Can you remove semi-permanent hair dye with baking soda? Is there a better option?

Although you can use baking soda to remove semi-permanent hair dye, I don’t recommend it for four reasons:

For all these reasons, I’ll tell you some less harmful methods to remove semi-permanent hair dye.

 

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I understand that we live in a culture of “do it yourself and save a few dollars.”

Today, we find on the web a myriad of tutorials from how to paint a room like a real pro to how to build a treehouse.

But, honestly, painting a room isn’t the same as building a treehouse.

 

If you paint the room with your own hands, the risk you run is that the brushstrokes will show, it won’t look nice, and you’ll eventually have to call a professional.

In the end, you’ll spend more money. However, once the painter finishes his work, the problem is solved.

 

Alternatively, if you build a treehouse without technical knowledge, you run the risk of the treehouse falling down. And with it, all its occupants.

In this case, the price you pay is higher because people, especially children, can be seriously injured.

What does this have to do with using baking soda to fade semi-permanent hair dye?

 

Everything!

Following a YouTube tutorial to apply a homemade hair moisturizing treatment isn’t the same as using chemicals to remove semi-permanent hair dye.

Yes, you read that right. I wrote “chemicals”  because baking soda, despite its innocent appearance, is still a chemical. 

 

If you’re thinking that many people use it to remove semi-permanent hair dye, you’re right. But what proof do you have that they didn’t ruin their hair by using it?

 

None.

Instead, what you do have is my word as a professional stylist.

 And I can assure you that baking soda will damage your hair. 

I’ll take it a step further. Wouldn’t it be better to use less aggressive methods to achieve the same goals?

 

Of course, it would.

Before I tell you all about those less aggressive methods, let’s analyze why you shouldn’t use baking soda to remove semi-permanent hair dye.

 

4 reasons to avoid baking soda to wash out semi-permanent hair dye

I don’t want you to misunderstand me.

I’m not starting a campaign against baking soda.

I’m just saying that it’s not a suitable product to use on the hair. Why?

 

Reason 1: baking soda isn’t a specific beauty or hair cleansing product.

As simple as that. It can be used for other situations, but it’ll only cause hair damage.

 

Imagine that many people use baking soda to unclog the pipes or remove fungus on the bathroom tiles.

 With these examples, I want to show the corrosive power of baking soda. 

If it can kill fungus and unclog pipes, what consequences can it have on your hair? This brings us to the following reason.

 

Reason 2: baking soda can cause hair breakage.

People recommend mixing baking soda with lemon or a 20-volume peroxide to remove semi-permanent hair dye.

Can you imagine what your hair can look like after applying these explosive masks?

 

Exactly, totally ruined. Why?

 

Reason 3: Although baking soda is quite corrosive, it won’t remove all the semi-permanent hair colors.

What I mean is that if you applied a bubblegum pink to your hair yesterday, and are regretting it today, baking soda won’t remove the color.

Instead, it’ll stain your hair with strands in various shades of pink and drier than straw.

 Baking soda doesn’t remove hair dye. It just washes out the color. Also, you run the risk of lightening your base color. 

Yes, definitely using baking soda to remove semi-permanent hair dye is a disaster, whichever way you look at it.

 

Reason 4: Using baking soda on your semi-permanent dyed hair is nonsense.

Why?

 

Because semi-permanent hair dye fades with washes.

In other words,  eventually, the color will due thanks to washes. Anyway, if you still have traces of hair dye after many washes, you can resort to less harmful alternatives. 

Don’t forget that semi-permanent hair dye doesn’t change the color of your hair. It’s only deposited on the outer layer of the hair.

Do you still want to use baking soda on your hair to remove the hair dye?

 

You’ll have to look elsewhere for the information.

Because I am a slave to my words and would never recommend this method to fade semi-permanent hair dye.

But I won’t abandon you with your problem either. So, I’ll give you the healthiest solutions to remove semi-permanent hair dye.

 

What alternative methods to baking soda are there to remove semi-permanent hair dye residue?

Earlier, we said that semi-permanent hair dye is deposited on the outside of the hair and creates a film of color. So, what you need is something that removes everything deposited on the outside of the outer layer of the hair.

 

 There are two products designed for hair: ph-balanced shampoo and clarifying shampoo. 

These products remove traces of semi-permanent hair dye, dirt, dust, or any residue from masks and nourishing treatments.

Can you see the difference?

 

 You don’t need to ruin your hair with a product like baking soda if you have other hair products that can help you remove semi-permanent hair dye. 

 

Also, they’re easy to apply in the shower.

 

Clarifying Shampoo

It’s designed to remove residue of any elements in your hair. Its ingredients such as essential oils or moisturizers take care of your hair.

 

The most well-known are:

 

Its application is very simple:

 

Ph-balanced shampoo

This type of shampoo is very similar to the clarifying shampoo. The main difference is that its pH is balanced. Therefore, it helps maintain hydration while removing semi-permanent hair dye.

 

Some brands you can consider are:

 

It’s applied like the clarifying shampoo, but you should use it three times a week.

Although I never recommend washing your hair every day, this shampoo is pH balanced. Therefore, it won’t dry out your hair.

 

Conclusions

I don’t recommend using baking soda to remove semi-permanent hair dye, although many people do. Remember the saying: “Misery loves company.”

There are less aggressive methods, such as clarifying or ph-balanced shampoo, and today, you know how to use them.

The future and the health of your hair are in your hands.