How to get haircolor off your hands

If you accidentally spilled dye onto your skin while dying your hair, don't panic. Here's an easy guide on quickly and safely removing it.

At-home hair coloring has its perks, but it also has its pitfalls. Often this pitfall includes accidentally spilling hair dye onto your skin. Staining is a minor setback and certainly no cause for alarm. We're breaking down how to remove hair dye from your skin with a few quick and easy tips that will erase any signs of your at-home dye job. Before we get ahead of ourselves, there are plenty of times we've walked out of the salon with a hint of dye around our hairline, so ladies with those standing appointments, you might need a few tips on how to get hair dye off skin too. Here is a guide to safe, quick, and straightforward practices to help eliminate any signs of a pitfall so you can feel fabulous about your new hair.

Use Petroleum Jelly

Consider Vaseline the trick to avoiding hair-dyed skin altogether. Swipe on a bit around your hairline before coloring your hair. The petroleum jelly will act as a barrier for the skin, ensuring that dye doesn't seep in unexpectedly. Apply it however you like. Just be mindful to avoid anywhere you want the dye to stick (your hair, for instance).

Marc Vuillermoz / Getty Images

Try Makeup Remover

If you're looking to start with the least-abrasive solution for how to take hair dye off your skin, this is it. Makeup remover, designed for facial use, is a safe bet that it won't irritate the delicate area. Use whatever variety of makeup remover you have on hand, whether wipes, cleansing water, or an oil-based version. Use it just as you would if removing makeup, gently wiping away the residue. If this doesn't work, it might be time to try a more powerful option.

Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Images

Use Toothpaste

Our next trick for how to get hair dye off your skin uses toothpaste, but not the gel variety. We learned how to use toothpaste to whiten your nails, but now we're using it to remove hair dye from your skin, thanks to one hardworking ingredient: baking soda. Rub a little toothpaste on the dyed area with your finger. You can also boost it by rubbing gently with a washcloth or soft-bristled toothbrush. When you remove the toothpaste, you should find the dye lifted off with it.

ValuaVitaly / Getty Images

Try Nail Polish Remover

If you have dye on your hands, give this one a try. Some sources say you can also use this method on your face, but there are a few things to remember. First, nail polish remover can be a major skin irritant, so apply it to a small area using a cotton ball. Watch for a second for any signs of reaction before applying to a larger area. When using this method, you'll want to ensure you work quickly. The polish remover should be on your skin for no longer than a minute. Be sure to avoid the eye area entirely and wash thoroughly, to erase all traces of nail polish remover.

Susie Cushner / Getty Images

Use Hair Dye

Hair dye can be reactivated with more hair dye and can clean up unwanted hair dye on your skin. To try it, use a gloved hand to apply a bit of leftover hair dye to the stained areas of your skin. Rub it in, then gently wipe it away with warm water and soap.

If you ask a handful of women, "how do you get hair dye off your skin," they would reply with a handful of answers. While no method is suitable for everyone, the suggestions above are a good start.

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DYING your hair at home is not an easy job, and sometimes accidents happen. Here's how to get hair dye off your hands.

13:33, Thu, May 21, 2020 | UPDATED: 15:38, Thu, May 21, 2020

Plastic gloves are pretty much sold out everywhere due to COVID-19, but a pair should come with your hair dye kit. If you took the plunge without protecting your hands, or got some elsewhere on your skin, there are a few solutions. Express.co.uk consulted the experts to find out how to get the job done.

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    How to prevent dye stains on hands

    It might be too late this time, but there are ways to prevent staining your hands while colouring your hair.

    First of all, wear gloves to ensure your hands don’t come in direct contact with the dye.

    To stop a tell-tale dye stain in your hairline, use a thick moisturiser or vaseline. Apply it where you don’t want to dye to stain to act as a barrier.

    Stay alert the whole time and clean up any mess as you work. Use a damp cotton swab, ball or pad, or a flannel to wipe away the spillages.

