Can Olive Oil Remove Permanent Hair Dye From Color Treated Hair?

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Whether you colored your hair and hated the results, or you're just ready to switch up your hair color, you need a dye removal remedy.

Through the grapevine, you may have heard that olive oil is exactly what you need to gently and effectively remove hair dye. But does it work?

And if so, does it also remove permanent hair dye?

There's no need to wonder for a second longer - we've done the research for you. In this article, we'll look at whether olive oil can remove permanent hair dye.

Can Olive Oil Remove Permanent Hair Dye?

Olive oil won't remove permanent hair dye, and it's worth knowing why before you spend weeks waiting for hot oil treatments to lift your color.

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Permanent dye doesn't sit on top of your hair. It starts as small, colorless molecules that pass through your cuticle and enter the cortex, the thick middle layer of each strand.

Once inside, those molecules oxidize and join together to form much larger colored molecules that become trapped inside your strand. They're then too large to rinse out easily, which is what makes permanent color permanent.

An oil can't push those molecules back out. Color removers use a chemical reaction to break the artificial dye molecules into smaller pieces, but olive oil doesn't work that way. Neither do coconut, almond, or other oils.

That doesn't make a hot oil treatment pointless. It can soften your curls and make them easier to handle. If you've used this routine and noticed your color fading, you weren't imagining it.

Most of that fading comes from the clarifying shampoo, repeated washing, and warm water, not the olive oil itself. Knowing that helps you set realistic expectations and choose a stronger option if fading isn't enough.

What Fades Permanent Hair Color?

If you want the color out rather than just softer, better-conditioned hair, here are your options and what each may cost your curls.

Clarifying shampoo can speed up the normal fading that happens with repeated washing. A chelating shampoo removes mineral buildup, so it may help when hard water is part of the problem, but it isn't a permanent-dye remover.

Heat and sunlight also break color down, which is one reason dyed hair may fade faster during the summer. But both can dry and weaken your curls, so they aren't good color-removal methods.

Color removers are made for this job. They break large artificial dye molecules into smaller pieces that can be rinsed away. They don't bleach untouched natural pigment, but they also can't restore natural color that the developer lightened when you first dyed your hair.

Bleach removes pigment without distinguishing between artificial dye and your natural color. It can work faster than the other options, but it also causes the most permanent damage.

Growing your color out and trimming it away is the only option that doesn't require another drying or chemical process.

For most people, clarifying shampoo, conditioner, and time are the most sensible first steps. If that's too slow, consider a color remover. Talk to a colorist before reaching for bleach, especially if your curls already feel dry, gummy, brittle, or weak.

If your goal is getting the color out

What actually fades permanent dye, and what it costs your hair

Permanent dye sits inside your strands as molecules that are too large to rinse out easily. Fading it means either wearing the color down through repeated washing or using a chemical product to break those molecules apart. Start with the gentlest option that fits your timeline.

Method	What it does to the dye	How fast	What it costs your hair
Clarifying shampoo	Speeds up normal fading by washing away buildup and color that has already begun breaking down. It won't pull all the permanent dye out at once.	Slow. Expect gradual fading over several washes.	Usually mild, although clarifying shampoos can leave curly hair dry. Follow with conditioner and don't use one more often than your hair can handle.
Hot oil plus clarifying	The oil conditions your hair. The clarifying shampoo, repeated washing, and warm water are the parts that fade your color.	Slow. Usually similar to clarifying shampoo by itself.	Usually mild. The oil may help your curls feel softer, but it doesn't cancel out all the dryness that can come from repeated clarifying.
Sun and heat	Break down color where your hair receives the most exposure, which is why the ends and top layers may fade first.	Gradual and often uneven.	The same exposure that fades your color can also dry and weaken your hair, so don't rely on it as a removal method.
Color remover	Breaks artificial oxidative dye molecules into smaller pieces that can be rinsed from your hair.	Often one session, although stubborn buildup may require more.	Usually less damaging than bleach, but it can still leave your hair dry. Follow the directions carefully, rinse thoroughly, and give your curls time before coloring again.
Bleach	Breaks down artificial and natural pigment. It can't tell the difference between the dye you added and your own color.	Fast, although dark color buildup may require more than one carefully spaced session.	The most damaging option here. Bleach breaks down melanin and damages the proteins that give your curls their strength, and that damage can't be completely reversed.
Grow it out	Leaves the dye alone while the colored length moves down and is gradually trimmed away.	Months, depending on your hair length and growth.	No additional chemical damage. The only trade-off is time.

How quickly you need the color gone should guide your choice. If you can give it several weeks, start with clarifying shampoo and follow every wash with conditioner. If you need faster results, a color remover is the next step. Bleach is the option to discuss with a colorist before using it on your curls.

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How To Use Olive Oil To Remove Permanent Hair Dye

Here is the hot oil treatment itself. It's a good conditioning treatment, and the clarifying shampoo at the end may fade your color a little each time you do it.

