How to Remove Semi Permanent Hair Dye from Hair? How long does it Take?

Do you want to get a hair makeover but are scared of the full-time commitment that comes with the permanent color? Well, then a Semi permanent color is your answer!

You can get your much-wanted makeover without thinking about the long-term commitment it comes with.

Depending upon the brand of hair color, Semi-permanent hair color can last for approximately 6-8 weeks. And then, if you like it, you can keep getting touch-ups to extend the duration of the color.

But if you hate it or want to try a new color again or if your hair dye just didn’t cover all your hair or for any other reason you wish to remove it, you can thoroughly wash it out too without getting your hair damaged.

Semi-permanent hair color gives us the freedom to go wild with our color choices: redhead, purple, or neon green. You can color your hair with any shade you want to and then keep it or remove it as you like.

Do semi-permanent hair dyes wash out completely?

One word answer: Yes!

Semi permanent hair dye washes out, eventually. It is because the dye does not stick to the hair strands permanently.

It doesn’t get absorbed deep into the hair cuticles like a permanent dye because it consists of color molecules that can only reach the hair’s external layer.

It also doesn’t contain harmful chemicals like peroxide bleach to achieve that right shade of color. It doesn’t change your hair’s natural color and will fade away as you shampoo your hair.

These semi-permanent dyes wash out completely within 6-8 weeks. It also depends on the brand of the dye that you use.

Semi permanent hair color doesn’t affect the hair’s natural color and will fade away thoroughly after washing it many times. It’s going to be as if you never colored your hair at all.

How many washes does it take for semi-permanent hair dye out?

Semi permanent dye gradually starts fading out after 6-8 washes, although the pack says that it will last up to 28 washes. It depends on a lot of things like the brand of the dye used, the condition of the hair, the color, etc.

If the brand of the product you used to color is of excellent quality, your color can even last for up to 28-30 washes. But, if the brand is not very good, then the color might come out after just 5-7 washes.

Then the porosity or the dryness also affects how long the color is going to last. The more porous or dry the hair, the longer the color is going to last. Porous hair is usually bleached hair, which holds the color for much longer than unbleached hair.

Some Semi-permanent dyes fade out even without shampooing. It would also be best if you always used shampoo and conditioner that are specifically made for colored hair.

How long does it take to get semi-permanent hair dye out?

As said earlier, Semi permanent dye lasts for about 6-8 weeks. The color is at its best for the first two weeks; then it starts fading out even if you take a lot of care.

Some colors, like blue and green last longer than other colors. This is the time that Semi-permanent hair takes to disappear naturally.

Still, if you want to get rid of it sooner, you can try many products like vinegar, vitamin C, baking soda, etc.

How to Remove Semi Permanent Hair Dye at Home?

Although we recommend you should first and foremost visit your hairstylist if you want to get your hair color out, just in case you want to try the at-home methods, there are a few ways you can try to remove hair dye at home:

1. Clarifying shampoo

Clarifying shampoos are made to remove the mineral build-up from your hair due to the heavy styling products, but they will also remove the hair dye from your hair.

And since we already know that washing your hair will eventually fade out your hair dye, you can accelerate the process by using a clarifying shampoo.

Semi permanent hair colors are made up of molecules that can’t penetrate deep into your hair cuticles. They only cover your strands’ external layer, which is why it is easier to wash away the color with some clarifying shampoo.

2. Baking Soda – Stuff in the Kitchen

Adding baking soda to the shampoo will aggravate the process. You can add baking soda to shampoo in a 1:1 ratio and leave the mix on your hair for up to 10 minutes prior to washing it off.

3. Dish Detergent

The detergent soap used to wash dishes after dinner can be used to get rid of the hair dye in your hair too. The sulfates present in your soap will remove the molecules and remove the color from your hair.

You can use the soap like your regular shampoo, and you can shampoo your hair two times a day if you hate the color (and your hair) so much. But keep in mind that this will strip your hair of all its natural oils and moisture.

4. Vitamin C

Vitamin C has the necessary ingredients to remove semi-permanent dye from your hair. Vitamin C works on the hair to oxidize the dye color and dilutes its intensity. Consequently, it helps to remove semi-permanent hair in a few washes.

Below is the procedure to use Vitamin C to remove semi permanent hair color from hair:

  • Mix Vitamin C with hot water,
  • Apply the mixture to your hair, but ensure your hair is wet while applying the mixture.
  • Leave it for an hour, and then rinse your hair to remove the mixture out of the hair.
  • You can wash your hair using shampoo and conditioner after removing the Vitamin C mixture.

The above-mentioned process can be repeated for 3-4 days to make semi-permanent hair color lose its grip on hair so that it washes away naturally.

5. Additional Tip

Although clarifying and applying baking soda and dish detergent to your hair are safe alternatives to using chemicals to remove the hair dye, you can still go for deep conditioning and hair masks to restore the natural oils in your hair that you literally stripped them off of and make them look healthier.

How to remove semi-permanent hair dye in one day

Semi permanent hair dye can fade out from your hair after some time. Still, if you want to remove it within one day of its application, the method is very aggressive.

Although all color removal methods are very harsh on hair, the sooner you want your hair color to vanish, the more damaging the procedure can be. Some color removing processes include what is called a color remover. 

Color removers are one of the easiest ways to remove the color in your hair. It consists of ingredients such as hydrosulfate. Hydrosulfate is a strong chemical that helps get rid of hair color, but it is also extremely damaging.

But if you need to get the color out of your hair in one day, then that’s your only option. Color reducers work in a way that they don’t affect your natural hair.

  • You have to shampoo your hair, then apply the mixture of color remover and the activator in the package to your hair.
  • It would be best if you used it in a way that every strand of your hair is covered with the mixture.
  • Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave it for 60 minutes.
  • After that, you have to rinse your hair and physically strip your hair off all the color molecules; otherwise, they will get reactivated some time again if they are left there.
  • You must wash your hair with shampoo at least five times to ensure that none of the molecules are left on your hair strands.
  • You can apply a hair mask or oil after that to reinstall some moisture that you stripped your hair off.

Does vinegar remove semi-permanent hair color?

One of the best ways of removing hair dye from your hair is by using vinegar. It is not only effective and long-lasting but also simple to use, cheap, and available readily in our homes.

Vinegar works in stripping your hair off-color because it is acidic. Most hair dyes can not handle acidic substances. The acid can help eliminate the color without damaging your scalp, as most other expensive products do.

You need to use plain white vinegar for this process and let your hair soak in the liquid for 3-4 minutes. After that, rinse your hair with a lot of warm water. Repeat this procedure three times a week for up to 2 weeks.

You can also spray a mixture of white vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:1 and then cover your hair with a shower cap for up to 20 mins and then rinse off.