How to remove dye from clothes and skin

The long suffering hair dyer will tell you there are few things more annoying that waking up at a friends house only to look back at your pillow and have to plan how you will get it to your house, wash it, dry it and get it back before anyone will notice. One of the problems with using the bright semi permanent dyes is there inability to cling to your hair yet easy grasp of clinging to every other object they come into contact with, which is why we must fight the good fight to keep our lovely locks lovely.

I personally have lost track of clothes I've had to throw out due to a slight red ring around the collar or times I've awoken to look like vampires have been at my neck all night so after years of scrubbing away and suffering for my hair I decided to do a bit of research into the best ways to prevent or cure this problem.

Firstly, I had to accept that with beauty comes pain and I would never fully eradicate all trace of dye but I can certainly find ways to make in manageable so where they are for you delectable bunch.

1- ALWAYS wash hair thoroughly after dying. This is the first defence we have against the rebellious dyes but the most important. Any residue left coating the hair will try to jump ship onto any destroyable surface at the first given opportunity. That clean bright white shirt you were going to wear to work tomorrow? Its a gonner if this isn't followed very strictly. A good rule of thumb is the rinse until the water runs clear then wash twice before conditioning. 

2 - Condition well, this will help smooth and seal the hair to keep colour where you want it, rather than on you new boyfriends chest after a snuggles. Not the best impression, I think you'll agree. Also, use cold water to rinse out the conditioner as it will help seal the follicles.

3 - Dandruff shampoo is excellent at removing stains from skin. Just apply a small amount to a babywipe or face cloth and rub in circular motions before adding water to rinse away the colour. It is quite strong so be careful if you have sensitive skin to make sure its all removed after. 

4 - Before bed apply a very thin layer of vaseline to your neck, ears or forehead, basically anywhere ther dye tends to run to. I use it on my neck and a bit down the top of my back. Don't cover yourself in it to the point of being uncomfortable, use the same amount as you would a moisturiser but don't rub in in the same way. Just rub it lightly over the skin and leave it, this will create a barrier and hopefully prevent any sticking. Should you find it does stick over night, a simple tissue will wipe it off in one go when you awake from slumberland and you will be good to go. 

5 - For permanent dyes, keep a small amount of the dye and rub that over the area stained with a tissue and it will lift the dye straight off your skin. Only use this with permanent dyes though as semi's will just see this as a way to further win their fight!. 

A few other things I've picked up over my years has been to take a pillow case discreetly with me if I stay at a friends or hotel just in case you ruin something or offend and scarfs are great at hiding those marks you inevitably get for the few days post dye. I have quite a collection now and they are easily washed so no harm done but at the flick of the wrist can be whipped off to reveal a stain free neck. 

Hope this has been helpful to you, please comment if you've got any other tried and tested methods that work for you. And as always please follow if you like my blogs, the more followers the more I post!

Locks x