The Best Ways to Remove Hair Dye From Skin, According to the Pros

We've all been there: You leave the salon with a great new color, and—gah!—it looks like your hair isn't the only thing that's been dyed. If you're wondering how to remove hair dye from your skin, we have your answer. Actually, we have 13 solutions, and you'll be pleased to know that many of them are probably in your kitchen cabinet right now. Keep reading to learn the best ways to remove hair dye from your skin, according to top colorists and a dermatologist.

Use a Coat of Vaseline When Applying the Dye

According to dermatologist Nava Greenfield, “The most important way to avoid hair dye from staining skin is to avoid getting it on the skin in the first place. Using a coat of Vaseline or mineral oil on the scalp and around the scalp before applying the hair dye can help avoid contact of the dye with the skin."

Color expert Courtney Goebel agrees: "Petroleum jelly works wonderfully to prevent hair color stains," she says. "Just swipe an even amount of product around the hairline and on the ears.” 

Keep in mind that Vaseline will block color from reaching the hair, so colorist AJ Lordet makes it a point to apply it cleanly and evenly on the skin only. 

Wear Gloves

Don't forget the gloves. "Always wear gloves, [dye] never comes off fingernails!" Lordet cautions. "A tissue is good for the [glove] wipe-off."

Clean During the Dyeing Process

Goebel also advocates for cleaning the hairline regularly throughout the dyeing process, as this will catch drips ahead of time. “Since the heat from the scalp can sometimes make the color run, definitely check on the progress of your hair color during processing," she instructs. "To ensure color doesn’t run down the back of the neck, I like to loosely twist the hair up and clip up the ends. Now the hair is up and out of the way while the color processes,” she says.

Try Baby Wipes

If your color does start to run while the dye is being applied, Goebel recommends reaching for another drugstore product. “If you are in a pinch, baby wipes work nicely to gently remove color from the skin,” she says. Coterie's baby wipes are particularly gentle, making them prime for removing dye from the sensitive skin of the face.

Massage the Scalp and Skin

Goebel turns to an (admittedly counterintuitive) old stylist trick when removing dye from the scalp or hairline: Use the hair color itself to remove dye from the scalp.

“After your hair color has been processed, pop into the shower. With gloved hands, add a little water to the hair,” she says. “Starting at the hairline, massage the hair color in circular motions away from the hairline. Continue to massage the full scalp for two to three minutes. The act of massaging helps to warm up the color, removing it from the scalp and also adding shine to the hair. After the color has moved away from the scalp and feels creamy, rinse the hair color out thoroughly.”

Use a Color-Safe Shampoo and Conditioner

Afterward, use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner like eSalon Classic Color Care Shampoo and Classic Color Care Conditioner. "By shampooing and conditioning the hair, you will ensure all of the hair color has been removed from the scalp,” Goebel says.

Rub Petroleum Jelly Into the Skin

Petroleum jelly will come in clutch if the color has dripped down your neck or face—or if it's made it's way into a hard-to-clean area, like the nails or hands.

"If you want to remove it more quickly, you can rub petroleum jelly (using a glove or wipe) gently onto the skin," Greenfield says. "The petroleum jelly will absorb most of the dye, and then you can wipe it away." If it's on your hands, work it directly into the skin, sans gloves, wiping it off afterward.

Apply a Gentle Soap

Greenfield adds, "If that doesn’t completely do the trick, try some gentle soap or unscented laundry detergent. Lather it up, and then rub it gently on the affected skin. Rinse and repeat until the desired effect is reached.” This is an especially good idea for nails, as you can get them really sudsy in the sink until the dye washes off. Try Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser; the drugstore classic is fragrance-free and noncomedogenic, so it won’t irritate stained skin, even after repeated use.

Use a Hair Color Stain Remover

When all else fails, celebrity colorist Giselle turns to an inexpensive, yet effective product: Roux Clean Touch Hair Color Stain Remover. Simply pat it onto the stained skin with a cotton ball and rinse. "It's affordable and works great," she says. Plus, it's used by expert colorists around the globe—so you know it works. This is another great tactic for stained nails and hands, as the liquid remover can be worked into crevices and easily be cleaned off.

Rub it With Toothpaste

Believe it or not, toothpaste can also come in handy when hair dye seeps into the skin. To use this method, rub a scant amount of toothpaste along the hairline or the area where the dye has dribbled — you can rub it in with a toothbrush to help the product lift off. Just note that toothpaste can be drying, so follow it up with a gentle moisturizer or a good, hydrating hand cream.

Mix Dish Soap & Baking Soda

Hair dye meets its match in a D.I.Y. scrub made from dish soap and baking soda. To whip up this strangely effective concoction, squeeze about five drops of dish soap into a bowl with two tablespoons of baking soda—for extra credit, you can toss in a drop of shampoo, too. Apply the paste to the affected area, then wash it off and let it dry.

Apply Olive Oil

Olive oil is another hair-dye lifter, and it's not as abrasive on the skin as toothpaste or baking soda can be. (Just note that it's not quite as effective, so you may want to use this method for lighter stains only.) To use olive oil to remove hair dye, apply it to the affected area by rubbing it on with your fingers. Then, let the olive oil sit for about eight hours so that it has long enough to break up the color. You can rinse it off with water and soap.

Wait It Out

Of course, you can always just wait it out. According to Greenfield, "hair dye will fade [from the skin] usually within just a few days if you do nothing." So if you're in no rush—or if the above methods didn't yield much success—just give it some time.