    READ MORE- How to dye your own hair

    How to get hair dye off your hands

    How to get hair dye off your hands: Hair dye is tricky to remove from skin (Image: Getty)

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    How to get hair dye off your hands: Washing hands

    How to get hair dye off your hands: The first step is washing your hands with soap and water (Image: Getty)

    How to get hair dye off your hands

    Soap and water

    First things first, try washing your hands with good old soap and water.

    This should be your natural reaction when you notice a wet speck on your skin.

    If you catch it before it dries, you should be okay.

    If the dye has already stained your skin, you will have to try a different method.

    Oil

    Olive oil, baby oil, or an oil-based moisturiser– you name it, they all do the trick.

    Most dyes will break down after meeting an oil-based product.

    Apply the oil onto the stain with a cotton ball or pad and rub it in.

    The dye should start to lift off the skin, and you can rinse it off with warm water.

    Repeat the process if the dye is stubborn, this time letting the dye sit on the skin for longer.

    If the dye is really stuck, try leaving it on over night. Place a towel under your body around the area.

    Rinse it off in the morning with warm water and a cloth or flannel.

    How to get hair dye off your hands: Pouring olive oil

    How to get hair dye off your hands: Oil could help to remove hair dye from your hands (Image: Getty)

    How to get hair dye off your hands: Squeezed out toothpaste

    How to get hair dye off your hands: Toothpaste removes dye stains well (Image: Getty)

    Toothpaste

    Everyone knows toothpaste removes stains from your teeth, but did you know it can help to remove hair dye stains from the skin?

    Use a non-gel toothpaste and apply it to a cotton swab, or straight onto the dye patch.

    Massage the toothpaste into the stained skin, and leave it for five to ten minutes.

    Remove the toothpaste with a cloth or flannel soaked in warm water.

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    Nail polish remover

    Nail polish remover works a charm when trying to get stubborn dye off your hands.

    Whatever you do, don’t use this trick anywhere but your hands– especially not your face or neck.

    Smear a little on the stain with a cotton swab or ball. Rub it in a circular motion for a few seconds.

    The stain should start to come off, and you will see the colour on the swab or ball.

    Wash your hands with warm soap and water once you’re finished.

    How to get hair dye off your hands: Nail polish poured onto cotton

    How to get hair dye off your hands: Nail polish may help to take away dye stains from skin (Image: Getty)

    Baking soda

    Baking soda will quickly break down the active ingredients in dye, and it isn’t too abrasive on the skin.

    The grains will act as a scrub on the skin, speeding up the process.

    This method may not be suitable for those with super sensitive skin. Only use a little bit of baking soda, and dilute it with water.

    If your skin turns red or feels irritated, you should stop and try something else.

    If your skin has no issues with the baking soda, try adding lemon juice to the diluted mix.

    This should be more powerful and get the stains of with less elbow-grease.

    How to get hair dye off your hands: Baking soda being diluted

    How to get hair dye off your hands: Baking soda should help you to get dye off your skin (Image: Getty)

    Laundry detergent and washing up liquid

    The ingredients in laundry detergent are effective in removing dye, but are too harsh on the skin to use alone.

    Add some unscented washing up liquid into the mix to protect the skin.

    Place a small amount of detergent on a damp cloth or flannel, and rub it into the skin.

    Follow up with a small amount of washing up liquid on a damp cloth to try and rub it off.

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    How long does it take to get hair dye off your hands?

    If the dye hasn't totally disappeared, don't worry — Dr. Zeichner assures that your skin won't be tinted for as long as your hair will be. "The good news is that in time, as your skin cells naturally turnover, your skin will shed the pigment on its own within one to two weeks," he says.

    How do I remove hair dye from my skin in 2 minutes?

    Vaseline can help to remove hair dye from your skin by creating a barrier between your skin and the dye. Simply apply a small amount of Vaseline to the stained areas of your skin and then wipe it away with a damp cloth. Repeat this process until the hair dye is gone.

    Does hair dye come off your hands?

    To get hair dye off your hands, try washing them with soapy water and some baking soda. The baking soda will exfoliate your hands and scrub the dye off. You can also try rubbing alcohol. Pour rubbing alcohol onto a cotton pad, and dab the pad over the hair dye on your hands until it comes off.