11 Best Hair Color Removers That You Can Use At Home – 2023
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You do not have to deal with uneven and blotchy hair anymore, thanks to the best hair color removers. Discolored hair can be frustrating, and sometimes you feel the urge to get rid of the color you once found interesting.
But visiting the salon every time you need a color correction is inconvenient and unnecessarily expensive. Therefore, it is wise to have a hair color remover in your toiletries. They allow you the freedom to remove dark, unwanted shades and neutralize the color from the comfort of your home. Also, these products are easy to use and come with a detailed instruction manual.
Hair color removers are undoubtedly the best economical solutions for lightening uneven hues. Our list includes detailed reviews of the best-selling and time-tested options to narrow down your search. Swipe up for more information.
In This Article
11 Best Hair Color Removers
1. Best Conditioning Formula:Color Oops Extra Conditioning Hair Color Remover
Image: Color Oops The Color Oops Hair Color Remover is a gentle, quick, and easy fix for all your hair color woes. This non-bleach hair color remover cleans and clears old hair color, prepping it for fresh recoloring. The formula is infused with nourishing ingredients, such as soy protein that strengthens the hair and aloe vera that softens the hair and adds shine. It is not tested on animals, ensuring a guilt-free experience. The product has received positive reviews on Amazon as it washes away tough, oxidative, artificial colors and conditions the hair for added softness.
Pros
- Bleach-free
- Ammonia-free
- Easy to apply
- Repairs brittle hair
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Overpowering scent
Quick Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has received 1,514 reviews from customers on Amazon, indicating its popularity and reliability.
2. Best Non-Damaging Formula:Colour B4 Hair Colour Remover
Image: Colour B4 ColourB4 presents an extra strong hair color remover for those pesky reds and stubborn blacks. It is perfect for toning and removing multiple applications, color buildup, and muddy tints, giving you the liberty to change your hair color whenever you want. The product is simple to use and allows immediate recoloring. It can also be used before any salon treatment or first-time coloring. This conditioning buffer curbs reoxidation while strengthening and conditioning the hair. Plus, it takes only 60 minutes!
Pros
- Ammonia-free
- Bleach-free
- Easy to use
- Safe
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires lot of prep work
3. Best For All Hair Color:Punky Color Colour Off Kit
Image: Punky The Punky Color Colour Off Kit is your go-to solution to create a fresh canvas for the next experiment color on hair. It is an easy-to-use kit specially formulated to gently and effectively remove hair color without damaging or drying out your hair, thereby making it ideal for all hair types, including fragile hair or sun-damaged hair. The kit also has a color removal and neutralizing shampoo that work together to remove color pigments and restore your hair’s natural pH balance. Many reviewers agree that the formula is safe for all hair types and gentle enough for use on bleached or chemically treated hair. This hair color removal products kit is designed to remove semi-permanent, demi-permanent, and permanent hair color from your hair.
Pros
- pH balanced
- Paraben free
- 100% Cruelty-free
- Easy to use
- Doesn’t strip moisture
Cons
- May leave hair frizzy
- Can leave hair with a noticeable tint
4. Best For Full-Color Correction: One N Only Colorfix Hair Color Remover Kit
Image: One 'n Only If you need a product to reverse a coloring blunder, try the One N Only Colorfix Hair Color Remover Kit. This professional-grade formula can correct both major and slight coloring mistakes. You can use it to lighten/darken the color or lift it completely from your tresses. This gentle hair color remover also contains nourishing ingredients like argan oil that minimize hair damage. It is suitable for all hair types, including kinky and wavy hair. This salon-quality hair color remover works best on slightly damp, towel-dried hair.
Pros
- Easy to mix and apply
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Gluten-free
- Ammonia-free
- Bleach-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Unpleasant scent
5. Best Travel-Friendly:Colortrak Wipe Off Hair Color Remover Wipes
Image: Colortrak The professional-grade Colortrak’s hair color wipes are an easy and convenient solution to accidental spillage. They quickly clean the mess, leaving behind a polished and clean look. A simple wipe can clear the skin or clothes of any stains and color spills. The tried-and-tested wipes are pre-moistened and infused with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera to keep the hair moisturized. Their pleasant fragrance will refresh your senses. They come in a dispensing canister with 50 towelettes, which makes them easy to carry and use.
