A disastrous semi-permanent hair colour can make you miserable and self-conscious, even though it won’t last forever. Semi-permanent dye leaves colour only on the outermost hair layers and is a good choice if you are afraid of making a mistake with colour. It only lasts around six to 12 shampoos before washing out. However, sometimes that is too long to wait. Make a clarifying shampoo to shift semi-permanent hair dye more quickly using ingredients you have at home.

Add one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to your regular shampoo to turn it into a clarifying shampoo that removes build-up and helps strip the hair of dye. Alternatively, mix bicarbonate of soda with water to make a paste. Massage it into your roots and rinse well.

  • A disastrous semi-permanent hair colour can make you miserable and self-conscious, even though it won’t last forever.
  • Add one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to your regular shampoo to turn it into a clarifying shampoo that removes build-up and helps strip the hair of dye.

Rub olive oil or almond oil into your hair and wrap your head in a shower cap or cling film. Leave for one or two hours then shampoo out the oil, shampooing up to three times.

  • Rub olive oil or almond oil into your hair and wrap your head in a shower cap or cling film.

Use two tablespoons of lemon juice in half a cup of warm water. Apply as a final rinse after shampooing and conditioning. Lemon juice helps remove product build-up and also lightens the effect of the dye.

Use vitamin C in sachets or crush up to 20 vitamin C tablets. Mix the powder with shampoo to make a paste, roughly one part vitamin C to two parts shampoo. Comb through damp hair and wrap your head in a plastic bag. Leave it on the hair for one or two hours then wash out with regular shampoo and conditioner.

TIP

Help get rid of semi-permanent colour more quickly by washing your hair more often. Use hot water rather than cold. Anti-dandruff shampoo and baby shampoo are best for the purpose of stripping dye away.

WARNING

Bicarbonate of soda can be harsh on your scalp and hair. Rinse immediately if you feel itching or tingling and don’t wash with bicarbonate of soda more than once every few days.