Color Oops Extra Conditioning Hair Color Remover, 1 Application, Hair Dye Remover Processes in 20 Minutes, Safely Removes Permanent & Semi-Permanent Dye, Ammonia & Bleach Free

I have been coloring my hair for over 30 years - both salon and home boxed colors (mostly L'Oreal). For the last 10 years or so I have been various shades of lighter reds. My natural color has been a medium mousey brown color/grey. The roots have mostly been a brown mixed with a lot of grey. I wanted to get back to my natural color - mostly to see how much (if any) brown was left and how the grey actually looked. The idea was to get back to a natural grey, and if it looks good, to stop coloring it. This worked very well for removing the color. I seem to have some color remaining (my hair looks more blond than grey) so I may do another treatment. Right now I don't see much of my natural brown, but after so long coloring my hair, it may have all gone grey ;). I'm not sure if there is residue that is making my hair more "blond" than grey or if I just have a very yellow natural grey. I will wait a few days and try a purple shampoo. As far as using the product: The odor was not bad at all. It was strong at first, but once the initial 20 minutes under the bag was done, it wasn't bad at all. My husband noted there was an odor, but even he said it was not bad. And it seems gone the day after. My hair has a slight odor (next day) but others state it is not noticeable. I was very diligent at following the directions exactly. Apply and cover with bag for 20 minutes. Rinse for a full 20 minutes, then shampoo and 5 minute rinse times 3(!!) and then shampoo, rinse and condition. Total time was a bit over an hour. During the rinses my hair felt terrible. Very stiff and dry. But once I conditioned it, it was fine. I will deep condition it again today. Please make sure you look at the types of hair colors this will work on, as I think a number of the negative reviews are from trying this on the wrong types of dyes. I would recommend this, but if you are sensitive or have very damaged hair, do the recommended spot tests. Also note - this is a loooong time with running water so if you have a small water heater and don't enjoy cold showers, you may not want to use this particular product :).

Disclaimer: Going to a professional is the preferred method when you’re talking about changing/ stripping color. But after tons of money spent and tons of salons and professionals tried, I have found that DIY is the method that works FOR ME. Is it right for you? I don’t know.I am impressed with this product and would recommend, but please understand it is not a miracle treatment. Color removal is often an arduous process that requires patience, strict adherence to directions and possible second or third applications are a reality in the color removing game. This is true for ANY COLOR REMOVAL PRODUCT I HAVE TRIED. Considering the above, Color Oops is my favorite in-home, DIY product so far.ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: this product SMELLS REALLY BAD. VENTILATE— I used bathroom fan and a portable fan with bathroom door open. Don’t get it on your hands, clothes, or any objects—even if it gets on the countertop, use cleaner to wipe it up. ANYTHING this stuff touches will stink for days. Make sure you wear disposable gloves and plastic cap that comes in box. Throw away bottles, gloves, cap and tie up your trash bag tight when you’re done. Even use old clothes/ towel if you have them and throw those away, too (I just washed an old towel on highest setting to get smell out).For me, this is an ideal alternative to bleach. I can’t bleach my hair anymore than I already have, it’s too fragile. This product is way less damaging than bleach, but it will, however, open up pores to let the color out—so it will make it brittle until you condition it really well.Strand test is crucial—but understand your hair color will not change much if at all during strand test—color removal happens during the 15-20 minute rinse and 2 to 3 shampoos once you’re finished with the treatment.Application is quick (don’t drip it around! no metal clips! use plastic combs, clips, etc.) and only takes 20 minutes to process. Wear the plastic cap so the heat from your head keeps it nice and warm.The rinsing is the hard part. Rinse hot as you can handle for about 20 minutes to get the color out. The product opens the pores, the rinsing removes the color.Your hair will stink even after the rinsing, but the shampoo step removes the smell.Shampoo a couple times after use—USE A CLARIFYING SHAMPOO—moisturizing or color protecting shampoos will re-seal the pores and prevent further color removal during the process. I shampooed 3 times with a cheap, generic clarifying shampoo and lots of rinsing in between. This really got the last bits of color out for me.After I got as much color as possible out, I conditioned and used a protein treatment packet (follow directions—leaving protein on too long isn’t good for your hair) to seal and soften my hair after.I’m happy—BUT MY EXPECTATIONS ARE TEMPERED. I will have to do it again in 2 weeks to a month bc there’s still some red tones hanging around. Not much, but red is a very stubborn color. I have to wait 2 to 4 weeks bc my hair is too brittle to do any treatment that opens pores back to back. I have to heal it for a while with gentle, moisturizing shampoos and good conditioner before doing it again. Some people have healthy hair and don’t have to wait. BECAUSE MY HAIR IS ALREADY BLEACHED BEFORE COLOR REMOVER, I ALSO HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE ANY BLEACH/ OR DEVELOPER OR FOR AT LEAST 2 TO 4 WEEKS—so I have to wait to re-color unless I want to go dark again. I don’t. I just want to make it a nicer blonde. Meantime, bleach blonde with “ombre” roots it is.If you made it this far, you’re a champ. I wish you good hair forever.

Is anybody familiar with Choke by Chuck Palahniuk? Do you remember the bit where Victor's mom would open boxes of hair dye and switch the colors? Apparently, Victor's mom packed my Sally Beauty order. My once copper/ginger hair was suddenly dark brown because I wasn't vigilant about comparing the shade name and number on the tube to the shade name and number on the box. Oops! I tried to rock the new shade, but it just wasn't ME. Eventually, I became impatient and ordered Color Oops! This stuff absolutely worked for me! It smells like a dirty port-a-potty, but the smell fades quickly. And so does the unwanted color! My hair doesn't feel damaged at all, and I once again look like a member of the Weasley family. Thank you, Color Oops!!!