What Kind of Olive Oil To Use

When it comes to your hair, you should use the highest quality olive oil available. We recommend using an organic, unrefined extra virgin olive oil that's been cold-pressed.

The more gently your olive oil is processed, the more beneficial compounds-like squalene and oleic acid- it will contain and the better it will be for your hair.

Steps for Using Olive Oil To Remove Permanent Hair Dye

The most effective way to remove hair dye with olive oil is to use it as a hot oil treatment. Here's how to do it.

Materials you'll need:

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Steps:

Shampoo and rinse your hair with warm water. Warm water may help your color fade a little faster than cool water, but there's no need to make it uncomfortably hot.
Heat half a cup of olive oil in the microwave for 10-30 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave.
Carefully check the temperature of the oil. It should be warm but not scalding. If the oil is too hot to apply comfortably, wait until it cools down.
Put on your gloves and drizzle the warm oil onto damp hair.
Saturate your strands from root to tip and gently massage the oil into your hair and scalp.
Cover your hair with the shower cap and wait for 30-45 minutes. You might want to tuck a towel into the neck of your shirt to prevent the oil from dripping.
Once your time's up, rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water.
Wash your hair with a thickening or clarifying shampoo. Work it into a lather and massage your hair until it no longer feels greasy.
Rinse well with lukewarm water.
Dry your hair or follow up with your preferred conditioner.
Repeat the process once a week or until your color fades to your desired shade. If you want to dye your hair again, wait for at least 3 days after the oil treatment.

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Dos and Don'ts of Removing Permanent Dye with Olive Oil

If you've decided to use olive oil to remove your permanent hair dye, here is a list of dos and don'ts for you to follow. The information included in this section will help ensure that your treatment goes as smoothly as possible.

Do's

Do use warm water rather than cool water. You don't need water hot enough to burn your scalp.
Do repeat the treatment weekly as needed.
Do use a clarifying shampoo. This step does most of the fading because it removes buildup and color that has already started breaking down. A thickening shampoo isn't automatically clarifying, so check the label before swapping it in.
Do secure your shower cap to prevent dripping.

Don'ts

Don't leave the olive oil on your hair too long.
Don't let the olive oil drip onto your face and neck.
Don't burn yourself. The oil will be very hot coming out of the microwave - allow it to cool a bit and then test its temperature before putting it on your hair.

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Pros and Cons of Olive Oil Dye Removal

If you're still on the fence about using olive oil for color remover, we've provided you with a list of pros and cons to help you decide.

Pros

Olive oil is great for your hair - Hot oil treatments can soothe your scalp, increase hair strength, and relieve dryness. Kinky and curly hair are particularly prone to dryness and benefit the most from using these treatments regularly.
This method is less damaging than other color removers - Chemical color removers are effective, but they can damage your hair. Olive oil is a gentle alternative to these more aggressive products and leaves your hair in much better condition.
Olive oil dye removal is inexpensive - Even high-quality olive oil is much more affordable than a visit to the salon. Olive oil dye removal is a relatively inexpensive option to get rid of unwanted color. You might even have a bottle or two already lying around in your pantry!
Olive oil is natural - With so many synthetic chemicals making their way into every facet of our lives, having an effective natural alternative can feel like a breath of fresh air.
You can swap in another oil - Because the oil isn't the part removing your dye, changing oils won't interfere with the fading process. Use whichever oil your curls respond to best. Coconut oil has research behind it for reducing protein loss, although that benefit is about protecting your hair rather than changing its color. If olive oil feels too heavy, try coconut or almond oil.

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Cons

This method doesn't work well with every color - If you have deeply pigmented shades or bold colors like violet or blue, you may need a stronger color removing treatment.
Olive oil can build up on your scalp - A heavy oil left on for 45 minutes can leave residue behind, especially if you don't wash it out thoroughly. If your scalp feels coated or itchy afterward, use less oil or shampoo more carefully the next time.
It can leave your hair looking greasy - Hot oil treatments can leave an oily residue behind. This is particularly true for anyone with naturally oily hair. If your locks are naturally greasy, try using a less fatty oil like jojoba or almond oil.
This method might break you out - If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, the dripping oil might cause you to break out around your forehead or hairline. Keep the oil away from your face as much as possible to avoid potential acne flare-ups.
It won't take the color out - Olive oil doesn't remove permanent dye, regardless of how often you repeat the treatment. The repeated clarifying washes may gradually fade your color, making this routine better for someone who wants softer hair and is comfortable with a slow change.
It fades your color slowly - Most of the change comes from the clarifying shampoo, so expect a small amount of fading with each treatment rather than a noticeable lift after one use.

A hot oil treatment is a gentle, inexpensive way to condition your hair, and the clarifying wash at the end may take a little color with it each time.

If you need the color removed rather than gradually softened, the chart above shows what each option does and what it may cost your curls.