Hey guys, have you ever dyed your beard only to realize a day later that you made a huge mistake? Whether the beard color came out too dark, too light, or just not right for your skin tone, beard dye regrets are real.
The good news is removing beard dye at home is doable and won’t damage your beard. Before you start freaking out about shaving it all off or sporting a dye job you have had for weeks, try some of these effective techniques for fading and removing beard dye.
With a few simple ingredients from your kitchen and a little patience, you can get your natural hair color back or tone down an unnatural dye job.
No need to hide your face in shame — in just a few washes that beard dye will be a thing of the past!
Preparation is key: gather the necessary supplies
How to remove just for men’s beard dye? The key to successfully removing beard dye at home is gathering the right supplies. You’ll need:
- Beard shampoo to open up hair cuticles and fade the dye.
- Color-removing wipes or creams with sodium laureth sulfate to strip the dye from hair fibers.
- A mild conditioner to hydrate your beard after processing.
- Petroleum jelly to protect your skin.
Next, you need to determine how long it’s been since you dyed beard. The faster you act, the easier it is to remove dye. Within the first 3 days, a dandruff shampoo alone may do the trick.
Once you have everything in hand, hop in the shower to get started. Apply petroleum jelly around your hairline and ears to protect your skin.
Put on gloves and wash your beard with dandruff shampoo, leaving it on for at least 2 minutes before rinsing. Follow up with color-removing wipes, cream, or remover as needed based on how long it’s been since you dyed.
Set a timer and check your progress every 5 to 10 minutes until you’ve achieved your desired results.
Rinse thoroughly when done and condition your beard to restore moisture. Your beard may feel dry for a few days after processing, so continue using a moisturizing baby oil or balm. If your attempt doesn’t fully remove dye, you can reapply color remover a week later or see a dermatologist for professional beard dye removal again. With the right technique and patience, you can get back to your natural beard color.
Exfoliate and scrub to loosen dye from hair strands
To get that stubborn beard dye out of your hair, you’ll need to exfoliate and scrub.
Start by washing your hair with a dandruff shampoo. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes to fully penetrate the hair shaft before rinsing. Then, make a diy scrub from ingredients you likely already have:
- Baking soda: creates a gentle abrasive effect to lift dye from strands. Mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water into a paste and massage into damp hair.
- Dish soap: cut through grease and grime. Mix a few drops of dish soap into the baking soda paste.
- Lemon juice: natural lightener and brightener that helps fade dye. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into your scrub.
Apply the scrub and dish soap all over and work it into your scalp and hair, especially where the dye is most stubborn. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then rinse well with water.
For an intensive treatment, cover your hair with a shower cap and sit under a hooded dryer. The heat will open up hair cuticles, allowing the scrub to penetrate better. Rinse when done and shampoo again to remove any remaining residue.
With regular exfoliation and scrubs like this, that unwanted beard dye you’ll probably remove beard dye completely after a week or two.
Baking soda paste: a natural dye fade solution
A natural solution to fading beard dye is a sodium bicarbonate paste. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive that helps lift and remove dye off from hair fibers without irritation. Here’s how to make a baking soda paste to fade your beard dye:
Ingredients:
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Water
Instructions:
- Mix 3 parts sodium bicarbonate and 1 part water until it forms a thick paste. For most beards, start with about 1/4 cup sodium bicarbonate and 2-3 tablespoons water.
- Apply the paste to damp or dry beard hair and massage it into your beard thoroughly. Focus on the darker, over-dyed hair.
- Let the paste sit for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours for darker dyes. The longer it’s left on, the more it will fade the dye.
- Rinse out the sodium bicarbonate paste with warm water. Use beard shampoo to remove any remaining residue.
- Condition your beard to moisturize it after the drying effects of thesodium bicarbonateand see how much dye has been removed already.
- Repeat the sodium bicarbonate paste treatment 1-2 times a week until your beard dye has faded to your desired shade.
The sodium bicarbonate works gradually and naturally to fade the beard dye over time with repeated use. Be patient through the process. Sodium bicarbonate is non-irritating for most, but do a patch test on your facial skin first if you have sensitive skin.
Between treatments, avoid re-dyeing your beard to allow the color to fade. Using a beard dye remover or color stripper can be harsh and drying, while the sodium bicarbonate paste is a gentle, natural alternative for fading beard dye at home.
Lemon juice lightens as it brightens
Lemon juice is a natural lightener and brightener for gray hair too. The citric acid in lemons works to strip the color molecules in beard dye, helping to remove beard dye.
The good news is, lemon juice is gentle and conditioned, so it won’t dry out or damage your beard hair like some commercial lighteners can.
How to remove just for men’s beard dye with it? To lighten your beard with lemon juice:
- Squeeze the juice from 2-3 fresh lemons into a bowl. For darker beards, use more lemons.
- Apply the lemon juice to your beard with a spray bottle, brush, or your fingertips. Make sure you saturate all the areas you want to lighten.
- Let the lemon juice sit on your beard for 15-30 minutes. Check on your beard every 5-10 minutes. Rinse when you’ve achieved your desired lightness.
- Use your favorite beard shampoo to remove any excess lemon juice and condition it as usual. Style as desired.
