11 Best Hair Color Removers That You Can Use At Home – 2023
Flaunt the fabulous hair of your Disney dreams with the right hair styling essentials.
Shiboli Chakraborti Certified Skin Care Coach
Expertise: Skin Care & Hair Care
Experience: 3 years
Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with three years of experience. As an editor, she ... more
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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 the best-rated brands 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
The Color Oops Hair Color Remover is a gentle, quick, and easy fix for all your hair color woes. It cleans and clears old hair color, prepping it for fresh recoloring. The formula is infused with soy protein that strengthens the hair and aloe vera that nourishes the hair and adds shine. 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
2. Best Non-Damaging Formula:Colour B4 Hair Colour Remover
ColourB4 presents an extra strong hair color remover for those pesky reds and stubborn blacks. It is perfect for removing multiple applications, dark tones, and color buildup, 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
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. 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. The formula is safe for all hair types and gentle enough for use on bleached or chemically treated hair. It 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 Recolor:L’Oreal Paris Effasol Color Remover
For serious color mistakes, you need the L’Oreal Paris Effasol Color Remover. It prepares the hair for recoloring while providing heavy conditioning. This color corrector cannot restore your hair to its original shade but visibly lightens the hair dye pigments. It removes color buildup and muddy tints from colored tresses with perfection.
Pros
- Gentle
- Easy to use
- Quick results
Cons
- Leaves the hair dry
5. Best Travel-Friendly:Colortrak Wipe Off Hair Color Remover Wipes
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 of any stains and color spills. The wipes are pre-moistened and infused with aloe vera to keep the skin 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
Most hair color removers dry your hair out. But this kit from Color X-Change is different. This 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 infused with shea butter and argan, avocado, coconut, and olive oils to nourish and hydrate your hair.
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
7. Best For Mess-Free Use:Framar Kolor Killer Wipes
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. 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
8. Best For Brassy Tones:Ardell Red Gold Color Corrector Plus
This Ardell Hair Color Corrector Plus is specially formulated for red-gold hair colors. It helps remove undesired red, gold, and brassy tones from colored hair. The corrector rejuvenates, neutralizes, and tones white, blonde, and gray hair colors. The product can be used during bleaching, tinting, and toning, or you can mix it with your shampoo for best results.
Pros
- Gentle
- Easy to use
- Can be added to shampoos and conditioners
- Long-lasting
Cons
- May cause skin irritation
9. Best Ammonia-Free Formula:Color Oops Hair Color Prep System
The Color Oops Hair Color Prep System prepares the hair for a new color, removes buildups, and neutralizes color pigments like a pro. It 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
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. It has a unique kaolin clay formula that works on stubborn hair color. It comes in a convenient squeeze packaging for easy application without any mess. It 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
This 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. Pick a color remover with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and plant proteins that repair damage caused by previous treatments.
- 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 red or gold brassy tones or simply neutralize the colors and prepare your hair for recoloring?
Apart 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 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.
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. 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 your hair after using a color remover for good results.
Is it better to use bleach or color remover?
Although bleach helps highlight 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 stripping my hair can I dye it again?
You should wait around two days to re-dye your hair effectively without damaging it.
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