head application may damage your hair if you over-treat it.
Which products are best for going all gray?
For older individuals who want to get the gray process over with and done, we suggest using the Color Oops remover. This extra-strength eraser comes in a two-pack for people with dark colors and thick hair. Because this remover lightens your hair to the lightest of your natural color or your dye color, you might want to be sure that you want to go that light. We think our favorite part about this product is that you can change your color the same day you get rid of dull locks if you choose to add an even gray color to your hair.
What hair dye eraser is best for someone with breathing problems?
As long as you can get past the rotten egg smell of color removers with sulfates, then you may want to go with the non-bleach options on our list. Color Oops is one of these removers. The One’n Only Color Fix is also ammonia and bleach-free, but it does use sulfates. Sulfur compounds can smell like rotten eggs, but you might find that using a fan in an open window is enough ventilation to use this remover comfortably. As with any chemical, we suggest you stop the application and rinse out the product should you begin to have trouble breathing. You may want to seek medical assistance if the problem continues.
What color eraser is best when you have fine hair or frizzy ends?
The One’n Only Color Fix is helpful for those with thin hair because it has no tough chemicals to damage your locks. Bleaching can damage hair that already looks unhealthy because of excessive coloring and styling. If you must use a bleaching process to get rid of mermaid colors or intense dark hues, then we recommend the Joico Color Intensity Eraser. It has Argan oil and bio-advanced peptides that help protect your hair.
How can you get rid of the bluish-green shades that tend to leave a green tint to your hair?
L’OREAL Effasol Color Remover is our top pick for these hues. You may like that this item removes the dye completely without leaving a hint of the old color. This erasing agent does require enough time to get rid of intense tones like midnight blue, coal-black, and teal. It may be necessary to leave this product on for the full one-hour time limit to get rid of stubborn colors.
What should you use to get rid of a light color like a honey blonde?
All of these products will work well on light hair dye colors, but we think that Colour B4 may be the best option. We like that this product has adjustable timing so that you can leave it on as little or as long as you want. For lighter shades, you can get rid of color in as quick as 20 minutes. If you are in a bigger hurry, then you might also want to use L’OREAL Effasol Color Eraser. It can help in as little as ten minutes, but this is only for splotchy removal, not the entire head. Color Oops only takes 20 minutes to work, so it may be a good item to keep at home for quick access.
What is the best product to keep at home in case of emergencies?
Whether you have a mix-up in hair colors, bad fading, or color you hate, then we think that you might like to hold onto the Color Oops. This product and the One ‘n Only Color Fix are both free of bleach, will work on dark and light hair colors, and work for thin hair. So, if we have to pick one product as a go-to, then it would have to be our Editor’s Choice pick. Color Oops has a gentler formula, low processing time, and it is safe enough to allow you to dye your hair again the same day.
1. Color Oops Extra Strength Hair Dye Remover – Editor’s Choice
- Same day recolor
- No toner required for red tones
- Works for any shade including exotic and hard to remove colors
- Runny application
- Smells like bad eggs
2. Color X-Change Phase-Out Gentle Dye Decolorizer + Intensive Hair Mask – Ideal Color Change
- PPD, ammonia, peroxide and paraben free
- Contains no fragrance, peroxide, ethyl alcohol or sulfates
- Vegan, gluten free, cruelty free; Made in the USA
- Bio-advanced peptides
- Made in the USA
- Testing never involves animals
- May be difficult to remove permanent colors
Video Review
3. L’OREAL Effasol Color Remover – Best for Removing Mermaid and Indigo Colors
- Removes the most intense colors effectively
- Use as a touch-up or full head application
- 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.
4. Colour B4. Extra Strength – Professional Remover for Red or Dark Colors
- recommended that you read the instruction provided with the product before use
- Variable timing
- Top choice for colors that normally require toner
- No bleach or ammonia
- 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
- 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.
- Leaves hair ready for immediate re-coloring
- Excellent for a broad range of colors
- Not for often usage
Conclusion
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.
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Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links.
