Even the most experienced hair stylists can make a mess when doing hair. This is especially true if you are doing your hair at home. Hair dye tends to stain almost anything it touches, including your skin. Here are some tips and tricks to get hair dye off your skin after dyeing your hair.
In this article
How Long Does Hair Dye Stay on Skin?
On average, permanent hair dye will remain on your skin for about one to two weeks. Skin regenerates around every 27 days, but with constant washing, hair dye should fade quicker than that. If you're cleansing your skin every day, you may be able to get it off in a few days.
Is Hair Dye Bad for Your Skin?
For the most part, hair dye is harmless to your skin aside from staining and potential irritation or allergic reaction. This is why it is important to do a patch test before applying any hair dye.
A patch test will let you know if you have any allergy to the hair dye you are interested in using before you apply it all over your hair.
Hair dye can also cause irritation to your eyes, nose and mouth if used incorrectly. Keep it away from your face as much as possible and always use hair dye in a well-ventilated area. Of course, it isn't possible to keep your skin completely stain-free when you're dyeing the baby hair around your face.
Thankfully, there are ways to remove hair dye from your skin quickly.
How to Remove Hair Dye from Skin
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Color Brilliance Stain Remover
If you want something that is easy to use and made specifically for removing hair dye stains from skin, you may want to try Color Brilliance Stain Remover by ion. There are two options of wipes or a bottle.
For a one time use, the wipes are an easy bet. But if you frequently dye your hair, especially vivid colors, you may want to buy a bottle and use cotton rounds to clean up your skin.
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Soap
The tried and true water and soap should work well to get hair dye off your skin. It can help clear away the majority of pigment from your skin, especially if you use warm water.
This means you can also use soap that you know is paired correctly to your skin. It may take a few washes to clear away the hair dye completely, though, so have a face moisturizer or mask on hand to solve any dry skin that may come from so much water and scrubbing.
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Vinegar
Vinegar is good to use before or after dyeing your hair. Lining your skin around the hairline before applying hair dye can help prevent it from dyeing your skin. If it's too late and you've already dyed your hair without it, you can still use vinegar to rub on the edges of the stain with a soaked cotton pad as dye remover.
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Baby Oil
Baby oil works similar to vinegar without the pungent smell. Apply baby oil to the affected area and gently rub with a cotton ball. Afterward, rinse with a warm wet towel.
Pro Tip
Baby oil is extremely gentle and safe for your skin and face, but avoid getting it in your eyes.
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Makeup Remover
Some makeup removers are good for more than mascara and foundation. A good makeup remover may also clean up dye-stained skin. Use wipes or cotton balls in a circular motion along the stained area.
Micellar cleansing water also works especially well!
For some makeup removers, you may need to wait five minutes before washing away with warm water.
Pro Tip
If you get hair dye on your hands, you can also use nail polish remover. Don't use nail polish remover on your face, however.
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Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly is not only great for stain removal, but it's also good for your skin. This jelly can help moisturize your skin while you remove hair dye stains- a win-win! If you have sensitive skin, make sure to perform a small test away from your face in order to gauge your body's reaction to petroleum jelly or any of the items on this list. Only leave it on for a few minutes before wiping away.
Pro Tip
Petroleum jelly can also prevent stains if you apply it to your hairline before starting to dye your hair.
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Olive Oil
If you want a more gentle alternative, olive oil can be used on sensitive areas of your skin (such as your face) to get rid of hair dye stains. Olive oil gently breaks away the dye pigment particles from your skin cells.
Pro Tip
As with any of these options, do a patch test if you are not sure whether or not you are allergic to olive oil. Place a small amount of olive oil on your skin away from your face (preferably somewhere on your arm) and wipe it away. Wait 48 hours. If you don't have a reaction, you aren't allergic. If you see redness or irritation, however, do not use olive oil again.
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Toothpaste
Believe it or not, non-gel toothpaste can actually help you remove stains from hair dye. Place some toothpaste on a cotton ball and gently apply it to the stains on your skin. Let the toothpaste sit for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping away with a wet washcloth or makeup wipe.
With any of these solutions, make sure to keep them out of your eyes and mouth. Check ingredients for known allergens and clear away each with warm water after you have washed away the hair dye from your skin.
Pro Tip
This option is easy, since you already have toothpaste at home. Make sure your toothpaste is non-gel, however, as non-gel toothpaste will be most effective (and less sticky).
How to Avoid Staining Your Skin with Hair Dye
The best way to make sure your skin remains unstained is to take precautions to avoid getting hair dye on it. Here are just some quick tips on easy ways to avoid getting hair dye all over when dyeing your (or someone else's) hair.
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Wear Gloves
Before you ever open a tube of dye, make sure you have the right gloves. Gloves will protect your hands as you dye your hair, whether you're using an applicator brush or your hands alone.
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Use a Towel
Make sure you are wearing a towel around your shoulders, preferably secured with a clip so it doesn't move. This can protect your shoulders and neck from hair dye. Make sure you use a towel that you don't mind getting stained!
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Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly is super useful for preventing dye from staining your skin by creating a barrier. Apply a thin coat of Petroleum jelly along your hairline before dyeing your hair. When hair dye gets on the petroleum jelly, it will be easy to wipe off, leaving your skin mostly unstained.
Closing Tips
A lot of these options for dye removal may leave your skin dry, so make sure to have a moisturizer on hand to counteract it. A good moisturizer can revitalize your skin after things like soap strip away the natural oils protecting your skin.
