My Hair Colour looked like it needed a 28-day detox. It was washing me out. It had become too dark, too dull, and somehow... too heavy.
I found myself tying it up in a top knot day after day because I just didn't care anymore. I'd fallen into the habit of touching up my roots to cover my greys, but every application left my regrowth looking fresh while my mid lengths and ends became darker, flatter and heavier. My Hair no longer looked like the Colour I'd originally fallen in love with.
Life can easily take over, and that little voice in your head can convince you that there are more important things to do than take care of yourself. So I felt like I was stuck in this cycle unless I went with my tail between my legs back to the salon for a long, expensive and shameful salon visit.
But I knew it was time to turn this ship around. I wanted to fall back in love with my Hair Colour. I wanted to feel proud of my Hair again.
Then I remembered something important... I work for My Hairdresser. I wasn't stuck at all.
So I decided to document my journey in case you've ever looked in the mirror and thought, "My Hair just doesn't feel like me anymore." Because sometimes your Hair doesn't need another Colour. Sometimes it just needs a fresh start.
So, What Happened To My Hair Colour?
It turns out there was nothing wrong with my Hair at all. It wasn't dry. It wasn't damaged. It was years of Permanent Hair Colour sitting on top of more Permanent Hair Colour.
Every root touch-up, every time I'd pulled the leftover Colour through my ends "just to freshen it up", I'd unknowingly added another layer. Slowly, my glossy Brunette had become darker, heavier and flatter until it barely resembled the Colour I'd originally fallen in love with.
The culprit's name? Hair Colour Build Up.
And it usually shows up in four ways:
Appearance: Your Hair looks dull, flat and stripped of its shine and gloss.
Texture: Your Hair feels dry or coarse and won’t seem to soften, even after treatments.
Weight: Your Hair looks and feels heavy, like it is being weighed down by years of Colour.
Uneven Colour: Your fresh regrowth looks bright and vibrant, while your mid lengths and ends look darker and heavier.
So, How Do You Remove Hair Colour Build Up?
The first step is removing the excess pigment that has built up over time. Our Permanent Hair Colour Remover is designed to gently remove unwanted artificial Colour without bleach, helping lift away those darker layers of Build Up and creating a cleaner canvas for your next Colour. It targets artificial Colour pigment while leaving your natural Hair pigment untouched.
For me, this wasn't about a dramatic transformation. It was about removing what was weighing my Hair Colour down and giving it a fresh start. This is where Colour Remover came in.
Colour
Remover
Step 1: Mixing My Colour Remover
I started by mixing equal parts Part A and Part B together in the Applicator Bottle. This made it quick and easy to apply evenly through my Hair.
Applicator
Bottle
Step 2: Applying To My Hair
I applied the Colour Remover to my dry, brushed Hair, focusing only on the areas where the unwanted Colour had built up.
I left my natural regrowth untouched, as the goal was to remove the old artificial pigment, not my natural Hair Colour.
Step 3: Process For 20 Minutes
Once all of my Coloured Hair was covered, I wrapped my Hair in cling wrap and left it to process for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Rinse Thoroughly
I shampooed my Hair thoroughly three times to ensure the loosened Colour pigments were fully washed away, then conditioned my Hair as normal.
Tip: Avoid using Colour Lock or Colour Enhancing products before using Colour Remover, as they can interfere with the process.
Once your Hair is dry, it is time to assess your result.
You are looking for:
A lighter overall Colour
More even tones from roots to ends
A warmer, brighter appearance
That warmth you see after Colour Remover is actually a positive sign. It means the darker artificial pigments have been removed. For some people, one application is enough to remove the heavy Colour Build Up. However, if you have years of dark Hair Colour Build Up, stubborn Brunette or Red pigments may require multiple applications to fully cleanse your Hair.
The Difference Was Instant
My Hair felt lighter, looked brighter and finally had movement again. The heaviness that had been weighing it down was gone, and my Colour looked fresh, glossy and full of life again.
Can You Use Hair Colour Remover More Than Once?
Yes. For Hair that has accumulated years of Permanent Hair Colour, multiple applications may be needed to achieve a more even result.
For the best results:
Always apply Colour Remover to dry Hair.
You can complete two applications in one day if needed.
A third application can be completed the following day.
Focus each application on the darkest areas where pigment has built up.
Often, the second application only needs to be applied through the mid lengths and ends, where the majority of the Colour Build Up remains.
What Should You Do After Removing Hair Colour?
After using Colour Remover, wait 48 hours before applying your next Hair Colour. Then comes the exciting part: choosing what happens next.
1. Embrace Your Fresh Start
Sometimes removing the Colour Build Up is all your Hair needed. You may love the lighter, fresher version of your Hair and decide to enjoy it exactly as it is.
2. Tone The Remaining Warmth
If you love your new Colour but want to soften the warmth left behind, a Toner Kit can help refine your Shade without adding darker pigment.
Choose a Toner that is lighter than your current Hair Colour:
Medium Blondes: Light Ash Toner Kit
Light Browns: Dark Ash Toner Kit
Dark Brown or Black Hair: Intense Ash Brown Toner Kit
3. Refresh Your Existing Colour
If you love your Shade and simply want to maintain it, apply your usual Hair Colour to your regrowth only.
To refresh your lengths, use a Toner Kit or mix your Hair Colour with No Lift Developer and apply it through your ends for the final 15–20 minutes.
This brings back shine and richness without creating another heavy layer of Colour.
4. Try Something New
Sometimes removing Colour Build Up gives you the confidence to make a subtle change.
This is what I chose.
After years of Colouring my Hair with 3 Dark Brown, my lengths had become almost Black.
I used Colour Remover multiple times to gently remove the built-up pigment, then recoloured with 5 Light Brown and 20 Volume Developer.
I applied the Colour to my natural regrowth for 45 minutes to cover my greys, then worked it through my lengths for the final 15 minutes to create a soft, even finish.
The result wasn't a completely different person in the mirror. It was simply my Hair feeling like mine again.
Sometimes the best Hair Colour change isn't adding more Colour. Sometimes it's removing what has been weighing it down.
