How to Lighten Your Hair Dye With Vitamin C

Co-authored by Gina Almona

Last Updated: October 15, 2024 Approved

You've dyed your hair and realized it has come out way too dark for your liking. Rather than panic, you can apply Vitamin C to your locks to lighten up the color! This method is safe for all hair types and should not result in hair damage. By applying a mixture of Vitamin C tablets and shampoo, you can take your hair color from too dark to just right.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Crushing the Vitamin C Tablets

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You can get white Vitamin C tablets at your local health food store or online. Look for ones with a white, rather than orange or red, coating, as this will ensure the color does not bled onto your hair when you use the tablets.^{[1]
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If you have longer hair, you may need to use 20-30 tablets. If you have shorter hair, 10-15 tablets should be enough. Make sure the bag is sealed tightly and properly after you put the tablets in.

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3
Crush the tablets with a rolling pin. Put the bag of tablets on a flat surface like a table or countertop. Roll the rolling pin over the bag to crush the tablets until they form a fine powder.
- Another option is to put the tablets in a spice grinder and grind them that way.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying the Vitamin C

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Use clarifying shampoo that does not contain any dyes. If you have very long hair and crushed a higher number of Vitamin C tablets, you may need to use 5 to 6 tablespoons (74 to 89 ml) of shampoo. Combine the crushed tablets and the shampoo with a spoon until it forms a thick paste that has the consistency of glue.^{[2]
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2
Wet your hair with water and apply the paste. Use a spray bottle filled with warm water to wet your hair until it is damp to the touch, but not soaking wet. Apply the paste to your hair with clean fingers, massaging it in from root to tip. Make sure you cover your entire head with the paste.^{[3]
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- If you have a lot of hair or long hair, you may need to apply the paste in sections to ensure every strand is covered. Just part your hair into 4-8 sections before beginning.
- Do at least 1 coat of the paste on your entire head so your hair is well covered.
3
Put a shower cap over your hair and let it sit for at least 2 hours. This will give the Vitamin C paste enough time to absorb into your hair.^{[4]
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- You can also sit under a hooded dryer or direct heat from a blow dryer at your hair to speed up the process.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Rinsing and Drying Your Hair

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Put your head over a sink or stand in the shower. Make sure you rinse out the paste completely, as this will help the Vitamin C strip the color out of your hair.
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Apply moisturizing conditioner to your hair if it tends to get dry or frizzy. If you notice your hair feels dry once you rinse out the paste, you can massage in moisturizing conditioner to give it a bit more moisture.
- This can also be a good precautionary measure if your hair tends to get frizzy when you dry it, especially when it is dyed.
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Dry your hair. If you usually use a blow dryer to dry your hair, use it to dry your hair so you can assess how light the dye faded due to the paste. If you prefer to let your hair air dry, let it hang loose for several hours or overnight.
- If you blow dry your hair, use a heat protectant product to limit heat damage.
4
Repeat the process again if you want your dyed hair to appear lighter. You can apply the Vitamin C paste again if you want to lighten your hair further. It is safe to apply it 3-4 times in a row to lighten your hair, though the paste may dry out your hair and cause your scalp to flake or itch. Always follow up the paste with a moisturizing conditioner if you are using it multiple times in a row to protect your hair and scalp.^{[5]
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- You can also try leaving the paste on your hair for longer than 2 hours at a time, though this can cause irritation if your have a sensitive scalp.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What does vitamin C do for your hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

When applied directly, vitamin C can dry hair out and lighten the color. However, when consumed orally, vitamin C will help strengthen hair and maximize growth.

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Question

Can vinegar take out hair dye?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Vinegar can fade or remove semi-permanent dyes and some natural colorants. It will not work on permanent color.

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Question

How can you lighten your hair naturally?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Vinegar, honey, and lemon are three great natural lighteners. Mix lemon and honey together with some water in a spray bottle and spritz it on your hair. Process for 10-30 minutes for soft highlights.

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