Removing black hair color

Help!
I have naturally light brown hair almost blonde. I have been dying it black (with various at home dyes) for about 2 years. I hate it and want to go back to my natural color. I was told that stripping my hair with bleach will totally dry it out and I don’t want to have nasty straw hair.

Are there any at home bleaches that won’t kill my hair too much? Also once my hair is bleached I will have to put the brown color on top, so what can I do to make sure it doesn’t look brassy. I guess my question is what is the best thing to do to go from black hair to light brown and what products to use when doing it myself at home since most hair stylists that I went to are either way too expensive or don’t recommend the procedure. Thanks!

Comments for
Removing black hair color

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 21, 2007

Going back to natural...help
by: Beyond Barber

The reason most hairdressers don't recommend it is because it is a very, very, very hard process that requires lots of time, energy and knowledge. Listen to the pros. If your car engine blows up and you ask mechanics how to fix it they will give you a big price to do it right. It is why most people can't replace an engine and why most people can't turn fake black into cute natural brown. Get your grow out as long as you can stand it then get a cute and short cut and grow it out. That is the only option that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars and won't turn your hair a straw orange.

Nov 24, 2007

A few options...
by: Michelle

While it's true that this is a difficult process that can leave your hair depleted of protein and moisture, it IS possible.

Check out this page, which has instructions for a few different methods of removing hair color...

Hair Color Removal

Please read the advice thoroughly as there are some VERY important points which will have a great impact on your results.

Another option is to have a stylist foil in some highlights. That way, you're getting a lighter look to the hair without damaging all of it.

Hope this helps!

All the best,
Michelle
Editor, SHM.com

Jan 27, 2008

removing black hair color
by: Anonymous

You need to start with a 'bleach cocktail'. I'm not very familiar with drugstore brands, but you will need bleach.....a blond 'color' or 'dye' will not work. Mix the bleach according to the directions, and add shampoo. just enough to make the bleach managable. Wash your hair with it, this should take 10 min, at the very most. Keep a close eye on it, and once it's slightly lighter than the brown you are looking for, remove it. Make sure to condition your hair well.

The second step is to pick the brown you want, use half natural brown, and half ash brown. The ash will help cut out the orange tint.

My only concerne, is if you lighten your hair too much with the cocktail, the brown will not hold afterwards. You need pigment to hold pigment, so pay close attention while the cocktail is on.

Dec 20, 2008

Removing black dye
by: Anonymous

Hello,

I dyed my hair black a few weeks ago, it was meant to come out dark brown!!! I tried dry shampooing it with Head and Shoulders but that didn't seem to shirt it, so i then used nuetrogena anti dandruff and i could see the colour coming out! Its really good stuff anf it helped it fade loads! Hope this helps you! x

Mar 02, 2009

dont try this at home
by: Anonymous

get it done professionally. color removing is pretty harsh on your hair and doesnt give you the same color and tone allover your head. color removing will not restore your natural color. and getting black out.... TOUGH. color removing once probably wont do the job. trust me, i've been there. i colored my hair black for four years and suddenly decided i wanted to change. it took 5 color removing processes to get to a halfway decent color (thank god my sister does hair). my advice. dont try to do it at home. its more expensive but totally worth it.

Apr 02, 2009

helpp!!
by: Jade Williams

Ive dyed my hair black only for like 6 months and its kinda getting on my nerves because my roots keep coming through and im naturally brown, i want to go back brown whats the best way? someone said bleaching my hair blonde then going brown?

Apr 08, 2009

Bull Honkey
by: Anonymous

I had to get my black hair dye out and I sent to a local hair salon. It took five hours BUT they did get it back to pretty close to my natural hair color. I paid 185 dollars. and that's including a 15 dollar tip.

Nov 11, 2009

15 dollar tip
by: Anonymous

honkey,
I used to work in the hair industry, but I don't have a beauty liscense. You were at a salon for five hours to do a color correction (that what it's called when you go from dark to light). And it was $170, not only is that not a huge amount some places charge up to 250 especially for 5 hours of work. My Problem is this you gave her $15 for a tip? but your total was 170....$15 would be 15% on $100. If you can't afford to pay for the service completely than don't go! thats so rude

Nov 13, 2009

tips
by: Anonymous

It is true that the tip was very small but i have two daughters that both do hair and they would rather someone come to them and give them any business at all even if they tip small. Business is slow everywhere and when you say if you cant pay the full tip dont go to use the service i have to say my girls would disagree - although i would never go to dinner and not pay the at least 15% tip if the service were good!

Feb 07, 2010

Im trying to do the same thing.
by: Candisse Witney

Hi, my names Candy and atm im trying to do the same thing. My natural hair colour is quite a light brown but i have been dying my hai myself forthe last 2 years, atm my hair is black and i want to go blonde. I say that you should get your hair stripped and bleached the way that you want it but then once it is done bave your hair in jamaican oil. For the next 2 weeks keep shampooing your hair with jamaican shampoo and it really works, your hair will be lovely.

Mar 14, 2010

removing black hair dye
by: Anonymous

Hi,
I had black hair for many years and wanted to get it stripped.
So i used a bleach wash which is not so hard on your hair,Mix one part Bleach,One part proxide and one part shampoo give a good mix and apply to damp hair.
leave on about 30 minutes and rinse,you will need to do this a few times to get your hair to a ginger/orange base,
hope this helps..