Pros
- Non-irritating
- Easy to use
- Pleasant fragrance
Cons
- Dries and stings the skin
6. Best Paraben-Free Formula:Color X-Change Phase-Out Dye Decolorizer + Lock-in Intensive Hair Mask
Image: Color X-change Most hair color removers dry your hair out. But this kit from Color X-Change is different. This vegan hair color remover involves a two-step process that removes color and protects your tresses from dryness or damage. In this pack, you get Phase-Out, an overnight dye-decolorizer that removes pigments, and Intensive Hair Mask which is infused with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, argan, avocado, coconut, and olive oils.
Pros
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Cruelty-free
- Ammonia-free
- Peroxide-free
- PPD-free
- Paraben-free
- Fragrance-free
- Sulfate-free
- Alcohol-free
Cons
- Requires a few uses to do the whole job
Quick TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
The extensive 3,013 rave reviews on Amazon prove why we are vouching for this product.
7. Best For Mess-Free Use:Framar Kolor Killer Wipes
Image: Framer The Framar Kolor Killer Wipes remover hair dyes and colors and are loved by hair colorists, esthetician, and dermatologists across the world. This box of 100 disposable wipes comes in an easy-to-use dispenser. Each wipe is pre-moistened and clears stains and dye residue from the face, neck, ears, nails, arms, and hands. These specially formulated wipes can eliminate the toughest of stains and come in handy while coloring your hair. They are infused with aloe vera, lactic acid, and Dead Sea salt to keep the skin moisturized. According to reviews, the fresh fragrance of the wipes leaves you smelling lovely.
Pros
- Multipurpose
- Gentle
- Easy to use
- Pleasant fragrance
- Durable dispenser
Cons
- May irritate the skin
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 4,485 customers have given the product positive reviews on Amazon.
8. Best pH-Balanced Formula: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo
Image: Olaplex No. 4 The Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo is all you need to get rid of unwanted color and product buildup. This formulation will neutralize your tresses and restore their vibrant color clarity. Additionally, the clarifying formula helps remove damaging impurities and restores hair volume and shine. It also helps wash away pollutants, hard water minerals and metals, and chlorine. This potent formula is free of animal testing and is certified vegan, ensuring a guilt-free experience. You can use the cleanser to reveal your healthiest hair without worrying about dryness.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Hydrating
- Gentle on the scalp
- Removes color build-up on scalp
- Suitable for most hair types
- Sulfate-free
Cons
- May make fine hair greasy
9. Best Ammonia-Free Formula:Color Oops Hair Color Prep System
Image: Color Oops The Color Oops Hair Color Prep System prepares the hair for a new color, removes buildups, and neutralizes color pigments like a pro. This hair dye remover helps you change color shades and get a new hair color easily. It also works to remove permanent as well as semi-permanent hair colors. The formula is specially meant for use on oxidative hair color.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Bleach-free
- Ammonia-free
Cons
- Ineffective on red undertones
10. Best Quick Results:Crazy Color Back to Base Hair Color Remover
Image: Crazy Color The Crazy Color Back to Base Hair Color Remover is a powerful professional-grade formula that effectively removes all semi-permanent and permanent hair color types. The best part is that it cleans your hair without damaging it and makes the overall hair color extraction process easy. It has a unique kaolin clay formula that works on stubborn hair color with proven efficacy. It comes in a convenient squeeze packaging for easy application without any mess. This professional hair color remover works on all hair types and is gentle on the hair and scalp, making it safe for use at home.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Gentle on hair
- Works on all hair types
- Quick results
- Affordable
- Convenient packaging
Cons
- Unpleasant smell
- May cause itching or irritation
11. Best Powder Formula:L’Oreal Colorist Secrets Haircolor Remover
Image: Loreal Paris This trusted product from L’Oreal is the OG hair color corrector that can correct all your hair dye mistakes. It leaves your hair ready for recoloring within a short time. The formula is suitable for permanent color-treated hair and requires only one application. The color remover does not restore the natural, original hair shade but readies it for recoloring.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Value for money
- Powder formula
Cons
- Might dry the hair
Since you have scrolled so far, it is obvious that you are planning on purchasing a hair color remover. The following section will help you in choosing the right product for the job.
