Let’s face it: Red hair has always been one of the most sought-after hair colors. From strawberry blonde to auburn to copper, a fiery hue looks undoubtedly bold and beautiful on all sorts of hair textures and skin tones.

But if you’re thinking of changing your hair color or want to go back to your natural roots in time for the new season, removing red hair dye can be quite the challenge. That’s because the red hue doesn’t fade as easily as other hair colors, making it harder to remove any crimson tones. Not to mention, if the removal process is done wrong, you can cause harm to your strands.

Lucky for you, there are a few steps you can take to put your red hair in the past without leaving any damage behind. We’re sharing our best tips for how to get red dye out of your hair so you can get back to your natural color.

What To Know About Different Types Of Red Hair Dye

If you’re ready to leave your red hair color behind, it’s important to understand which type of hair dye you used in order to properly remove it.

If you’re working with temporary hair color, like the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray, you can wash out the formula whenever you’re ready and start fresh the next day. It’s that easy.

For a semi-permanent hair dye, like the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color, the color will gradually fade over time with shampooing, but a little bit of the red hue may linger for a week or so.

Permanent hair color, on the other hand, is definitely more tricky to remove, but not impossible. You can use quick techniques such as hair color removers and correctors to help get red dye out of hair, but you might not be able to restore your natural hair color — at least not as quickly as you would like to.

How To Get Red Dye Out Of Hair

Ready to say goodbye to those red tones? Follow our tips below to learn how to get red dye out of your hair.

1. Try A Hair Color Remover

Contrary to popular belief, once you commit to a red hair color, you’re not necessarily stuck with it until it fades. As we mentioned above, there are a few solutions to get rid of red pigments, and the first one you should get acquainted with is hair color remover.

Just as its name suggests, a hair color remover works wonders to remove permanent hair color all in one step. While the formulas won’t restore your hair to its natural hue, it does prep your strands for new hair color. Just be sure to have an at-home hair color kit handy so you can dye your hair to its next shade and pull your look together perfectly.

2. Grab A Hair Bleach Kit

While you may have used hair bleach in the past to lighten up your strands, it’s also great at removing unwanted color from your hair — and you can safely bleach your hair all on your own at home. All you need is the right hair bleaching kit to transform your hair.

Grab the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach and simply follow the instructions on the box to get your desired results. After you’ve bleached your hair, you can leave it as is, or you can change it up and opt for a new shade.

3. Go Darker

If you’re contemplating a darker hair color for your next mane makeover, you’re in luck. Coloring over your current hue shouldn’t be too hard.

You can use an at-home dye — like the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Color, the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color or the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color — over your red hair to overhaul your look. Keep in mind, it may be best to stick with warm-toned browns and blacks as those will play best with the undertones of your red hair.

4. Reach For Green Shampoo

When your hair isn’t totally red but has red undertones, you can turn to the color wheel for help. If you need a refresher, the color wheel is all about identifying contrasting colors that sit across from each other. With that knowledge, you’ll be able to fix or correct any color job.

For example, when it comes to hair with red tones, you’ll want to use a green hair care system to neutralize those tones. Add a green shampoo and conditioner to your hair care routine to see the magic this combo can work.

5. Let The Color Naturally Fade

While giving your red hair color time to fade or grow out may be the last thing you want, it doesn’t hurt to give it a try if all other options are off the table. With semi- and demi-permanent shades, the color will fade out over time. For permanent dye, you can wait for your strands to grow out if you’re open to rocking a rooted look for a while.

Next: 20 Best Blonde Hair Color Ideas for Every Skin Tone

Edited by: Sophie Dweck; Photo Credit: Crystal Simone