How to Fade Hair Dye at Home

Use clarifying shampoo, baking soda paste, or vitamin C treatments to gradually lighten semi-permanent and temporary dyes.

Most people should just wait it out. These methods work but the damage often looks worse than the color you're trying to escape.

1. Start with clarifying shampoo. Wash hair with clarifying shampoo and hot water. The sulfates strip color more effectively than regular shampoo. Repeat 2-3 times in one session for faster results.
2. Make a baking soda paste. Mix equal parts baking soda and clarifying shampoo into a paste. Apply to damp hair, massage gently, and leave for 5-10 minutes. The alkaline formula lifts color from the hair shaft.
3. Try vitamin C treatment. Crush 15-20 vitamin C tablets and mix with clarifying shampoo. Apply to damp hair for 30-60 minutes under a shower cap. The acid breaks down artificial color molecules.
4. Deep condition after. Apply a protein-free deep conditioner or hair mask. These methods are drying, so your hair needs moisture and elasticity restored immediately.