What To Look For In A Hair Color Remover
- Avoid These Ingredients: Look for formulas free of ammonia and bleach, as these may damage the hair while removing the hair color. They strip the hair color along with beneficial nutrients. Bleach can also affect the tint of the color.
- Look For Hydrating And Reparative Ingredients: Coloring and decoloring could leave your hair dehydrated, dry, and brittle. That’s why, it is expert recommended to pick a color remover with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera and plant proteins that provide restorative care to damaged hair.
- Read The Label: Reading the label helps you find out what the box contains and if it will help resolve your issue. For example, do you want to get rid of white, red, or gold brassy tones or simply neutralize the colors and prepare your hair for recoloring? Opt for hair color removers that are made with scientifically proven and doctor-approved ingredients to ensure safety and effectiveness. Also, consider removers from trusted brands that are known for rigorously testing their products for safety.
Apart from home remedies, using a hair color remover is the best option to remove unwanted color. Here is how you use a hair color remover.
How Do You Remove Hair Color?
A hair color remover shrinks the color molecules and is easy to wash out. Here’s what you need to do:
- The remover pack usually comes with two bottles – an activator and a color remover. Mix and shake the ingredients of both bottles together for 30 seconds.
- Divide your hair into sections and work the liquid through the hair. Massage it into each strand or apply it on the targeted area with a brush.
- Leave the product in your hair for 20-60 minutes.
- Rinse your hair with warm water and shampoo. Wash and rinse your hair 3-4 times with the shampoo for 20 minutes.
- Apply a deep conditioner to your strands and leave it on for 20 minutes.
- Rinse off the conditioner with warm water.
- Use a hair dryer to dry your hair.
Are there any side effects of using hair color removers? Find out in the next section.
Does Hair Color Remover Damage The Hair?
Yes, it can leave your hair dry and limp. Most products come with ammonia and bleach, which strip the color and the natural shine of the hair. Hence, it is important to follow up with a deep conditioner after using a hair color remover.
The Bottom Line
A hair color remover is a convenient and easy way to remove unwanted tint from color-treated hair. It also helps prepare your hair for recoloring. But you should not get your hopes high. The Color Oops Extra Conditioning Hair Color Remover is perfect for those looking for nourishing formulas that add shine to the hair, while the Colour B4. Hair Colour Remover Extra Strength is great for those who want to strengthen their hair. But if you are looking for a formula that helps color-correct specific areas, go for the One N Only Colorfix Hair Color Remover Kit. These correctors can lighten the demi, semi, or permanent hair colors. For complete color undo, you will need the help of professional colorists. You can go for the Color Oops Color Remover as it has aloe vera that also conditions the hair and restores its natural shine or pick any product that suits your preferences.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Shiboli Chakraborti, is passionate about hair care and devoted to sharing products that make your hair experiences truly amazing. Sometimes when you color your hair, things can go wrong. The author recommends using a color remover to avoid such mishaps. She went online, researched many products and their reviews to bring you this list of the most useful hair color removers. These removers wash away color, have hair care benefits, and are free of harsh elements that can damage your tresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can you use hair color remover?
You can use hair color remover twice daily to remove unwanted colors from your hair. However, overusing can damage your hair.
Should I wash my hair before using color remover?
Shampoo your hair for at least 24 hours before removing your color to preserve the scalp’s natural oil.
Can you dye your hair right after using color remover?
Wait at least two days before re-dyeing or tinting your hair after using a color remover for good results.
Is it better to use bleach or color remover?
Although bleaching highlights your hair more efficiently, overusing it might damage your hair. On the other hand, a color remover will only significantly alter your hair texture, although it may take longer than you think based on how deeply your hair was dyed initially.
Why did my hair get dark again after Color Oops?
If you do not thoroughly rinse the color oops, the hair color you previously had in your hair may reactivate, making it look dark again.
What happens if you leave the color remover on too long?
Leaving your hair color remover for long will be less effective than usual. Instead, it will darken your hair.
How long after color-stripping my hair can I dye it again?
You should wait around two days to re-dye your hair effectively without damaging it.
