How to Get Hair Color Off Skin, According to a Hairstylist

Whether you’re shelling out the cash for a salon service or putting your DIY skills to the test at home, hair dye can be a tricky business. If you’ve ever gotten into a snafu with a box of color (or even been at the hands of a messy stylist), chances are you’ve ended a coloring session or two with the unfortunate stained hairline, ears, or neck. Getting hair dye on your skin may seem inevitable when working with color, but believe it or not, there’s a way to avoid it — you just need to know the insider tricks.

Hair dye is potent stuff. You wouldn’t want your brand-new hair color to disappear after a few days (and if you did, you’d use temporary dye). It’s designed to last you months of hair washing so that you get the most bang for your buck. But that also means it’s hard to undo mishaps. If you’re wondering how to get hair color off skin, you’ll be happy to learn that all it requires is a few common household items. We reached out to NYC colorist Domenica Valenti to find out the best ways to avoid the problem in the first place, as well as what to do if you’ve found yourself covered in dye. Keep reading to see her tips for how to remove hair dye from skin before you have to go out in public again.