Semi-Permanent Hair Dye is Not Washing Out! Help!

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Semi-permanent hair dye is one of the most popular methods of temporarily coloring your hair on the market. It’s a simple, easy, and fun way to add a splash of color to your hair without the long-term commitment of sticking with one color or using permanent dyes that can damage hair.

Does semi-permanent hair dye wash out on its own?

Yes, semi-permanent hair dye is supposed to wash out on its own. But sometimes it can be a bit problematic. So now, you’re on Google, typing in, “My Semi-permanent hair dye is not washing out!”

Maybe you used the wrong dye, or you’re just tired of how it looks, and you want it out of your hair ASAP. Whatever the case is, though, we’ve got you covered.

In today’s post, we’ll show you exactly how to wash out your semi-permanent hair dye and restore your natural hair color.

Contents

Does Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Wash Out?

First things first, does semi-permanent hair dye wash out? Yes, it will absolutely wash out of your hair, typically after around 8 shampoos. That is one of the basic qualities of semi-permanent dye, and is essentially a universal aspect of all of these products.

Assuming everything goes right. But sometimes everything doesn’t go right.

So now, why isn’t your dye washing out? Let’s figure it out!

Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Is Not Washing Out?!

The appeal of semi-permanent hair dye is obvious – it’s not permanent.

Typically, semi-permanent hair dye is supposed to wash out over the course of 8 to 12 shampoo sessions. Ultimately, it depends on your hair type, but this means that most semi-permanent coloring should wash out in a month or two at most.

So, if you haven’t gone through a full 8 to 12 shampoos yet, then that’s the most likely reason why the dye isn’t washing out yet.

You just need to have a bit more patience.

Also, it could be that you’re not fully lathering the shampoo in your hair.

If that’s not your case, though, you’re probably wondering, “It’s already been a full 2 months. What am I supposed to do now?”

Well, let’s take a look…

Double-Check The Type Of Hair Dye You Used

The first step should be to clarify what type of hair dye you used. If you applied it yourself or you went to a professional salon, then there’s always the off chance that you or your stylist used the wrong type of dye.

You could have received a permanent dye instead.

If you discover that permanent dye was used, then you might be out of luck. While you can attempt to use a color-removing product, it likely won’t be able to get rid of all of the permanent hair dye.

How To Remove Semi-Permanent Hair Dye

Once you’ve established that the dye you used was, in fact, semi-permanent dye, then you have several different options available to you. Let’s start with some of the easier, less damaging options first.

Most of the methods described below may require 2 to 3 washings, but they should always do the trick. The main advantage of these less-invasive options is that they won’t leave your hair quite as damaged and stripped.

Method 1: Deep-Cleaning Shampoo

Using a deep-cleaning shampoo is a good first step and is probably the least damaging out of all of the methods described in this post. The best type of deep-cleaning shampoo to use is one that is meant to combat heavy dandruff or flaky scalp.

These shampoos tend to have extra cleaning solutions and can also re-hydrate your hair and scalp at the same time. This, in turn, minimizes the damage that’s done to your hair.

Method 2: Anti-Dandruff Shampoo + Baking Soda

If using the anti-dandruff shampoo by itself didn’t work, then it’s time to kick it up a notch. Your next best bet is to add baking soda to the mix.

You might be thinking, “Baking soda?! Isn’t that what they use to bake with?”

Well, yes, it is. However, it’s also used for a variety of cleaning purposes as well. It’s a safe and effective stripping agent that can remove oils, leftover hair products, and even semi-permanent dye from your hair and scalp, leaving it extra clean and giving you a clean slate to start on.

To use baking soda in your hair, mix a tablespoon into a few ounces of water and then pour it into a small spray bottle. Then, spray the solution on your hair. Make sure that you lift up the layers of your hair and ensure that all of the hairs are thoroughly coated. Let it sit in your hair for 5 minutes.

Then, hop in the shower and rinse it out. Finally, use a bit more of that anti-dandruff shampoo you have and lather it in before washing it off. Most of the semi-permanent hair dye should come out after the first washing. If there’s still some remaining, then try washing it once more.

Method 3: Use Dish Soap

Dish soap to remove color? Really?!

If you’re really in a bind, can’t get to the store, and need something affordable and easy, then you can always just use dish soap. The most commonly used dish soaps would be Dawn or Ajax. Just get the most basic one you can find without a bunch of extra additives.

Like baking soda, dish soap acts as a powerful stripping agent and can remove oils and temporary dyes from the surface of your hair. The only downfall of this method is that it can really dry your hair and scalp out.

So, make sure you apply lots of conditioner or oil to your hair after using dish soap in it.

What’s The Fastest Way To Remove Semi-Permanent Hair Dye?

The quickest way, by far, to remove semi-permanent hair dye is to use a color-removing solution. These can be purchased online or at most beauty stores that sell hair dye. The color remover is a powerful blend designed to break down the bonds between color molecules.

Once the color molecules are broken down, they can be easily washed out with water. Just make sure that you follow all of the instructions on the packaging to a T.

If you misuse or incorrectly use the color remover like Color Oops, you could damage your hair or even make your problem worse.

Final Tips

Generally speaking, semi-permanent hair dye should wash out on its own after a month or two. However, if you’re having trouble getting it out, then the fastest solution is to use a color-removing product.

If you’re not comfortable with chemical color removers, then we definitely recommend trying one of the DIY methods described above!