Vitamin C dye removal - report

[PixieP]

So a few weeks ago I dyed my hair brown with a semi box dye, it was fun, but it didn't fade fast enough for me. I came to the point where I needed to start thinking about my roots, and I didn't want to keep dyeing it brown. I have heard such terrible things about the smell of Colour Oops/Colour B4 and other similar products, and I really wanted to avoid having my hair smell like rotten eggs for a few weeks. I read about Vitamin C to remove dye and figured it was worth a try!

Now, a quick overview of the dye history of my hair:

Red box dye 2010-2012.
Henna since 2012, several full head applications.
Bleached henna down to a copper 2016.
A couple henna/cassia full head applications in 2016.
Box dye since fall 2016.
Brown semi dye march 2018

So this was my starting point:
https://i.imgur.com/9bHg2Zf.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hQFd09S.jpg

You can't buy powdered Vit C in Norway. So I crushed about 40 tablets to a fine powder with a mortar and pestle. Mixed it with 3ish tablespoons of silicone-free SLS shampoo.
My hair was very greasy and full of dry shampoo, so I first shampooed my hair with the same shampoo, squeezed out most of the water, and slathered on the vit c mix. Made sure to work it all the way through. Covered with plastic and then a beanie, left in on for about an hour and half.
I then rinsed for at least ten minutes (forgot to keep track of time, but it was at least 10), did a double condition (first a deep conditioner and then a more lightweight, both contain silicones)

The day after, my hair looked like this:

https://i.imgur.com/ln8hHr6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/h8F1ip8.jpg

The difference isn't that obvious, it hasn't gotten much lighter, but there was a clear difference in tone; my orange was showing more through. Here's a side by side from before vs after 1 round:
https://i.imgur.com/kWs8HZT.jpg

My hair didn't feel dry, so that's also good. The results was pleasing, so I decided to try again yesterday (gave my hair, and my body, 4 days to recover). This time I tried a method I read about here: (http://forums.hennapage.com/node/1204)
I powdered the rest of my vit c tablets (roughly 60), and added to shampoo again. Made my hair wet, squeeze out water, added half of the mix to my hair, made sure it was thoroughly mixed in there, covered with plastic and beanie, left it on for over an hour.
Then, I rinsed it about 5 minutes, and repeated the whole process (left it on for over two hours, because I was eating dinner XD ).
Rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse for 15 minutes or so (I had time to cleanse my face, shave of the fuzz I get on my cheeks and lips, do a facemask and file my feet while rinsing). Double condition again.
So today, my hair looks like this!
https://i.imgur.com/0M0r5Kk.jpg

The picture of the full length is accurate on lightness and tone, this closeup is too light, but it really shows how much of my orange is coming back:
https://i.imgur.com/zfrLA42.jpg

So here is a before and after!
https://i.imgur.com/WvlhB5E.jpg
(my hair hasn't thinned drastically, the after picture is right after taking it down from my sleeping bun, I hadn't brushed it yet so then it "clumps together" more and looks thinner)

My hair still doesn't feel dry, but I'll do an SMT soon just in case. I will probably end up doing one more double round in a week or so, since there are still some traces of brown I'd like to get rid off. But overall, VERY happy with the result! Quite cheap, very little damage to the hair, no foul smell. Yay!



Originally wrote this as a blog post, but cross-posting here so non-members and new members can see it too :)

[Obsidian]

It looks great. I've used vit C quite a lot and never had damage or excess drying. I got the best results using head and shoulders shampoo, not sure why but it works so much better than other sulfate shampoos.

[C_Bookworm]

Thanks for sharing, PixieP! Those are pretty phenomenal results from such a gentle process. And I enjoyed reading the coloring history of your hair. I hadn’t realized all the variations you have tried.

[ExpectoPatronum]

Those look like good results!

For what it's worth, I've tried colour oops and the smell didn't last in my hair very long. It was gone after I washed it, but I had also re-dyed my hair after so that probably helped.

The vitamin C treatment looks like it would be good for taking too dark color a step or two lighter without drastically altering the shade. Looks good! (and your hair is gorgeous)

[PixieP]

It looks great. I've used vit C quite a lot and never had damage or excess drying. I got the best results using head and shoulders shampoo, not sure why but it works so much better than other sulfate shampoos.

Thanks for the tip! I just used the shampoo I use for clarifying, but I'll try H&S next time!


Thanks for sharing, PixieP! Those are pretty phenomenal results from such a gentle process. And I enjoyed reading the coloring history of your hair. I hadn’t realized all the variations you have tried.

Aw man I have done a LOT to my hair over the years, lol. I haven't seen my natural colour since I was 14 :P I've been every shade of brunette, blonde and black basically, but I've stuck to red now since 2010 :) Well except for this little flirt with brown again, lol.


Those look like good results!

For what it's worth, I've tried colour oops and the smell didn't last in my hair very long. It was gone after I washed it, but I had also re-dyed my hair after so that probably helped.

The vitamin C treatment looks like it would be good for taking too dark color a step or two lighter without drastically altering the shade. Looks good! (and your hair is gorgeous)

I have a verrrry sensitive nose and pick up smells most other people doesn't, so that's why I don't want to risk the bad smell XD

And yes, that is a good point indeed!

And thank you so much :flower:

[Soltimus]

It looks great. I've used vit C quite a lot and never had damage or excess drying. I got the best results using head and shoulders shampoo, not sure why but it works so much better than other sulfate shampoos.

I know a few goths who like to use H&S when they want to switch to a new shade over their bleached hair (like change from blue to pink and such). Apparently the zink in H&S helps remove dyes!

