There is no simpler way to spruce your look than to change your hair color. Using semi-permanent hair dye is a great way to change your hair color without damaging your hair. That’s because this kind of dye just coats your hair and does not penetrate it.

What if the hair color did not turn out the way you thought it would? You hate the color because it does not suit your complexion or features at all. What next? How do you get the semi-permanent dye out? Thankfully, there are easy ways to do that. And they do not involve bleach.

Table of Contents:

• Can You Get Semi-Permanent Dye Out?
• Ways to Get Semi-Permanent Dye Out
• Mix Shampoo with Baking Soda
• Vitamin C Tablets
• Vinegar Rinse
• Dish Soap and Shampoo

Can You Get Semi-Permanent Dye Out?

Before we get into the details, let’s answer the burning question. Is it even possible to get semi-permanent hair dye out?

The answer is yes. Semi-permanent dye does not mix with the natural pigment of your hair. That is why most semi-permanent hair colors wash out in six to twelve washes.

Will you get your natural hair color back? Maybe!

If you have not bleached your hair, it may be possible to get your natural hair color back. However, bleach lightens your hair color. Although you may be able to get your semi-permanent dye out, you may not be able to regain your natural color.

Ways to Get Semi-Permanent Dye Out

Your semi-permanent hair dye will eventually wash out. However, if you want to speed up the process, these tips will help.

• Mix Shampoo with Baking Soda

Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent, and you may have used it to remove stains around the house. It can also be useful to wash out hair dye at home. Plus, it does not damage your hair at all.

All you need to do is mix equal parts of clarifying shampoo and baking soda. We recommend the Wow Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo. In case you do not have a clarifying shampoo, an anti-dandruff shampoo would work just as well. Try our Wow Green Tea and Tea Tree Shampoo.

Mix equal parts of shampoo and baking soda in a container. Now shampoo your hair with this mixture and work up a nice lather. Let the mixture sit in your hair for at least 5 to 7 minutes to allow the baking soda to work out the dye. Rinse out your hair, and you should see your hair color running out. You can use this mixture two to three times on your hair till you are happy with the results.

This method works best on freshly colored hair.

• Vitamin C Tablets

Vitamin C is great for your health, but it can also be effective in getting semi-permanent hair dye out. 

Take a few vitamin C tablets in a bowl and add a bit of hot water. Now crush the tablets with a spoon until they turn into a thick paste. Do not add too much water, or your paste will be too runny to use.

Wet your hair and apply the paste. Wrap your hair in a shower cap and let it sit for an hour or so. Vitamin C penetrates the hair better when it is wet.

After an hour, rinse out the paste thoroughly. Shampoo and condition your hair as you normally do. Your semi-permanent hair dye should be out.

The vitamin C method works best if it has been less than three days since you dyed your hair. If the dye has been in your hair for longer, you may not see drastic results.

• Vinegar Rinse

Plain white vinegar is another household ingredient that could help get semi-permanent dye out. 

Do not use apple cider vinegar because it is not as acidic. So, you may not be able to get the desired results.

Dyes can withstand alkaline substances such as shampoos and soaps. Acidic substances remove the dye from your hair.

Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water to create a mixture. Now saturate your hair with this solution. Use a shower cap to cover your hair and wait for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse out your hair and shampoo and condition your hair as usual. Shampoo your hair again when the water runs clear. You may need to shampoo your hair several times to get the semi-permanent dye out.

• Dish Soap and Shampoo

For this method, you will need about 4 to 5 drops of dish soap. Mix it with a quarter-sized amount of your regular shampoo. Apply this mixture to your wet hair and work up a lather. 

Keep working up the hair strands so that it allows the dish soap to break down the dye. You should see the color running out when you rinse your hair.

You may need to use the mixture of dish soap and shampoo at least two to three times to get the dye out. Dish soap can be harsh, and it may strip your hair of natural oils. Instead of using dish soap and shampoo several times at one go, you can try this method for two to three days to get the dye out.

Dish soap will dry out your hair. Ensure to deep condition your hair after the last rinse to keep your hair hydrated and healthy. We recommend the Wow Coconut Milk Conditioner.

The semi-permanent dye can be a great way to experiment with your look. Since it does not permeate the hair, it also does not damage your hair. But if you do not like how it looks on you, there are ways to get it out too.

The methods given above are effective in getting the semi-permanent dye out. However, everyone’s hair is different. So, the methods may work out differently for different people. Ensure to follow up these methods with a hair mask or hydrating conditioner to keep your hair soft and smooth.