How to Remove Hair Dye from Skin

Dying your hair at home can be messy. Use the methods below to remove the dye from your skin so you can go out and show off your new ‘do.

• A makeup remover wipe
• Cigarette ash
• Toothpaste
• Lemon juice
• Rubbing alcohol
• Vinegar
• Hair dye

1. Use a make-up remover wipe to remove the dye from your skin.¹
2. Cigarette ash can be effective at removing the dye from your skin. Find an ash tray and rub the ash onto your skin. Rinse and repeat if needed until the dye is removed.²
3. Place some non-gel toothpaste, such as Colgate Regular Flavor Toothpaste, on a damp cloth and rub the dye stain in circles.³ Rinse and repeat until the stain is removed.
4. Lemon juice is often effective for removing dye stains from skin.⁴
5. Rubbing alcohol can be effective for removing hair dye stains from clothing.⁵ If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, try hair spray, which contains alcohol.⁶
6. Vinegar can also be effective for removing the dye from your clothes.⁷ Dilute the vinegar if desired and soak your hands in the vinegar solution for several minutes.
7. Rubbing fresh hair dye on the dried hair dye areas on your skin can sometimes freshen the stain for easier removal.² If the stains aren’t coming out with the above methods, try freshening the stain and then remove it with one of the methods above.

• Rub petroleum jelly along your hairline to prevent dying your skin along with your hair.²
• Stick sanitary pads lengthwise along your hairline or neck and shoulders to prevent the dye from dripping onto your skin.⁸

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