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How to Get Arctic Fox out of Hair at Home With 10 Easy Options

Black girl with red bleached hair in London with skyscraper in the background

Dyeing your hair a funky color is a fun way to express yourself and boost your confidence. But if you’ve ever wanted to change your dyed hair color on a whim, you know that removing it can be a real challenge.

Arctic Fox hair dye has some serious staying power, so you’ve got to take some calculated steps to get it out of your hair. In this article, we’ve listed the top 10 ways you can get Arctic Fox out of your hair. 

Key Takeaways

  • Effective Removal Techniques for Arctic Fox Dye: Utilize methods such as a strong color remover, clarifying shampoo, and vitamin C treatments. These are efficient in fading or removing Arctic Fox hair dye, which is known for its vibrant colors and staying power.
  • Gentle Alternatives to Harsh Chemicals: For sensitive skin or dry hair, consider using milder options like a mixture of baking soda and shampoo, dish soap, or natural agents like lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide. These methods help fade the dye without the harsh impact of strong chemicals.
  • Precautionary Measures: Always perform a strand test before applying any removal method, especially for dark or virgin hair. Use protective gloves and petroleum jelly around the hairline to prevent skin irritation. A plastic or shower cap can enhance the effect of some treatments.
  • Maintaining Hair Health: Frequent washing with clarifying shampoo can expedite color fading but may lead to dryness. Balance this with deep conditioning treatments. For those with dry or damaged hair, using less abrasive methods and ensuring proper hydration of hair follicles is crucial.
  • Professional Consultation for Stubborn Dyes: If home remedies fail to remove Arctic Fox colors, consult a salon professional for a color remover or to explore new shades. A consultation is often the best bet for achieving your desired results while maintaining your hair’s health, particularly for vibrant or intricate color patterns.

How To Get Arctic Fox Out of Hair Without Ruining It

Beautiful African American girl with curly red-colored hair and light brown skin

When it comes to removing Arctic Fox hair dye, you’ve got options – you may be surprised by the sheer number of available color removal methods.

But it’s important to know about all of them so you can choose the right one(s) for you. Use the following tips to remove unwanted hair dye from your hair:

1. Use a Strong Color Remover

A quick and effective way of removing hair dye is by using a semi-permanent hair color remover. Most of these color removers contain hydrosulfate, which eliminates unwanted color without using ammonia and peroxide or, worse yet, bleach.

Look for a color remover designed to remove semi-permanent dyes and follow the below steps: 

  • Mix up the color remover according to the instructions on the packaging. 
  • Pour the color remover into a non-metal bowl or use the included bottle. 
  • Use a tint brush and your gloved hands to carefully apply the product throughout your hair.
  • Leave the mixture on for at least 20 minutes. It’s during this time that the dye remover opens up your hair cuticles and makes the color easier to rinse out. 
  • Rinse your hair for at least 10 minutes straight. Your hair color remover instructions may tell you to rinse it for longer than that. 
  • Wash your hair with your usual shampoo several times to ensure the color doesn’t reappear.

Some use a hair color remover more than once a week, but we don’t recommend doing that if your hair is chronically dry or color-damaged. 

Black lady drinking coffee and using an iPhone with Manic Panic reddish dark hair

2. Use a Clarifying Shampoo

Clarifying shampoos help deep-clean your hair and remove dirt and product build-up, including Arctic Fox. Switch out your traditional shampoo for a clarifying shampoo to remove unwanted hair color.

For the best results, avoid any clarifying shampoo labeled ‘color-safe’ and don’t wash your hair more than twice a day. Always examine your hair and deep condition it if you notice that it’s getting dry. 

3. Try Some Vitamin C

Vitamin C contains ascorbic acid that helps lighten your Arctic Fox hair dye by breaking up semi-permanent hair dye molecules. Though this will cause your current shade to fade, it won’t remove the color all at once. You’ll need multiple vitamin C treatments to do that. 

To effectively remove hair dye, mix ½ cup of crushed vitamin C tablets with enough clarifying shampoo to cover all of your damp hair. Apply it all over your hair, and then allow the mixture to sit for five minutes. Then, rinse it out and follow up with a hydrating conditioner or deep conditioner.

