It can happen to even the most skilled, veteran at-home colorist: you use a box color to dye your hair [2] and to your surprise the hue [3] comes out much darker than you had hoped — or feel prepared for.
Before you panic and swear your hair is ruined forever, there are ways to lighten dyed hair that is too dark [4] in a pinch. Of course the preferred move is always to go ahead and see a professional colorist, but if that's not an option for you, you can try everything from going in with a special shampoo to at-home apple cider vinegar recipes, or even — if you just need someone else to walk you through the process — calling the professional line on the back of your box dye (yes, you can call in reinforcements.)
The main thing you really want to remember when trying to lighten dyed hair that's come out too dark is to stay calm and assess the situation before you make any additional moves. A plethora of factors like how dark your hair got, the dye you used, etc. will all come into play when figuring out what to do next. If you're in a position where you're less than satisfied with the hue that you ended up with out of the box and you're wondering how to lighten dyed hair at home, we rounded up a few tips to fix your hair [5] ahead.
How to Lighten Dyed Hair: Try a Clarifying Shampoo
Clarifying shampoos like the Kenra Professional Clarifying Shampoo [6] ($16) are full of color-stripping surfactants — the stuff that makes your shampoo and soaps lather. The faster you can get to your freshly dyed hair, the better; just make sure you deep condition afterward.
How to Lighten Dyed Hair: Call the Hotline on the Box
If you experience unwanted results from at-home hair color, immediately call the hotline number on the side or back of the box. The company representative can offer you professional advice on what to do next.
How to Lighten Dyed Hair: Try a Color Remover
The only true way to lighten color is to remove it. Just keep in mind once that unwanted color has been removed from your hair, sometimes toners have to be added to color correct. There are color-removing products like L'Oréal ColorZap [7] ($12) readily available at the nearest beauty supply store, but if your hair color is still not looking right, heading to a professional is probably the best option.
How to Lighten Dyed Hair: See a Colorist
Because semipermanent or demipermanent colors typically fade a lot faster than permanent colors, they are often more gentle for the home colorist. When coloring your hair at home, go only one to two shades lighter or darker than your natural hair color to avoid any big mistakes. If you're unsure of anything during the hair dye process, visit a colorist at your hair salon.