- Repeat the lemon juice lightening 1-2 times a week until your beard reaches your ideal shade. Be patient, as it can take several applications to significantly lighten a beard.
The lemon juice will naturally lighten your beard over time without the use of harsh chemicals. However, the lightening effects are gradual and the results can vary from person to person based on natural hair color and porosity.
Lemon juice lightening works best on natural brown and red beards. The rate at which hair dye fades from gray hair varies, but generally, one can expect the color to start diminishing after a few weeks, especially with regular washing and environmental exposure. For darker black beards, the lighting effects may be subtle.
Finishing steps for freshened facial hair
Once you’ve let the dye set in and rinsed out the excess, it’s time to moisturize your newly colored facial hair and touch up any uneven areas.
Rinse thoroughly
Rinse your beard with lukewarm water until the water runs clear. Gently pat dry with a towel. Avoid scrubbing, which can irritate your skin.
Moisturize generously
Apply a beard oil, balm, or conditioner to hydrate your facial hair and soothe your skin. Gently work it into your beard and the skin underneath.
This step is key to preventing irritation and keeping your beard soft. Look for a moisturizer containing natural oils like jojoba, argan, or sweet almond oil along with hydrating shea butter.
Touch up as needed
Examine your beard in a mirror to check for any unevenly colored patches or areas that need more coverage.
Mix a bit of the leftover dye according to the package directions and apply with the brush to touch up as needed.
Wait a few minutes and then rinse just the touched-up sections. Reapply moisturizer to the areas you touched up.
Style and you’re done
Use your usual beard brush and comb to style your beard as desired. You may need to re-train your beard for the first few days as the new color and dye process can loosen the hair.
With regular moisturizing and styling, your beard will adjust to its new color in no time.
Following up the dye job with a thorough rinse, deep moisturizing, and any necessary touch-ups will ensure an even, natural-looking color from roots to ends.
Your beard will look refreshed and rejuvenated thanks to a little color and extra care. With the proper maintenance, you’ll keep your new hair color looking its best.
Conclusion
So there you have it – the easy and effective methods for removing dye at home. With some patience and the right products, you can get your natural hair color back in no time.
Remember, the longer you leave the dye on, the harder it will be to remove beard dye completely. So start the removal process as soon as possible after dyeing for the best results.
And avoid re-dyeing your dyed beard again right away – give your facial hair and scalp a break to recover.
Your beard will thank you, and you’ll be back to your usual self before you know it.
FAQ
How long will it take the dye to fade on its own?
Unfortunately, beard dye is meant to last, so it can take 4 to 6 weeks for the color to significantly fade on its own through washing and normal hair growth.
The dye molecules are very small so they penetrate the hair shaft, which makes them difficult to remove dye quickly. Using a color remover product, bleach, or other methods will speed up the fading process within a few days.
Will color remover damage my beard?
Redbook hair color removal contains mild bleaches and strippers to help break down the dye molecules in your beard hair. When used properly and as directed, these products are generally gentle and will not cause significant damage.
However, bleaches and harsher chemicals can potentially cause dryness, breakage, or skin irritation for some. It’s best to do a patch test on your skin before using Redbook hair color removal and follow all instructions carefully.
Should I re-dye my beard right after removing the color?
It’s best to give your beard hair and follicles a break after removing dye before applying a new color. Your beard may feel dry or irritated for a few days after beard dye removal.
Will shaving my beard get rid of the dye faster?
Shaving your beard will completely remove beard dye, but the dye itself may remain on the skin and new hair growth. Shaving can also irritate the skin and hair follicles, which you want to avoid after dyeing and color removal.
The most effective way to fade or completely remove beard dye is by using a color remover product, then maintaining the color by washing regularly with a clarifying shampoo and limiting sun/UV ray exposure which can remove hair dye faster.
Does Just For Men Beard Dye wash off?
When used regularly just for men gives the appearance of a certain shade that will never fade easily.
Just For Men Dye washes off after 4-5 weeks, which is shorter than most permanent beard dye products in the market.
How do you get dye out of your beard?
Apply the gentle dish soap onto a cotton ball. You can just use beard shampoo. Rub cotton ball with stains. Use a hot, dry cloth to wash off the hair dye stains. Rinse off the dish soap.
If you discover a stain on your face and you are having a lot of trouble washing it off, it just means that you bought a good-quality dye. Avoid using gel toothpaste because it will not be as effective as non-gel toothpaste.
How long does it take beard dye to fade?
The longevity of beard dye depends on the type of dye used and your beard care routine. Temporary beard dye can start to fade after a few washes and usually completely washes out within a week.
On the other hand, semi-permanent beard dyes are designed to last longer, often up to a few weeks. However, frequent washing and exposure to the sun can accelerate the fading process of semi-permanent beard dyes.
So, a general rule of thumb is: the more you take care of your beard, the longer the beard dyes will last.
Does beard oil remove beard dye?
No, beard oil does not remove semi-permanent or permanent beard dye. It’s designed to moisturize and condition your beard, not to strip color. This holds for both semi-permanent beard dyes, which are designed to last for several weeks, and temporary beard dyes, which wash out more quickly.