Here Are The Tips To Remove Hair Dye From Your Skin

While Dyeing Never Let Stains Get You Down Again

Its practically guaranteed that some of the dye will end up on your skin whether you are colouring your own hair at home or visiting a professional colourist at a salon. They are surely some kind of wizard who doesn’t find some colour on their forehead, ears, or neck. For those of us who do, have to be content with trying to prevent or clean up dye stains on your skin. 

As Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at the Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Dermatology explains, designed to penetrate through the outer cuticle of the hair and remaining there giving a long-lasting colour to the hair shaft is the pigment in the hair dye. Causing a semi-permanent tint to your skin in case it is exposed to the skin, it penetrates through the outer layer. 

Study up on these pro tips to make sure the skin doesn’t turn the same colour as your hair before your next touch-up or a total makeover. 

It Helps To Understand The Risks

For the most part, getting dye on the skin is annoying and unsightly whereas in rare instances as Dr.Zeichner explains, it can cause serious skin irritation or allergies. 

It is important to consider the kind of products that you use in the skincare regime. 

The skin may be more at risk for irritation from hair dye because it will more easily penetrate through the skin if you are using topical retinoids or products like alpha-or beta-hydroxy acids whereas all skin types are equally at risk for dye tinting the skin. 

Here Prevention Is Key

Protect the areas of skin most likely to come in contact with the dye like your hairline, tops, and backs of the ears and back of the neck before any dye is applied. Dr.Zeichner recommends Aquaphor Healing Ointment saying that the occlusive ointment like petroleum jelly does the job. 

No problem if you don’t have any petroleum jelly on hand. As Nikki Ferrara, the celebrity colourist and owner of Nikki Ferrara Hair Colour in New York City, explains she applies a tiny bit of coconut oil around the hairline before applying colour and thereby stop any staining before it happens. Around the hairline, you can also use a heavy conditioner. 

As they stain more stubbornly and obviously, Ferrara says be especially careful when applying dark brown and black shades. Always be sure to use gloves throughout the process unless you want the hands to match your hair. 

You Can Remove Hair Dye From Your Skin As Soon As Possible

As Dr.Zeichner advises, the sooner you can remove the hair dye, from the skin the better. Such as the classic Dove Beauty Bar, which suggests a simple non-soap cleanser and water. 

Working as a great cleanser to remove hair dye is any kind of oil such as the coconut oil, baby oil or argan oil. 

When Dr.Zeichner says you can try using rubbing alcohol if it doesn’t work. You can use a pre-moistened alcohol swab by applying it to a cotton ball. Taking caution not to overly scrub the skin, gently rub it against the affected area. 

Ferrara strongly advises against trying to remove the dye on the face with a scrub and speaking of scrubbing, he says they may irritate tearing the skin. 

You can use hydrogen peroxide in case you don’t have any rubbing alcohol in your cabinet. As it is also safe to use on the skin in low concentrations, it is known to remove all kinds of stains.

Here are a few more products you can try to help tackle hair dye stains on your skin if these methods don’t work for you. 

Thereafter Remove Hair Dye From Your Face And Hairline

For removing hair dye stains from your skin, there are beauty brands with products geared specifically for it. While they come extremely effective for removing stains on your face, neck, and hands, they are very gentle on the skin. Take a look at the products having exfoliating ingredients similar to hydroxy acids like glycolic acid or salicylic acid. Bringing new ones to the surface, these ingredients help shed the stained skin cells. 

Tips To Remove Hair Dye From Your Scalp

As you may not want to strip the fresh colour from your newly dyed hair, removing hair dye from the scalp can be a tough situation. You can try a gentle scalp scrub or a shampoo with light exfoliating ingredients whereas once the skin has settled after dyeing it only. It need not create any further irritation. 

Be sure to limit your use to once or twice a week if you decide to try a product containing hydroxy acid with salicylic acid. The hair colour may fade faster than you might have planned otherwise. 

Tricks To Remove Hair Dye From Your Hands And Nails

You can try methods that are a bit more rigorous as hands and nails are more tolerant than your face and scalp. Washing your hands with a mixture of dish soap and baking soda is one sure way to remove hair dye. Be sure to rinse it off thoroughly and follow up with a good hand cream as dish soap contains ammonia. 

A great way to help remove hair dye is hand or body scrubs, nail polish removers, and even hand sanitisers. Cuticle removers will do the job as well for stained nail beds. 

Help Treat Your Skin Kindly After Dye Is Removed

More than just the dye you’re trying to remove, cleansers and alcohol can strip the skin.

As Dr.Zeichner further explains, it is important to repair the skin barrier with a moisturiser especially after using rubbing alcohol on the skin. As it forms a protective seal over the skin, he recommends a petroleum-based product. Coming in light lotion formulations that won’t leave you feeling greasy are the newest generation of these moisturisers. 

And Finally, Don't Freak Out If It Doesn't Completely Come Out

Don’t worry if the dye hasn’t completely budged as Dr.Zeichner assures that for as long as the hair will be it won’t be tinted. As your skin cells naturally turnover the good news is that in time you are sure to shed the pigment within one to two weeks on its own.