With the growing popularity of hair coloring and with so many people trying it, hair color mishaps are not that surprising. If your hairdresser dyed your hair, but it was too dark for you, there are ways you can lighten your hair.
Can I lighten hair that is dyed too dark?
Yes, hair dyed too dark can be lightened by washing the hair with a sulfate shampoo, using a color remover or using a hair lightener.
Manage your expectations, though, because you can only lighten your hair a level or two unless you bleach it with lemon juice. If the dyed hair is too dark, lightening may not have a significant effect.
Other alternatives include waiting for the color to fade over time, applying a lighter color, or cutting the hair and cultivating new growth.
4 ways to lighten hair dyed too dark
#1. Color remover
Color remover is also known as hair color remover, hair color remover or artificial hair color remover. These may be your best option for removing dark colors from your hair.
They are extremely effective at removing artificial colors but do not change the structure of your hair. Therefore, they are less harmful to the hair than toners based on ammonia and sodium peroxide.
However, you must wash your hair separately in warm water to wash off the color remover. It can strip the hair of essential oils and leave it dry. As such, you need to condition your hair deeply after using a color remover to restore moisture, shine and softness.
There are different types of color extractors. Some contain bleach, while others do not.
You can use a paint remover to remove unwanted paint to create a base for a new paint. It can also remove previous color build-up, preparing your hair for re-dyeing. However, it does not work if you have dyed your hair with henna dye, semi-permanent dye or permanent hair dye.
It works by penetrating the hair shaft and breaking down color molecules deposited on the shaft by the dyes. The color molecules are broken down into small sizes and are easily washed away. Those containing bleach also lighten the dark color.
The application process varies from one brand of paint remover to another. Usually, the color remover is applied to dry, unwashed hair. Make sure your hair is completely saturated with the mixture. Comb with a wide-toothed comb to ensure even distribution of the mixture, then put on a shower cap.
Some manufacturers recommend applying heat to the hair to accelerate the breakdown of the dye molecules. You can sit briefly under the dryer with a hood or use the dryer to blow hot air into your hair.
Wash your hair and then shampoo it. Wash several times to remove residues of decomposed dye molecules and dye remover. Apply conditioner, leave it on the hair for a few minutes, comb the hair to detangle it and then rinse once more. Dry your hair and style it as you wish.
#2. Wash your hair with sulfate shampoo
Usually, hair color sets in the first 72-96 hours. During this period, the hair fiber removes any excess color pigment. Therefore, you may notice that your hair becomes lighter after the first 3-4 days.
Washing your hair during this window period washes away the color molecules that are released making the dark color lighter. The water can also interfere with the setting process and help the hair shed most of the dark color.
Specially reduced sulfate shampoo regarding proper hair care after coloring. If your hair turns darker than you prefer after coloring, washing it with a sulfate shampoo helps to waste the color and lighten it.
Start by washing off any loose dye molecules with warm water. Hot water opens the nails and allows more color to be removed from the hair. Next, apply a generous amount of sulfate shampoo to wet hair and massage into hair and scalp. Again, rinse with warm water.
Follow the wash cycle with deep conditioning using a hair mask or moisturizing conditioner. Sulfate shampoo dries the hair, and deep conditioning returns the moisture to the deepest part of the hair fiber.
Consider washing your hair and using a moisturizing mask at least once a week to lighten your hair color even more and keep your hair moisturized.
#3. lightens hair
There are a wide variety of hair lighteners that you can use to lighten dark colored hair. They include drugstore hair lightening products as well as homemade hair lighteners.
Homemade hair lighteners
Below are some options for homemade hair lighteners to use on your dark colored hair.
Baking soda powder
The high level of alkalinity in the baking powder opens the cat’s nails and allows water or shampoo to enter the hair fibers and wash away the dye molecules. Make a thick baking soda paste and apply a generous amount to wet hair.
Leave it on your hair for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Do not use cold water to wash your hair, as it will close the nails before the dye molecules have been washed out.
If your dark color hasn’t lightened enough, make another batch of baking soda paste and repeat the cleaning cycle for another round. For better results, consider mixing the baking soda with bleach.
Soap cap with bleach and key
A soap cap combines shampoo, bleach and a developer such as hydrogen peroxide. The mixture balances the hair color and is used as a bleach bath to lighten the color. It removes most semi-permanent hair colors without damaging your hair. You can use it to lift dark hair colors before applying new colors.
Mix equal parts shampoo, bleach and key. Apply the mixture to damp hair, cover it with a shower cap and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Wear gloves when handling the mixture and start the application process from the roots to the ends. Then wash and rest your hair. You can also make the soap cap without the key.
Vitamin C or lemon juice
The lemon juice is very acidic and strips the hair of dark colors. You can use it on its own or mix it with baking soda. Then wet the hair and apply generously. Let it sit for about 45 minutes, then rinse. The hair should be lighter by 30-50%. Lemon juice also contains high levels of vitamin C, which is beneficial for the health of your hair.
hydrogen peroxide
Another hair lightener you can use at home is hydrogen peroxide. It is cheap and available at drug stores. Simply put it in a spray bottle and apply it to your hair.
Let it sit for about 30 minutes before washing it off. Note that although it is effective, hydrogen peroxide dries out the hair. Therefore, follow up with a conditioner and apply oil to the hair.
#4. Apply lighter paint
This color is hard on the hair. Therefore, you don’t want to reapply hair color too soon. Wait at least 6 weeks before dyeing your hair a lighter color again. It is advisable to use a paint remover about a week before to remove some of the colors and create a base for the new color.
Summary
If your hairdresser dyes your hair too dark, the best thing to do is to intervene immediately before it sets in completely. Wash it within the first 72 hours in hot water to wash away any loose paint particles and dislodge some of the others before they set. Then, give the hair to prevent damage to the strands.
You can also use a color remover or lightener to further lighten your hair. Eventually, the color lightens and fades over time, becoming lighter. But, if the above methods don’t work and you really don’t like the way your hair looks, the only other option is to cut it off and wait for new growth.