Home dye kits are convenient for a quick color change but often result in panic after the final rinse. The color on the box can translate differently, as it varies according to your original hair tone. Color bonds to the hair quickly and requires a color corrector, such as Rusk Elimin8, in lieu of a simple shampoo. Rusk Elimin8 reverses the coloring process without stripping hair of moisture or causing breakage -- hair can even be recolored an hour after the treatment. Use Rusk Elimin8 to regain your natural hair color after a questionable dye job.
Put on an old T-shirt that you don't mind getting wet, and place a towel over your shoulders. Excess dye may drip onto your clothing as it is washed out.
Clip up any sections of hair that don't require treatment with a hair clip. If you're removing color from your entire head, separate all hair into 2-inch wide sections and clip them to your head.
Pour the provided color reducer and conditioning catalyst into a bowl. Use a color brush to mix them together completely.
Pull on the provided gloves to protect your hands. Remove the first section of hair from its clip, starting with the section closest to the nape of your neck.
Grasp the end of the section with your fingertips, holding it straight and away from your head. Dip the color brush into the mixture once and position it at the roots of the section. Pull the brush down the strand of hair until you reach the end. Repeat on the underside of the section, coating it completely.
Repeat the application process on all hair, working your way toward the crown of your head. Allow the color corrector to sit in your hair for 20 minutes.
Rinse the corrector from your hair with warm water. Use your glove-covered fingers to comb your hair from root to tip as you rinse.
Pour a quarter-sized amount of clarifying shampoo into the palm of your hand; massage it into your hair for 1 minute. Rinse completely with warm water. Shampoo and rinse one more time. The clarifying shampoo provided with the kit will thoroughly cleanse your hair of all developer and the color that it has removed.
Coat your hair thoroughly with the volume developer provided in the kit. Allow it to sink in for 10 minutes to loosen any remaining color and rinse completely. Wash your hair with a quarter-sized amount of clarifying shampoo one more time. Style as usual.
Tip
Apply the color corrector as soon as possible after the dye job for best results.
Warning
Keep the color corrector away from your eyes, nose and mouth. If it gets in your eyes, rinse immediately.
Writer Bio
Celeigh O'Neil has been writing professionally since 2008. She has a Bachelor of fine arts from the University of Ottawa, as well as degrees in fashion illustration/design, digital arts and certification in hair and makeup artistry. O'Neil was a frequent contributor to Toronto's "Dialog" newspaper and has worked as an instructional writer, creating lessons in fashion, art and English for students of all ages.