How to Get Hair Dye Off Your Skin

You have a few options when it comes to safely removing hair color stains from your face and neck. Despite what a quick Google search will suggest, nail polish remover isn't one of them. Because the skin where dye tends to fall is delicate, you want to use the most gentle method possible.

While a professional product designed to remove dye stains is the easiest and most effective option, according to Matrix celebrity stylist (and Kardashian/Jenner colorist) George Papanikolas, you most likely don't have access to one at home. Instead, Papanikolas recommends putting laundry detergent, dish soap, baby oil, or olive oil on a damp wash cloth and gently rubbing the skin. Detergent will work the fastest, but those with sensitive skin may want to use an oil, which softens the skin and helps break up the color.

A more experimental route—and one we can't fully endorse—is cigarette ash rubbed on the stain: "I've never tried this technique, but it's an old wives' tale in salons," he says.

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so avoiding stains in the first place should be your goal. Before dyeing your hair at home, rub a layer of Vaseline or baby oil around your hairline to prevent the dye from transferring. Always wear the plastic gloves that come inside the hair dye box to prevent staining your hands and nails. Finally, moisturized skin won't soak up dye as easily, so make sure your skin is plump and dewy before getting to work.

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Audrey Noble

Beauty Contributor

Audrey Noble is a freelance writer and reporter. She writes celebrity profiles and does deep-dive features about the ways race, gender, sexuality, and other forms of identity impact society via the beauty industry. Her previous work experience includes editorial positions at Vanity Fair, Refinery29, and Allure. Her writing can also be seen in Vogue, Harper’s BAZAAR, Bustle, HelloGiggles, and more. You can keep up with her on Twitter.