African girl in a coffee shop with Purple Rain hair dye in her wavy hair

4. Do a Bleach Bath

You can also strip Arctic Fox hair color by mixing bleach with your shampoo. This is called a bleach bath

Add one part bleach (mixed with 20-vol developer according to the manufacturer’s instructions) to an anti-dandruff shampoo to lift some of the dye.

Remember that bleach can affect your hair’s natural color and potentially leave your hair dry and vulnerable to breakage. So, pass on the bleach if your hair is already damaged.

If you want to proceed with this method, we recommend testing the mixture on a small section of your hair before doing your entire head. 

5. Combine Epsom Salt and Baking Soda

Another excellent way to remove semi-permanent hair dye at home is by using Epsom salt and baking soda. 

Mix a cup of warm water, two teaspoons of Epsom salt, and two teaspoons of baking soda together. Then, transfer the mixture to a spray bottle and spray it onto your hair until it is drenched.

Rinse the mixture out of your hair after about a half-hour. With this method, you may need to be patient as it could take several sessions for the dye to fade. 

Black female wearing a bright red semi-permanent color with a black winter coat

6. Wash Your Hair Often

The more you wash your hair, the faster it will fade. So, one of the easiest ways to fade your color is to wash it more often. 

You can wash it with a clarifying shampoo every day or two for a while to bid that unwanted hair color goodbye. Just pay attention to your hair’s moisture levels. Hold off on the frequent washes and up your conditioning sessions if your hair gets too dry. 

7. Mix Baking Soda and Shampoo

Baking soda is an excellent tool to remove semi-permanent hair dye. Why? Because sodium bicarbonate is a natural bleaching agent; thus, you can count on it to lighten or fade your hair dye.

Here’s how to try it:

  • Mix equal quantities of baking soda and anti-dandruff shampoo to make a semi-runny paste. 
  • Wet your hair with hot water before applying the mixture to your colored strands. 
  • Lather for up to five minutes and then allow the mixture to sit for 20 minutes.
  • Rinse your hair with water and follow up with a conditioner. 

You can repeat this procedure several times throughout the week as long as your hair doesn’t feel dry.

Beautiful girl wearing bright red Arctic Fox hair color during an outdoor photo-shoot

8. Try Dish Soap

Dish soap is an efficient way to strip Arctic Fox or any other semi-permanent dye from your hair. The strong detergents rough up your hair cuticles and wash away the dye fast. 

To try it, apply dish soap to your damp hair and leave it on for up to five minutes before rinsing thoroughly with warm water.

Remember that dish soap may make your hair dry, so consider using a sulfate-free, repairing shampoo right after. Then apply a deep conditioning treatment, let it sit for several minutes, and rinse with cold water.

9. Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Natural bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide are gentler than bleach yet equally effective at removing semi-permanent hair dye pigments. To give hydrogen peroxide a try, do the following: 

  • Combine water and hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and spray it on your hair. 
  • Leave it in your hair for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. 
Lady walking on the street outside with red Arctic Fox hair color

10. Lemon Juice

Lemons contain citric acid, which naturally lifts away hair dye. Chances are you’ve got some lemons or pre-squeezed lemon juice in your kitchen now.

To put it to use, squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl and apply it to your hair until it’s completely saturated. After 10 to 20 minutes, wash the mixture out with lukewarm water and a clarifying shampoo. 

Note: It’s important to know that most hair dyes (including permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes) fade on their own, and fading your hair naturally is the healthiest thing for your hair. But if you absolutely can’t wait, one of the methods mentioned above should get the job done. 

If Nothing Works, See a Professional

Young woman with red hair and green tones taking a photo with her cell phone outside

If none of these tips work, you should refrain from experimenting with your hair further. Instead, go to your local hair colorist, who knows how to fix your hair dye mistakes and bless your crown with a new and better dye job.

You could go to the salon in person or ask for a phone consultation to learn which method will work best for you. 

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The Bottom Line

Arctic Fox packs a massive punch in the color payoff department, and that’s why so many people love the brand. But that doesn’t mean that you have to keep your chosen hair color forever.

We encourage you to try one of the above hair dye fading methods to remove the pigment from your hair so you can test-drive a fresh, new hue right away. Good luck!