Easy Red Dye Removal: How to Get Red Out of Hair

Red hair has always been one of the most sought-after hair colors. Next to a platinum blonde hairdo, “going red” seems like a welcomed hair change for anyone wanting a vibrant hair makeover. Dyeing strands red is undoubtedly one of the boldest and most beautiful looks that works on all hair textures and skin tones. 

If you’ve taken the leap and are fully enjoying the red hair life, you can keep it going with regular dyeing sessions or change your mane for something else. Regardless of how long you keep your strands a shade of red, you’ll eventually want to remove the color. Here, discover how to get red out of hair and the hair care products to use for easier removal with minimal damage.

What to Know About Different Types Of Red Hair Dye

Not all hair dye works the same. Some hair dyes are made to be washed out, while others are formulated to last several hair washes and months. If you’re ready to leave your red hair color behind, it’s important to understand which type of hair dye you used to properly remove it. 

Temporary Red Hair Dye

Red is a vibrant color that will show up bright on any hair base (from bright blondes to dark browns), which makes it the perfect color for a temporary color formula. Temporary hair dyes can be found in various wash-out forms like hair sprays, hair chalks and even hair serums. The beauty of this type of hair dye is that it can be easily removed with shampoo and water leaving hair fresh for the next day.

Bonus: This red hair dye type is ideal for those who want to change their mane color without the commitment. Spray hair with the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Red if you’re looking to go red for a music festival or to embrace the dip-dye fox hair trend. Wash it out with shampoo and water as soon as you’re ready to get rid of the red. 

Semi-Permanent Red Hair Dye

Semi-permanent hair dye coats hair deeper than a temporary hair product, making the color last longer. This hair dye type won’t fade as fast as a temporary hair dye, but it does wash out eventually. Some semi-permanent hair dyes will keep a tint lingering in the strands depending on how light the hair was before dyeing. For example, if you dye your blonde hair with a red semi-permanent hair dye, it will wash out after several washes, but a pink-red tint may be left behind.  

Bonus: Use a semi-permanent hair dye like the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Burgundy or Bright Red for a vibrant red color that gradually fades over time. If you’re trying to remove this type of hair dye faster, use an anti-dandruff shampoo (more on that below) for a quicker removal process.

Permanent Red Hair Dye 

If you dyed your hair with the intention of it not coming out or fading as quickly as the other dye types, then you probably used a permanent hair color. This dye type is more tricky to remove because it is designed to last. The removal process is tricky, but not impossible. If you’re removing a permanent red hair dye at home, you’ll want to consider different methods to fade the color and strip the color without damaging strands. It may even require you to go to a professional if you’re having issues with getting red dye out of your hair. 

Bonus: When you use an at-home hair dye like L’Oréal Paris Excellence Crème Permanent Triple Care Hair Color in Light Auburn or L’Oréal Paris Feria Midnight Bold Multi-Faceted Permanent Hair Color in Blood Moon, your strands will be nourished and dyed with lasting pigment. These formulas offer a fade-resistant color that is ideal for those who want a red hair look without spending hours in a salon chair. 

How to Get Red Dye Out Of Hair

Maybe you’re done with copper strands and want to go back to your natural roots or maybe you want to try a new color. Whatever the reason, removing red hair dye can be quite a challenge since the crimson hue doesn’t fade as easily as other natural hair colors. There are several ways to rid hair of a fiery hue including ways to remove red hair dye naturally and ways to get red out of your hair without bleach. Below, explore 5 different ways to get red dye out of hair.

Try a Hair Color Remover

Contrary to popular belief, once you commit to a red hair color, you’re not necessarily stuck with it until it fades. As mentioned above, there are a few solutions to get rid of red pigments, and the first one you should get acquainted with is hair color remover.

 

As its name suggests, a hair color remover works wonders to remove semi-permanent and permanent hair color all in one step. While the formulas won’t restore your hair to its natural hue, it does remove a lot of pigment to prep your strands for new hair color. Just be sure to have an at-home hair color kit handy so you can dye your hair to its next shade and pull your look together perfectly. 

Let the Color Naturally Fade

While giving your red hair color time to fade or grow out may be the last thing you want, it doesn’t hurt to give it a try if all other options are off the table. With semi-permanent shades the color will fade quickly, meaning you won’t have to wait long. However, for permanent dye, the color will last longer so you may have to wait for your strands to grow out if you’re open to rocking a rooted look for a while. You can also embrace the changing color and opt for a brown to red ombré for a color that grows naturally. Or, as hair grows, try a short haircut to limit the color-blocking of red ends and your natural hair color near the roots. 

Go Darker

If you’re over the red hair and want to go darker for your next mane makeover, you’re in luck. Coloring over a red hue won’t be hard. You can use an at-home dye — like L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Color, L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color or L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color — over your red hair to overhaul your look. 

Keep in mind, it may be best to stick with warm-toned brown and black shades as those will play best with the undertones of your red hair.

Reach for Green Shampoo 

Whether your hair is fire-truck red or has red undertones like cowboy copper or auburn, you can turn to the color wheel for help. If you need a refresher, the color wheel is all about identifying contrasting colors that sit across from each other. With that knowledge, you’ll be able to fix or correct any color job. 

 

When it comes to hair with red tones, you’ll want to use a toning hair care system with green pigment to neutralize those tones. Add a green shampoo and conditioner to your hair care routine to see the magic of this combo. After one use, you’ll notice strands appear more golden brown or deep brunette, depending on the undertones of your red color. While it may not completely remove the red color, it can lessen the hues so it’s not as vibrant.

Use a Hair Bleach Kit

When in doubt, bleach your hair. While you may have used hair bleach in the past to lighten up your strands, it’s also great at removing unwanted color from your hair. At one point, bleaching hair at home was an incredibly difficult process. Thankfully, now you can safely bleach your hair all on your own with the right hair-bleaching kit. 

 

Grab the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach and simply follow the instructions on the box to get your desired results. After you’ve bleached your hair, you can leave it as is for a platinum blonde, or you can change it up and opt for a new shade.

Next: Trend Alert: Fall in Love with Pumpkin Spice Latte Hair Color

 

Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn, Associate Creative Director: Melissa San Vicente-Landestoy, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Associate Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Associate Content Director: Shalwah Evans, Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Wardrobe Stylist: Alexis Badiyi, Digital Tech: Erik Dalzen, Photo Assistant: Sam Kang, Model: Alexandra Van Zant