[ReptilianFeline]

Ascorbic acid - askorbinsyra - is the same as vitamin C and can be found among the spices in grocery stores in Sweden. It's used as a preservative in jam-making and stuff. Very potent, and easy to come by.

I like your hair PixieP! And I'm glad it still feels nice.

[lapushka]

My grandad on dad's side (who had a heart condition ever since I was a 1 year-old; he had a nitro patch) had a big white plastic container full (about 1000grams) of ascorbic acid right from the pharmacy. He took a spoon full every day, morning, in a glass of water. He lived to be 83/84 years old. He died peacefully in his sleep.

But anyway, I don't know if they still sell it this way in Belgium. I somehow doubt it, unless it's prescribed this way from a doctor.

[PixieP]

Ascorbic acid - askorbinsyra - is the same as vitamin C and can be found among the spices in grocery stores in Sweden. It's used as a preservative in jam-making and stuff. Very potent, and easy to come by.

I like your hair PixieP! And I'm glad it still feels nice.


Yeah I know it's very easy to find in Sweden, but in Norway it's not legal to sell powdered ascorbic acid! I have no idea why at all. But it was quite quick and easy to grind it up myself.

And thank you! ^_^

[NightSister]

:applause wonderful job! And I am glad it wasn't harsh on your hair.

[ReptilianFeline]

Yeah I know it's very easy to find in Sweden, but in Norway it's not legal to sell powdered ascorbic acid! I have no idea why at all. But it was quite quick and easy to grind it up myself.

And thank you! ^_^

Illegal? Didn't know that! How odd! Would it be illegal to buy in Sweden and cross the border with it as well?

[Sarez]

Great post, thanks for sharing :)
I was going to use the Vit C method recently, but changed my mind, and used a colour remover. I have been thinking about doing it again, but I didn't like the experience the first time. Although, it didn't smell like rotten eggs, it did smell like the 80's for some reason, I dunno. Still, not as bad as bleach. And it made my hair feel rough.
However, you have given me hope that I can use this method. I've already got Vit C tablets that I crushed up using a bullet mixer into a reasonably fine powder, so I guess I'll try it soon :)
Beautiful hair by the way :D

[PixieP]

Illegal? Didn't know that! How odd! Would it be illegal to buy in Sweden and cross the border with it as well?

It's prescription only, for some reason. So it wouldn't be illegal to buy it in Sweden. You just can't get it in Norway without a prescription o.O


Great post, thanks for sharing :)
I was going to use the Vit C method recently, but changed my mind, and used a colour remover. I have been thinking about doing it again, but I didn't like the experience the first time. Although, it didn't smell like rotten eggs, it did smell like the 80's for some reason, I dunno. Still, not as bad as bleach. And it made my hair feel rough.
However, you have given me hope that I can use this method. I've already got Vit C tablets that I crushed up using a bullet mixer into a reasonably fine powder, so I guess I'll try it soon :)
Beautiful hair by the way :D

Thank you! Do share your results if you try :D

[Sarez]

Thank you! Do share your results if you try :D

Will do, and You're welcome :)

[akurah]

Bumping an old thread...

History: I dyed my hair with a temporary shampoo dye (Punky Color 3-in-1 in purple) that's supposed to eventually wash out. It's getting there, but I'm tired of the demarcation lines and wouldn't mind it being gone "faster". (I'm not going to get all the purple out, I have leftover elumen in the hair, but I don't need it 100% out, just... out more, so there's less demarcation)

I tried Color Oops and it didn't remove any more of the dye than a typical wash does! So now my hair stinks to high heaven. It's possible that my hair didn't get saturated enough with the stuff (I used a single box for classic length hair) but I don't think it's worth trying again given the stink.

I'm not trying Color Oops again since, well, I get the same results from shampooing with dandruff shampoo. I know Vitamin C can budge hair dye (both temporary and box) but I'd have to buy it--and since I'm lazy and have to buy it anyway, I was thinking about doing the powder.

Anyone have any idea how many teaspoons or tablespoons (or grams) of powder this might take? If I can't get an answer I'll probably just do tablets so I can do OP's recipe, but I'm lazy and would rather not if I can avoid.

[zmirina]

Bumping an old thread...

History: I dyed my hair with a temporary shampoo dye (Punky Color 3-in-1 in purple) that's supposed to eventually wash out. It's getting there, but I'm tired of the demarcation lines and wouldn't mind it being gone "faster". (I'm not going to get all the purple out, I have leftover elumen in the hair, but I don't need it 100% out, just... out more, so there's less demarcation)

I tried Color Oops and it didn't remove any more of the dye than a typical wash does! So now my hair stinks to high heaven. It's possible that my hair didn't get saturated enough with the stuff (I used a single box for classic length hair) but I don't think it's worth trying again given the stink.

I'm not trying Color Oops again since, well, I get the same results from shampooing with dandruff shampoo. I know Vitamin C can budge hair dye (both temporary and box) but I'd have to buy it--and since I'm lazy and have to buy it anyway, I was thinking about doing the powder.

Anyone have any idea how many teaspoons or tablespoons (or grams) of powder this might take? If I can't get an answer I'll probably just do tablets so I can do OP's recipe, but I'm lazy and would rather not if I can avoid.

I have tried it, and I poured enough to make a thick paste out of shampoo and vit C powder. Then kept making more and more as I was going though my hair

Despite washing it 3 times after the treatment, it took another 3 washes to completely get rid of the smell. And it turned my neutral dark brown hair into bright auburn. I'm not sure I'm a fun of the red

[Liz_H]

-- PixieP -- Your hair is beautiful! Very glad I found this thread. I tried Vit C to remove color on a hair swatch. Reading this, I think I shorted both Vit C and time.