Your hands more accustomed to wear-and-tear than your face and scalp, so you can employ more rigorous methods to get rid of dye stains on hands. One effective method: Washing your hands with a mixture of dish soap and baking soda. Since dish soap contains strong cleansing ingredients, be sure to rinse it off thoroughly and follow up with a hydrating hand cream.
If stubborn dye stains are still present after scrubbing, hand or body scrubs, nail polish removers, and even hand sanitizers are also great ways to help remove hair dye marks. For stained nail beds, cuticle removers will do the job as well.
How to prevent hair dye stains in the first place
Protect skin with an occlusive skincare product before any dye is applied. Smooth it onto the areas of skin dye most likely to come in contact with, like your hairline, the tops and backs of your ears, and the back of your neck. “An occlusive ointment like petroleum jelly does the job, who recommends Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Don’t have any petroleum jelly on-hand? No problem. “I apply a tiny bit of coconut oil around the hairline before applying color to stop any staining before it happens. “You can also use a heavy conditioner around the hairline.” A clear solid lip balm, like Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, also glides on easily with no stickiness or mess.
Be mindful of darker dyes. Ferrara says to be especially careful when applying dark brown and black shades as they stain more stubbornly and obviously.
Wipe away dye as you go. Whether you’re dyeing your hair at home or getting in done in-salon, if you spot stray dye on your skin or hairline, wipe it away with a damp towel to prevent the stain from setting.
Wear gloves! Unless you want your hands to match your hair, always be sure to wear protective gloves throughout the process.
Treat skin well after dye removal
Cleansers and alcohol can strip your skin of more than just the dye you’re trying to remove. “Especially after using rubbing alcohol on the skin, it is important to repair the skin barrier with a moisturizer. “I recommend a petrolatum-based product, as it forms a protective seal over the skin, and the newest generation of these moisturizers come in light lotion formulations that won’t leave you feeling greasy.”
If the dye hasn’t totally disappeared, don’t worry — Your skin won’t be tinted for as long as your hair will be. “The good news is that in time, as your skin cells naturally turnover, your skin will shed the pigment on its own within one to two weeks,” he says.
