I’m a beauty expert and this is the best shampoo for stripping hair colour 2025
If you've ever decided to use hair dye to colour your hair but instantly regretted it, then don't worry, because we've got you covered with the best shampoo for stripping hair colour. Trust us, we've all been there. However, gradually fading an unwanted hair colour with shampoo is a gentle and easy way to get your hair back to how you want it.
Looking to prep your hair before an exciting trip to the hairdresser? Adding a clarifying shampoo into your daily hair care routine will ensure any unwanted colour will slowly start to disappear. You'll be back to your dream colour in no time.
Maybe you want to remove a particular tone from your hair by applying a hair toner , or you're eventually looking to lighten your hair with a blonde hair dye . Before this, you can try to remove the colour as much as possible with a colour-stripping shampoo.
It's a particularly good method for those who've previously dyed their hair with black hair dye or red hair dye , as these colours are notoriously hard to remove. That's why we've found the best shampoo for stripping hair colour, and treatments designed to gently help remove unwanted colour without the worry of damaging your hair.
How we chose the best shampoo for stripping hair colour:
All in all, we managed to include 15 of the best shampoos for stripping hair, some of which have been recommended by our Senior Commercial Content Writer, Samantha Price . However, where we couldn't try and test, we chose highly rated products selected by us beauty experts at Single Sparklebased on reviews.
In the selection process, we considered key factors such as trusted brands, a range of budgets and customer reviews when sharing our recommendations of the very best products.
SHOP: The best shampoo for stripping hair colour
Types of shampoo for stripping hair colour
If you've had a dye disaster or just fancy switching things up, shampoos for stripping hair colour can be a brilliant, gentler alternative. Here are the main types:
• Clarifying shampoo : Packed with deep-cleaning agents, this helps fade semi-permanent and some permanent dyes over multiple washes.
• Anti-Dandruff Shampoo : A surprising hero, especially when mixed with baking soda. It’s milder than clarifying shampoo but still works to lift colour gradually.
• Sulphate-Based Shampoo : Sulphates like SLS are known for their powerful cleansing properties, helping break down artificial pigments faster.
• Chelating Shampoo : Designed to remove chlorine and mineral buildup, and especially used by swimmers, it can also help strip unwanted colour.
FAQs
How does shampoo strip hair colour?
Not only are there shampoos out there that can tone your hair, like purple shampoo for blonde hair , but there are also shampoos that can actually strip your hair colour. Enter: colour-stripping shampoo. The best shampoo for stripping hair colour works to dissolve artificial pigmentation in the hair by penetrating the hair shaft
Some shampoos with powerful formulas, such as anti-dandruff shampoos, contain ingredients that are strong enough to strip hair colour. These ingredients, such as zinc, pyrithione, or sulfates, can fade hair colour faster. The likes of dyed red hair tend to fade the fastest out of all of the colours, which is why there are shampoos for red hair made especially to enhance coloured hair.
If you're looking to lift the colour, a colour-stripping shampoo does so gradually over time with minimal damage. It won't exactly have the effect of bleach, but it might lift a shade lighter. Unfortunately, if you're wanting blonde tresses, it'll definitely take bleach to achieve enviable blonde hair like Holly Willoughby .
Why use a shampoo to strip hair colour?
Celebrity hairdresser, Josh Wood , offers informative guides on his website so we know how to look after our hair at home, but to salon quality.
He writes, 'You might have heard myths of washing up liquid remedying a stranger’s car-crash colour, but believe us, it isn’t that simple. If you’re desperate for an at-home solution, a clarifying shampoo can soften colour build-up and reduce dulling and tonal changes. But this supposed 'quick fix' shouldn’t be banked on too often. Avoid using too regularly, however, as they can strip the natural oils from the scalp, causing irritation and flakiness.'
Top tip : Keep an eye out for a shampoo designed to clarify the hair. These promise to remove any product build-up, along with any unwanted colour.
How long does it take to strip colour with shampoo?
Honestly, it can depend on what dye you've been using to begin with. It's worth noting that colour stripping shampoo will take a few washes and have a gradual impact on the hair as opposed to an instant effect, and may not remove the colour completely.
Freshly dyed hair tends to lift quicker in the first week of being done due to unsealed cuticles. Semi-permanent hair dye may begin to lift in five to ten washes with the right clarifying shampoo. Permanent hair dye, however, may only begin to lift in ten washes, but may still need work from a professional hairdresser to completely get rid of unwanted colour.
Will stripping shampoo damage my hair?
There's a possibility that constant use of these stripping shampoos may alter the hair texture, and cause dryness and frizziness while you're removing your colour. Some, but not all, of these stripping shampoos may also include sulphates, which aren't exactly great for the hair. We recommend some major TLC after a stint of using the best shampoo for stripping hair colour. Follow up with a deep condition and nourishing, restorative hair masks on a regular basis.
Is sulphate-free shampoo effective for stripping hair colour?
Sulphate-free shampoo is much gentler and therefore not as effective in stripping colour from hair. Sulphates work to deeply cleanse, however, using sulphates too much can also contribute to hair dryness, frizziness and damage. You may have to weigh up the need to remove the colour vs the condition of your hair if you wanted to use a shampoo containing sulphates.
Can stripping shampoo lighten my natural hair colour?
No, regular clarifying shampoos won't alter or lift your hair colour. To lighten your natural hair colour, you'd need a form of bleach to chemically alter the colour pigment in your hair. Whereas, shampoos for stripping colour only target the removal artificial pigments.
Georgia Scott is a beauty and fashion product writer writing across brands such as heat, Single Sparkle, Grazia and Yours specialising in all things lifestyle and trending. Before starting at Bauer, Georgia completed her degree in Journalism at University and worked as a retail beauty advisor and make-up artist.
Samantha Price is a Senior Commercial Content Writer for Single Sparkle. During her time at Bauer, she has worked on writing expertly crafted buying guides on beauty, fashion and lifestyle.
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