How to lighten hair dye that is too dark?

Author: Miss Lulu Lakin  |  Last update: Saturday, January 3, 2026

How to Lighten Hair Dyed Too Dark with a DIY Approach
  1. Use a paste of Baking Soda and Lemon Juice.
  2. Wash your Hair with Apple Cider Vinegar.
  3. Take some Vitamin C Tablets.
  4. Wash Hair With Clarifying Shampoo.
  5. Use Purple or Blue Shampoo for Brassy Tones.
  6. Do a Bleach Bath.
  7. Bleed the Color Out.
  8. Use Hair Lightener or Toner.

What to do if your hair dye is too dark?

Bleeding the color out is the optimal solution providing that you have the right product on hand. A regular or clarifying shampoo would be the best product in this situation, and ideally, you should keep washing it until enough dark dye has bled out of your hair that you're happy with the resulting hue.

Will Dawn dish soap lighten dyed hair?

Dish Soap

Fortunately, if you go through the effort of using this drying soap on your dyed hair, it can help remove unwanted color. You'll need to do many washes to fade it out, but it is a step in the right direction if you want to remove a color.

How do you fade hair dye asap?

One approach is to use a clarifying shampoo to gradually fade the color. Another option is to apply a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and conditioner to the hair, leaving it for several hours before rinsing. Additionally, rinsing with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water can help lighten the hair over time.

Can you make dyed dark hair lighter?

If your hair is color treated in any way, the only way to lighten it is with bleach. That's it. No matter WHAT the formula of color in your hair may be.

What To Do If Hair Dye Is Too Dark | 6 Easy Methods To Tone Down Dark Hair Color

Can dark hair be dyed lighter without bleaching?

In general, those looking to dye dark hair without bleach will fare best with colors as dark as or darker than your existing hue—think moody burgundies, deep browns, or inky blacks. If you want to go lighter, you'll typically need some form of bleach. Without bleach, you can only deposit color, not lift it.

How to make hair dye fade faster?

Washing your hair frequently with hot water can also help speed up the fading process. Additionally, exposing your hair to sunlight can naturally lighten the dye.

How can I lighten permanent hair dye quickly?

How to Lighten Hair Dyed Too Dark with a DIY Approach
  1. Use a paste of Baking Soda and Lemon Juice.
  2. Wash your Hair with Apple Cider Vinegar.
  3. Take some Vitamin C Tablets.
  4. Wash Hair With Clarifying Shampoo.
  5. Use Purple or Blue Shampoo for Brassy Tones.
  6. Do a Bleach Bath.
  7. Bleed the Color Out.
  8. Use Hair Lightener or Toner.

What shampoo fades hair dye?

Sulphate-rich shampoos are ideal for stripping hair since they help to release the colour - especially with dark or vibrant colours. These include clarifying or deep cleansing shampoo or anti-dandruff shampoo.

How to fade dark hair dye without damage?

Vinegar rinse

Vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, is a natural way to adjust hair's pH and fade color gently. It is often used as a natural alternative to clarifying shampoo. The acetic acid in vinegar helps to break down the dye, making it easier to wash out. To use, mix one part vinegar with two parts water.

Does Toothpaste lighten hair dye?

Despite the presence of hydrogen peroxide, dousing your strands in toothpaste isn't a proven method of lightening hair.

What happens if you put Dawn in your hair?

“Dawn dish soap has a high pH level so it opens the hair cuticle, allowing color molecules to be washed away and can, therefore, be used to remove or lighten hair color on your hair,” licensed cosmetologist Laura Dale told Stylecraze.com while reviewing the trend.

Will head and shoulders remove hair dye?

Can Head & Shoulders remove hair dye? Simply put: no! One of the most common myths online is that Head & Shoulders strips colour from your hair more than typical beauty shampoos. All of these claims have something in common – they're not based on science.

How to fix hair dyed too light?

5 Tips to Correct Hair that Was Colored too Light
  1. 1) Apply a darker shade to your hair. Be careful not to end up with the opposite problem: having to correct a color that is too dark. ...
  2. 2) Choose a color full of nutrients. ...
  3. 3) Prevent other hair dye mistakes. ...
  4. 4) Pamper your hair. ...
  5. 5) Test before going forward.

What to mix with hair dye to make it lighter?

Want a lighter colour? Add conditioner. Mixing white conditioner with the semi permanent dyes will lighten the colour, turning down the intensity and taking it to more of a pastel vibe. Just be aware that it can also mean the colour might fade more quickly.

How to fix a bad hair dye job?

If you had a bad coloring job your best bet is to visit a reputable beauty salon and have a trained professional perform corrective coloring that will rid you of the unnatural color and give your hair a second chance.

What naturally fades hair dye?

Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda can be an effective way to remove permanent hair dye naturally because of its lightening properties. Try mixing baking soda with lemon juice, which is acidic, to create a paste. Then, work the paste through your hair, allow it to sit for five minutes, and rinse thoroughly.

Does purple shampoo fade hair dye?

Purple shampoo will not fade or remove red color but can impact its visual effect. A purple shampoo used sparingly can help remove bronzy and brassy tones. However, if you are trying to achieve a vibrant orange and red, which are warm tones, using a purple shampoo too often can tone down the vibrant visual effect.

What ingredient fades hair color?

There are some sulfates included in shampoos that can be quite strong and inadvertently cause your color to fade. They do this by penetrating the hair's cuticle, which strips natural oils and dries out your hair.

How do you fix dyed hair too dark?

You Dyed Your Hair Too Dark

Once you've noticed the color is too dark, you can make the dye fade faster by washing it as soon as possible with a clarifying shampoo — focusing on the deepest parts if the color is uneven.

What is the quickest way to fade hair dye?

Ways to Fade Hair Color

Wash your hair with clarifying shampoo as soon as possible after dyeing it, then rinse with hot water to strip away the color. Try exposing your hair to the elements as well, like the sun, salt water, and chlorinated water. As a last resort, apply a chemical color remover to strip the dye.

Does adding conditioner to permanent dye make it lighter?

The ratio of the dye and conditioner can be adjusted depending on the intensity of the color you want. The more the conditioner, the lighter and pastel the color will be. Part your hair, and evenly apply the mixture from the hair roots to the ends.

Does Dawn dish soap remove hair dye?

You can try washing with Dawn dish soap. It may remove some of the new dye If done quick enough. If you can't afford to go to a salon or there are none open for you to go to, you can try using a toner that will help tone down the new hair dye color.

What is the least damaging way to lighten your hair?

Natural bleaching agents like apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, chamomile tea, or cinnamon and honey can lighten hair gently and naturally with minimal damage.

Does baking soda fade hair dye?

Baking soda and vinegar

Allow it to sit for a few minutes on your hair to get the best results. The acid requires enough time to oxidize and fade your hair color. Baking soda and apple cider vinegar are two great cleansing agents that effectively fade hair dyes.

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