The 4 Best Hair Color Removers To Lighten Dye And Erase Coloring Mistakes

Some mistakes you don’t have to live with. A bad hair color is one of them. Good thing the best hair Color removers let you change things easily!  

We’ve all been there! Trying out a new, fancy color that we (thought) suited us. A DIY hair coloring session gone wrong.

Or just plain old regret. Sometimes that dye needs to come off. This is where the best hair color removers come into the picture!

While stripping hair of color is a process better left in the hands of professionals, you can do it safely at home too.

Hair Color Removers	Best For
Color Oops Hair Color Remover Extra Conditioning	Ammonia-Free Hair Dye Remover
Color X-Change Phase-Out Gentle Dye Decolorizer + Intensive Hair Mask	Hair Color Remover For Dry Hair
Roux Clean Touch Hair Color Stain Remover	Hair Dye Remover From Skin
L’Oreal Effasol Color Remover	Hair Dye Remover For Black Hair
Colour B4 Hair Colour Remover Extra Strength	Hair Color Remover For Dark Hair
Joico Color Intensity Eraser Hair Color Remover	Hair Dye Remover For Blue or Pink Hair
Powertools CBC Color Balance Corrector	Blonde Hair
Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo	Best Purple Shampoo
Prell Shampoo Classic Clean	Hair Dye Removing Shampoo
Neutrogena Anti-Residue Clarifying Shampoo	Hair Dye Remover For Temporary Hair Color
Malibu C Color Remover	Fastest Hair Dye Remover
Color Fix Hair Color Remover	For Permanent Hair Dye

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Amy Angelos has a degree in Cosmetology from The Salon Professional Academy in San Jose, California with 10 years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As she is adept at styling hair of various textures from straight, wavy to curly and African American, Amy knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. Our Editor Leah Marie Priest has also tested these hair products and processes and fact checked this article to give you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

Best Hair Color Removers 2023

Color Oops Hair Color Remover Extra Conditioning

Best Ammonia-Free Hair Color Remover

We like the Color Oops hair dye remover because it not only focuses on getting rid of your current hair color, but it also tries to nourish your hair in the process.

The hydrosulfite formulation is gentle and lacks ammonia or bleach. (Dong, Yaodong et al. “NaHS Protects Cochlear Hair Cells from Gentamicin-Induced Ototoxicity by Inhibiting the Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway.” PloS one vol. 10,8 e0136051. 21 Aug. 2015, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0136051)

The hair dye remover contains aloe vera and soy protein, that strengthen the hair strands, reduce frizz, and leave the hair soft and shiny.

As it is free of ammonia or other strong chemicals, the Color Oops hair color remover works well on semi-permanent and temporary hair dyes.

We do not recommend it for pink, blue, purple, and other very bright tones.

This hair dye remover is also very easy to apply.

All you need to do is pour the conditioning serum into the color-removing formula, which comes in a handy bottle with an applicator tip.

Pros:

Works well on all hair types

Works within just 20 minutes.

Contains no ammonia or bleach

Safe to re-colour hair on the same day after this product has been used.

Cons:

Has a strong bad smell.

Color X-Change Phase-Out Gentle Dye Decolorizer + Intensive Hair Mask

Best Hair Color Remover For Dry Hair

This hair dye remover is your best bet if you have damaged hair. Or if you’re worried about making the strands too dry.

The Color X-Change is completely free of ammonia, peroxide, or sulfates. It doesn’t even contain fragrances or ethyl alcohol. It’s cruelty-free and super-easy to use too!

Just mix the ‘phase-out’ packet with water to create a jelly-like consistency, leave it on for the night, and rinse it off in the morning.

The catch here is that this remover works best on only semi permanent hair color. Also, you have to wait for at least a week before recoloring or bleaching hair.

Other than that, this is one of the top hair color removers on this list. 

There is also an intensive hair mask that comes along with the remover that acts as a deep conditioner.

Using this conditioning treatment after using the color stripper leaves your mane soft and silky.

Pros:

Free from parabens, ammonia, sulfates, and peroxide.

Recolouring within just 20 minutes.

Relatively cheaper than other such products.

Cons:

Takes around 8 hours to decolourize and must be left overnight.

Roux Clean Touch Hair Color Stain Remover

Best Hair Dye Remover From Skin

Roux Clean Touch Hair Color Stain Remover has become my go-to solution for handling the aftermath of at-home hair coloring experiments. As an avid DIY color enthusiast, I can’t stress enough how invaluable this product has become in my beauty routine.

The standout feature of Roux Clean Touch is its exceptional stain-removing prowess. It effortlessly erases even the most stubborn hair color stains from the skin, hairline, and ears. What’s truly remarkable is its ability to achieve this without causing any irritation or redness. For those with sensitive skin like mine, this is a game-changer.

The application process is a breeze, and a little goes a long way. This means a single bottle lasts for a significant amount of time, making it both effective and cost-efficient. Additionally, it’s not limited to just removing stains; it can also be used to clean color brushes and tools.

One aspect that sets Roux Clean Touch apart is its pleasant scent. Unlike some other stain removers that have an overpowering chemical odor, this product has a mild and tolerable fragrance, which enhances the overall experience.

In summary, Roux Clean Touch Hair Color Stain Remover is an absolute must-have for anyone who indulges in at-home hair coloring. Its impressive stain-removing capabilities, gentle nature on the skin, ease of use, versatility, and pleasant scent make it an essential addition to any DIY colorist’s toolkit.

Pros:

Works well on all hair types.

Can be used to even remove stains from skin and clothes.

Removes colour from hair tips.

Cons:

Contains ammonia.

Cannot be used all over the hair.

L’Oreal Effasol Color Remover

Best Hair Color Remover For Black Hair

L’Oreal Effasol Color Remover has been a transformative solution in my hair care journey. As someone who enjoys experimenting with different hair colors, I often find myself needing a fresh start. Effasol has consistently delivered impressive results.

This color remover excels at effectively and efficiently removing unwanted hair color, whether it’s semi-permanent or permanent dye. It’s remarkable how it breaks down the pigments, allowing for a clean slate without causing excessive damage to my hair. One of its standout features is its versatility, as you can customize the strength of the formula to meet your specific needs.

I found the application process is relatively straightforward, thanks to its powder form, which is easy to mix and apply evenly.

However, it’s worth noting that Effasol does come with a strong, somewhat chemical odor that might be off-putting for some users. Additionally, like most color removers, it can leave your hair feeling somewhat dry after use.

To sum things up, I feel that the, L’Oreal Effasol Color Remover is a powerful to reset their hair color.

Pros:

Works best on normal hair types.

Relatively cheaper than other such products.

Cons:

None.

Conclusion

Life’s too short to have one hair color. So keep it fresh and change it up frequently (within reason, of course).

Try a dark shade one time, go platinum blonde for a special occasion. Or maybe even jump on the unicorn hair bandwagon.

All you need to do is pick from the best hair color removers for your hair to get rid of your previous color and pick out a fresh color to reinvent yourself.

New color, new you!

Also Read:

Is L’Oreal Hair Color Remover Bleach

What To Do If Hair Dye Is Too Dark