7 Ways To Get Hair Dye off Skin Safely

Whether you dye your hair at home or get it done in a salon, there's always a chance you will get a small amount of dye on your skin or clothing. Most dyes have ingredients that purposefully make it difficult for the dye to wear away after one shampoo. However, you can use home remedies like applying olive oil, whitening toothpaste, or white vinegar to your skin to remove hair dye.

Hair Dye Remover

Products made specifically for hair dye removal are one of the most common ways to remove hair dye from your skin. Hair dye removal liquid and wipes are sold at local beauty supply stores and some drug stores. It is useful to have hair dye removal products on hand while dyeing your hair at home.

Makeup Remover

If hair dye remover isn't an option, you can also try using makeup remover to remove stubborn hair dye. This product is safe enough to use on your face and is created to target permanent dyes in makeup. Makeup remover specialized for waterproof makeup is likely to work best.

Baby Wipes

Because baby wipes are specifically formulated to be safe for a baby's delicate skin, they can also be used on your scalp line and ears to remove hair dye. How well baby wipes remove dye depends on how they are formulated. Rub the baby wipe gently into your skin to remove the dye. The gentleness of baby wipes makes them a safe option for sensitive skin.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is used in other skincare regimens as a cleanser and moisturizing agent. Research suggests that olive oil may be an option for removing hair dye. In one study, olive oil removed dye from gentle fabrics like cashmere. Still, more research is needed to know how effective olive oil is in removing dye from your skin.

Exfoliating Facial Cleanser

Many exfoliating facial cleansers contain beta-hydroxy acids, which help remove dirt and debris from the surface of your skin. These chemical exfoliants also remove dead skin cells without causing irritation.

Use only a small amount at a time on your skin, especially near your scalp line, to avoid removing the dye from your skin. Apply moisturizer to your skin after using an exfoliating facial cleanser to prevent your skin from drying out.

Whitening Toothpaste

You can apply small amounts of whitening toothpaste on your skin to remove hair dye. Although whitening toothpaste may help remove dye from your skin, it does contain abrasive ingredients that may irritate your skin. Test whitening toothpaste on a small spot of your skin to see how it reacts before applying it where you see dye on your skin.

Mixing a small dollop of whitening toothpaste with water before rubbing it onto your skin may reduce irritation. You can also cleanse the area of skin with facial cleanser after applying the toothpaste.

White Vinegar

White vinegar can be applied to a small patch of skin to remove hair dye. The antimicrobrial and antioxidant properties of white vinegar can help treat wounds and fungal infections. However, the acidity of white vinegar may make it more harsh on your skin, so it is best to dilute it with water as well.

Tips for Skincare

Dry or sensitive skin is more prone to irritation. After treating your skin, apply a moisturizer to protect your skin barrier. If you notice symptoms of dryness to a patch of skin after removing hair dye, you can take the following steps to alleviate symptoms:

• Short showers: To prevent skin dryness, limit showering to 5-10 minutes and use warm water instead of hot.
• Fragrance-free cleansers: When showing, opt for a gentle cleanser that doesn't contain any fragrances that could irritate your skin.
• Moisturizers after showering: To prevent your skin from drying out, always apply a moisturizing lotion immediately after cleansing.
• Ointments or creams: When moisturizing your skin, thicker ointments and creams can further protect it from dehydration. Look for thicker moisturizers that contain ingredients like jojoba oil, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter.
  

Prevention

If dyeing your hair on your own, wear gloves to prevent hair dye from staining your hands and wrists. Researchers have found that putting petroleum jelly along your hairline and ears to prevent staining. However, petroleum jelly can prevent hair dye from penetrating the hair shaft. Be careful to prevent it from touching your hair.

You can also clean along your hairline as you dye your hair to keep the dye from drying on the skin near your hairline.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

If you develop an allergic reaction or skin irritation, such as contact dermatitis, from coloring your hair, seek treatment as soon as possible.

A dermatologist (a doctor specializing in skin conditions) can examine your skin and make treatment recommendations. They may prescribe an antihistamine or anti-itch cream to treat your symptoms. In some cases, they may observe your skin for other symptoms to ensure you are not experiencing an allergic reaction to another product on your skin.

A Quick Review

When dyeing or coloring your hair, it is common to accidentally stain your skin or clothing with hair dye. There are many ways to remove dye from your skin without irritating your skin.

If a hair dye remover product is unavailable, you can remove hair dye by gently rubbing olive oil, white vinegar, baby wipes, and more into your skin. Moisturize your skin after removing the dye, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin.