Kool-Aid can be used safely as an inexpensive hair dye. In fact, it is often used with the aim of creating flashes of brightly colored light. However, it is not always easy to make it lighten or rinse it off after applying it. You may not be able to remove it immediately, but there are several steps you can try to make it fade significantly, in order to get rid of it more quickly.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Frequent Washing
Step 1. Increase the number of washes
Even if you shampoo every other day, it may still take several weeks or even months to get rid of the Kool-Aid. Try washing your hair a couple of times a day instead. However, with more frequent washes, you should use neutral shampoos or moisturizing formulas to prevent your hair from drying out too much.
Step 2. Use a neutralizing shampoo
If you wash your hair once a day or every other day, try a neutralizing shampoo. These products are formulated to rid hair of dye and treatment residues, including Kool-Aid. The results won't be immediate, but a neutralizing shampoo will promote the speed of fading. Most importantly, most of these products can be used on a daily basis.
Step 3. Try a dandruff shampoo
These products are similar to neutralizing shampoos, in fact they remove chemicals and possibly irritants from the hair. To increase the effectiveness of such a shampoo against Kool-Aid, mix it with a pinch of baking soda and apply it to wet hair. It may need to be repeated several times, but it should help you fade the dye faster than with regular shampoo.
Step 4. Try a mild detergent
Laundry or dish detergent can remove hair dye, and Kool-Aid too. However, it can dry out and severely damage the hair, so it should be used sparingly. If you opt for a laundry detergent, select a gentle, dye-free formulation so you don't lighten your hair. Apply a small amount. Will you use dish soap? Choose a neutral formulation, free of fragrances and dyes, and pour only three to four drops. Rinse the detergent out of your hair thoroughly and immediately.
Method 2 of 4: Toothpaste
Step 1. Wet your hair
Use very hot water, but be careful not to burn yourself. Boiling water is not recommended, unless you only need to remove the Kool-Aid from the ends, not the hair near the scalp. The hair you work must be partially damp, but not necessarily dripping.
Step 2. Rub the toothpaste into dyed hair
A toothpaste containing baking soda is ideal. If you can't find it, try using a regular, non-whitening one. Rub it carefully on the strands that have been dyed, working it.
Step 3. Rinse your hair
Toothpaste is quite safe and won't cause long-term damage, even if you neglect some of it when rinsing. However, it can make dry hair sticky and like it has white flakes. Rinse with warm water, gently scrubbing your dyed hair in the meantime.
Step 4. Repeat if necessary
Going overboard with daily washes is not recommended, but you can repeat this procedure up to twice a day for a week if you need to. However, stop if your hair starts to look particularly brittle or dry.
Method 3 of 4: Vinegar
Step 1. Make a vinegar and warm water solution
Pour 15 ml of white or apple vinegar into a cup containing 250 ml of water. The vinegar is used to eliminate accumulations of product from the hair. Consequently, it can be used to fade the effects of Kool-Aid. Fill the rest of the cup with warm water and quickly mix the ingredients with a spoon.
Step 2. Pour the solution into your hair
Focus on the areas where the tint made with Kool-Aid is particularly light. You don't have to wet your hair the first time, vinegar works best when applied without being further diluted.
Step 3. Leave the vinegar solution on
Wait several minutes for the vinegar to be absorbed into the hair. If you rinse right away, you won't have enough time to work and melt the Kool-Aid.
Step 4. Rinse your hair with warm or hot water
Scrub the areas you left the vinegar on. Make sure it is removed completely. You probably won't get a completely satisfactory result, but this is normal. Vinegar won't automatically remove all of the Kool-Aid, but it can help fade the dye significantly faster.
Step 5. Shampoo as usual
The vinegar solution is not meant for washing your hair, so you should still shampoo after you finish applying it.
Method 4 of 4: Sodium Bicarbonate
Step 1. Boil some water in a saucepan
Don't use a lot of it. In fact, it will be easier to work with a small amount. For the baking soda method, you will only dip a few strands of hair into the solution, not the whole head. Therefore, you will need enough liquid to wet all dyed hair. Let the water come to a boil.
Step 2. Add 15 mg of baking soda to the boiling water
The water will be slightly more effervescent after adding the baking soda, which will dissolve: this is normal.
Step 3. Remove the saucepan from the stove
Place it on the kitchen worktop near the sink. Do not treat your hair while the pan is on the gas.
Step 4. Dip the tips of the dyed hair into the water
Leave them to soak for about a minute. The water will continue to be sparkling. It should also change color depending on the type of Kool-Aid used to dye the hair.
Step 5. Discard the water and rinse your hair
Pour the water into the sink and rinse it off immediately. Wash your hair under warm running water. If they appear lumpy or oddly frizzy, you may want to shampoo them too. Either way, you will have removed most of the dye.
Advice
- Try mixing dandruff shampoo with baking soda.
- You could try a dye remover. It is ideal for common dyes, but it doesn't necessarily work in this case. Some of these products act only on traditional dyes, while others remove all the color from the hair, running the risk of damaging or fading the natural color.
- Lemon juice also works.
- If no attempt is successful, go to the hairdresser. Beauty salons have the right tools to remedy trichological disasters, both in terms of color and styling. In case your hairdresser can't get the Kool-Aid out of your hair right away, at least they can give you advice on how to do it gradually.
