There are a lot of things to love about dying your own hair. It's quick, it's (for the most part) easy and it saves like a million dollars. What we don't love? When some rogue box dye ends up on our skin and the frantic rubbing that ensues.
We obviously try our best to take protective measures before we apply our color, but a bit of dye inevitably somehow ends up streaking our face or neck. If we act quickly, a lightly wet a cotton ball with some warm water can do the trick — but let's be real, we usually don't notice the blobs of wayward color until it's too late.
Preventative measures
Like we mentioned above, when it comes to getting dye off the skin, the best offense is a good defense.
Before you put on your plastic gloves, apply a dab of conditioner, Vaseline or lip balm around the hairline and other areas you know are subject to dripping color (like earlobes, eyebrows, the jawline and the nape of your neck). This will provide a barrier that color can't attach to or stain. Further, having a visual cue of your danger zones can help to mentally manage your color application.
Removing hair color stains
If you're past the point of creating a color boundary and you've now got a full-blown stain to contend with, Kari Hill, expert colorist for L'Oreal Paris, advises clients that when stains are faint, patience may just be the best policy. "If there is a shadow, I tell my clients to go home and wait a bit until some of their natural oils have returned to their skin. Then I have them use an oil-based eye makeup remover with a cotton ball," shares Hill.
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There are loads of other old wives' tales out there when it comes to removing hair color from the skin. Though many of these will depend on how much color has seeped, how permanent the dye blend is, where it is located and how sensitive your skin is, one of these home-tested methods might just do the trick for you.
Next Up: Olive oil and baby oil
Originally published November 2011. Updated May 2017.
1. Olive oil and baby oil
Some experts suggest dabbing a cotton ball or cotton swab in olive oil. Then gently rub on the stained area until the colors fade. Cortney Crace, a color expert at Butterfly Studio Salon, says that success with olive oil can be hit or miss because it can prove to be too concentrated of an oil and cause skin problems for some. Her alternative? Baby oil.
"Mix [face] cleanser with baby oil and apply or use some baby oil, first applying directly on the problem area, rotating in circular motions to target [the] stain, then cleanse the area," she says
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2. Makeup remover
If you have sensitive skin, this one's for you. Crace says makeup remover is a great multipurpose product that can tackle hair dye stains in most cases. "Apply on a cotton ball with hair pulled back and rub away," she says. Wait five minutes before rinsing and check the stain. It should disappear.
3. Nail polish remover
A quick Google search will bring up several articles on how nail polish remover removes hair dye from skin. According to many, it works. However, Crace isn't quick to recommend it.
"My advice is always to stray away from using nail polish remover on any part of the face," she says.
4. Hairspray
Finally, if all else fails spray a bit of hairspray onto a cotton ball. Before the color has time to dye your face, rub the cotton ball onto the stained area of skin to break the bond of color to the skin. Crace admits, she has not heard of much success with this method. So...
If at-home methods fail when trying to remove hair color stains, turn to the pros. Professional beauty supply store chains, like Sally's Beauty Supply, sell inexpensive hair color stain removal blends that should do the trick.
"Also, don't forget you can always give your local/nearest salon a visit to help remove the stain with a professional, gentle solution," says Crace.