If you like experimenting with the color of your hair, you probably dye your mane regularly enough. Nevertheless, each time you decide to apply a new color, you have to undergo a hair color stripping procedure first. Without it, you will not be able to get exactly the effect you are looking for.
Of course, if you dye your hair frequently and thus you strip your hair of its color often enough, you may be wondering how stripping your hair of color may affect your locks. This procedure requires the use of chemicals which, as we all know, are not very gentle to our tresses!
In this article, we will give you an answer to the “does color stripping damage your hair?” question first of all so that you know for sure what to expect if you undergo this procedure.
Also, you are going to find out what stripping hair of its color means and how it can be done safely to avoid damaging your mane. And of course, we will share plenty of useful tips and life hacks with you!
With their help, you will be able to change the color of your chevelure as many times as you want, keeping your hair healthy!
Is Stripping Your Hair Color Damaging?
Stripping hair color is a common practice when the hair dye has been on for a longer period of time and now you want to either go back to your old natural hair color or redye your mane into another color.
And everyone who dyes their hair often enough starts wondering sooner or later whether stripping hair of its color cause any damage to their locks.
There is a common belief that stripping your hair of color can only be done with the help of bleach, which, as we all know very well, is a very harsh chemical that can’t be called gentle for our tresses!
But in fact, while many people still believe that this hair color removal process is done with bleach only, there can be other methods as well. Besides, it is actually a mixture of citric acid and water that is used as a color stripper to break down the peroxide bonds in the hair color.
To summarize it all, the damage caused to your hair will depend on the type of color stripping product you are using. Of course, if you use bleaching products for stripping color from hair, your hair will be damaged after color remover.
You can minimize it by conditioning your mane completely before and after the color stripping procedure.
However, note that stripping the dye from the strands will anyway cause them to become dry and frizzy. As a result, it can lead to breakage, thus causing irreversible damage!
Instead, those who want to save their locks from being damaged should consider using a clarifying shampoo instead of any bleach-based products. This shampoo will wash surface residue and product build-up off your mane without removing the natural oils on the strands.
What Does Stripping Hair of Color Mean?
If you are new to dyeing hair or you have never been curious about how this process actually goes, you might be wondering what exactly stripping dyed hair means. Below you can learn more about it.
Stripping hair is a procedure during which chemical solutions are applied to the scalp and hair. This is done in order to remove the current color from your hair, as well as oil, and dirt.
The color stripping your hair removes the natural oil present in skin cells, which makes it extremely important to replenish these oils with an appropriate hair conditioner. The stripping hair color process also removes sweat, excess sebum, and bacteria from the scalp.
This process is usually performed before dyeing your hair so that the new color can adhere more easily and give you better results. To be more aware of certain nuances of this procedure, we suggest you read on and find out a few useful details regarding it.
How Long Does Stripping Your Hair Color Take?
People often think that removing the old color from your hair is quite a long procedure. However, you should note that there are some general guidelines for stripping your hair so it might be easier to plan ahead.
In general, this procedure takes around an hour or an hour and a half.
You should also keep in mind that no two women need the same amount of time to strip their hair and you should take that into consideration before you start! That is mainly because your hair type and your pre-strip routine will affect the amount of time needed for the procedure to be done.
So now you know that stripping your hair is a process that doesn’t take much time. You can remove the unwanted deposited color by either using a shampoo or conditioner that is specifically formulated for stripping.
As an option, this can be done by adding an acidic product to your routine that will dissolve all of the leftover oils.
What Is the Difference Between Stripping and Bleaching Hair?
When it comes to removing hair color, the two common practices are stripping and bleaching. They are two chemical processes during which the color of your hair is lightened. But this is the only similar feature they share.
Bleaching hair color is a process that uses alkaline chemicals (like hydrogen peroxide or ammonia) to break down melanin in the cortex of your hair
Stripping hair color is a process when the bonds between hair dye and the melanin are breaking apart, which gives you your natural color
Now you know how harmful it might be to strip color from your hair. Also, you learned what makes the procedure of hair stripping distinct from bleaching it. And finally, you are now more aware of certain nuances of this process.
