OK, so you’ve broken into the box hair dye (we know, sometimes needs are must) and now you’re left with some super Zoom-friendly dye along your hairline. Should you just wrap your head in a headscarf and hope it fades? Well, the good news is there are a few options for safely removing hair dye stains from your face and neck and you’ll probably already have the ingredients.
Now, there are some suggestions circulating online that we’d definitely not recommend – WD-40 and nail varnish remover are just some. Remember, the skin around your face is one of the most delicate parts of your body, you need to choose the gentlest method humanly possible.
Prevent it
We’ll admit this isn’t very helpful if you’re reading this while already stained to the nines but it’s worth the education so bear with. Before you begin painting your hair, use a thin layer of Vaseline or oil (this could be coconut oil or olive oil) around your hairline, making sure you go around your ears. This creates a barrier between the dye and your skin. Medical tape also works well – but you might not necessarily have enough of this and it’s a little more fiddly. It’s also worth noting that moisturised skin doesn’t drink up dye so easily, so keep skin around your head well hydrated beforehand.
Like makeup, applying box hair dye requires using more than just a one-size-fits-all brush. Use a smaller brush for the hair nearest to your face and, if possible, use a magnifying vanity mirror so you can see everything up close so your application can be as neat as possible.
The products that help remove hair dye
The expert-recommended ways to remove hair dye stains from your skin.
1. Waterproof makeup remover
This product was made for your face so it’s worth trying first before doing anything too drastic. If rubbing the waterproof makeup remover around the skin doesn’t work, makeup remover face wipes might be more effective. Buff out the stain and leave it for five minutes before rinsing off.
2. Laundry detergent
According to Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner‘s hair colourist, George Papanikolas, if expert help is off the cards (like, um, right now) try mixing up a little laundry detergent, baby oil, or olive oil, on to a damp cloth and gently rub the skin. Detergent is apparently the fastest acting but may not be suitable for anyone with sensitive skin so oil is the next best solution. According to the stylist, “I’ve never tried this technique, but it’s an old wives’ tale in salons,” he says.
3. Toothbrush and toothpaste
This is quite abrasive and is basically like an aggressive exfoliation so one to turn to as a last resort. Use a clean toothbrush to gently brush the stain. It might require a gentle brush every day until marks are gone because you’re removing the skin rather than just the dye. Be careful not too go to hard, you’ll end up red and sore.