Is Color Remover Less Damaging Than Bleach?
If you are a hair dyeing enthusiast, you probably know that there is a debate as to whether using color remover is less damaging to hair as opposed to using bleach. To answer this question, you should compare how these two products work on your mane.
Bleach is a harsh chemical. It removes all of the color pigment from your hair so it can be lightened or colored again
When you apply bleach, it penetrates the hair shaft and alters the cortex. If this chemical is used too often, your hair will become fragile and damaged, being prone to getting easily tangled and breaking off
Color remover is less damaging than bleach. Color removers remove pigments without oxidizing the natural oils in your hair, which can lead to breakage
Nevertheless, the developer in color removers still contains ammonia! It means that you need to be cautious when using the product
Like this, you will now be able to better understand which procedure – bleaching or stripping hair color with a color remover – is less harmful.
However, if you want to go further and be able to remove the old dye from your strands without causing any damage to them, you should consider other methods!
Stripping Your Hair Of Color Without Damage
Even though bleaching your hair is typically considered to be the most effective way to remove unwanted color, most of you would probably prefer looking for something else, something less harmful.
Our hair is exposed to various damageable factors daily be it dust, smoke, dirt, etc.
But in this case, what is the best method to use for those who want to avoid damaging their hair while removing the color?
Below, there are five ways to strip your hair color while minimizing the damage.
Use Clarifying Shampoo
Clarifying shampoo is a good option when you want to strip your hair color, but you don’t want to go through the process of dying it again. The clarifying shampoo has a formula that will strip any product that may currently be in the hair without drying out the scalp.
The scalp will be cleansed and hydrated, leaving your hair healthier than before you dyed it. At this point, to enhance the effect of the shampoo, we would recommend you opt for non-irritating clarifying formulas.
They gently cleanse your hair and help remove heavy, dulling residue caused by shampoos, conditioners, as well as styling products.
Opt For Hair Color Remover
Hair color remover is a type of cream or shampoo that can also help you remove unwanted hair coloring. The good thing about hair color removers is that, if you opt for this method, you will not have to use bleach and other harsh chemicals in order to remove the current pigment.
It is best to use this product when you want to change your hair color, but you are not sure if you will like the new shade. In this case, hair color remover is a safe and easy way to strip your hair color without damaging it as it’s both ammonia-free and bleach-free.
Dish Soap To Remove Hair Dye
This recommendation may sound weird to some of you, however, it works! If you struggle with unwanted hair color and the harsh chemicals it takes to remove them, there is a solution that can be found in most kitchens: dish soap.
If using a hair dye is a necessity for you, but you find the process of color removal time-consuming and costly, then you should definitely consider this alternative and cost-effective option!
When it comes to removing hair dye, dish soap is a great solution for your problem. This liquid will get rid of any leftover color and rinse out all the extra residue that you’re left with after doing this process yourself.
Lemon Juice To Fade Out Dye Color
For those who are into fully organic solutions, lemon juice can become true salvation, but only if you are using a fresh juice, not the one that is sold in packets in supermarkets!
Lemon juice is acidic enough to break down the molecular bonds of color. At the same time, it is not strong enough to an extent that using it would be damaging the scalp. Nevertheless, if you are in need of fading out dye colors, using freshly squeezed lemon juice can be a great help.
Of course, since it is a fully organic and natural solution, you need to consider that it will cause your hair color to gradually disappear over time. It means that you will not get an immediate effect!
Vitamin C for Stripping Hair Color
Have you ever wondered if there was a way to remove hair dye and go back to your natural hair color? There’s a solution! Vitamin C is the key ingredient for removing hair dye without the need for harsh chemicals or removing your hair.
Well, now you know more about stripping hair color. For sure, coloring your hair is fun, but if you do it frequently enough, you need to make sure that your chevelure remains healthy after your experiments!
Today we told you how damageable this procedure can be, what nuances it has, and what alternative products and solutions you can use in order to cause less or no damage to your mane at all.
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