How To Stop Hair Color From Staining Your Skin

December

How To Stop Hair Color From Staining Your Skin

Did you know that 94% of women who color their hair say they recolor for the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza season?

At least that’s what Ingenuity Products, the company that makes +Repelle Hair Color Stain Shield says. They conducted a study that also revealed one of the worst side effects of hair color is stained skin.

I must be hanging around the Left Brain too much because I’m becoming very skeptical about these press releases that come across The Beauty Brains desk. According to Ingenuity Products, over half of the women surveyed said that “hair color can stain skin.” And that even though over 90 percent of the women say they avoid getting hair color on their skin, almost half said they still experience skin staining when they color their hair.

I just have to wonder: is this really an issue? A lot of us color our hair but I’ve never heard that skin staining is a huge problem. What do you think? Is this a big deal? Would you buy a product to protect your skin from staining?

–Mid Brain

27 Responses to “How To Stop Hair Color From Staining Your Skin”

Irian Says:

I do think that skin staining is a big issue, specially when dealing with red or very dark dyes. I usually prevent staining using vaseline, but if i miss a spot, I get a very unsightly red stain that takes forever to fade.
Gloria Says:

It stains my scalp and my forehead/neck/ear a bit. The stain on my skin goes away after a day with normal shower. As for my scalp, large pieces of red dandruff comes off for about a week, and that’s it.

Not a biggie..
Judy Says:

Whew…this is ONE problem I don’t have. However since I have my hair professionally done I shouldn’t!

My stylist puts something (vaseline, I think) around my hairline during the process that prevents this.

If I overdo the Frieda hair glaze between coloring I do notice that my scalp is a bit pinkish since my color is red.
LeighAnn Says:

It’s a big problem for me and one of the reasons I don’t color my hair anymore. It does go away after a day but that first day I couldn’t leave the house. No matter how careful I was with the dye it alays happens.
thebeautybrains Says:

Yeah, if you can afford it, it’s better to have your hair color done professionally. They just do a better job.
Julia Says:

Yes, I do get staining, but usually the Vaseline trick does prevent it. Otherwise, I am scrubbing my hairline quite a bit after coloring. And it happens at the stylist and when I “home” color.
Candice Says:

The only times I’ve ever had a problem have been when I was dying my unnatural colors like pink or blue, but that usually comes off within three days. Even black isn’t a big deal — any stains wash off within a day or so. A bigger problem is if you let a dab of dye sit on your skin too long, and it dyes the hair, since our bodies are covered with it. Then you’ve got no choice but to shave it off. Vaseline or anything with wax will solve all of this. Both of these ingredients are in the product linked above — which, if you ask me, is just a relabeled lip balm. Personally, I use Burt’s Bees beeswax lip balm or any of their thicker beeswax moisturizers. Much cheaper!
kage Says:

i just use vaseline… when i remember to. but skin staining is such a pain in the butt!

once i helped my friend dye her hair dark brown and i wore gloves but still ended up brown hands. after scrubbing forever most of it came off but my finger nails were brown for over a month.
Courtney Says:

I’ve never had a problem with skin staining, nor has friends or family. So personally I feel it’s not an issue.
The Style Page Says:

Yes, it’s a problem. I remember one dye job at the salon where my skin was stained and the colorist and shampoo girl rubbed and rubbed to remove the stain. I developed bumps from the irritation of all the rubbing. My current colorist uses Seabreeze astringent, which works well, but I like Roux Clean Touch.
Cate Says:

It’s never been a big deal for me as long as it is kept to the sides or back. My stylist is good about trying to keep it off my skin. What irritates me is when I finally do wash my hair and end up staining my lighter color towels with red dye…oh well, I just have to remember to use a darker one or my micro fiber turbin towel…Love it!
kripata Says:

I don’t use vaseline, but a thick cream, for example the (very) basic all-purpose Nivea cream that comes in blue tins. No stains + it helps my (very dry) skin!
Techgirl Says:

I would definitely be interested in a product that kept dye from staining my skin!

I wear my hair very short, and was coloring my own hair black for a while. Staining was a real problem around the nape of my neck, the tops of my ears, and my hair line. I got sick of rubbing my skin raw to get the stains off after coloring. It was never a problem with lighter colors. I’ve started going to a great stylist, and switched to lighter colors, and now don’t have the problem.

As far as towels, I buy white ones, and then bleach them. The hair color comes out pretty easily (as well as the red Georgia clay we’re “blessed” with here).
Holly Says:

This is a problem for me and I have my hair professionally colored. I have very fair skin and a deep reddish-brown haircolor. My hairstylist uses a product to protect my skin, but even with that the plastic cap usually slides down while I’m waiting on the color.
A client of hers brought in a new product (I think the one mentioned in this PR) and it seemed to help a lot. She’s trying to get more, but until then I usually end up with some reddish-brown color around my hairline after a color job.
LKG Says:

The staining is a big problem for me and I have mine professionally done. My stylist uses the vaseline trick but if he accidentally gets some on my skin in take several days for it to come off. This product doesn’t look much better than vaseline.
GothicRapunzel Says:

I dye my hair blue black about once a month, so there is the stain issue. Anything lighter than that doesn’t hold on my skin, thankfully.

I’ve used Vaseline, but found getting it on evenly and then off afterward was a huge pain.

The stains generally only last a day or two, but I’d love to avoid those couple of days.

So, if it were cheap enough, sure I’d get something to prevent staining.

I wonder though….don’t more women dye/bleach their hair blonde? I mean, thats not really a staining issue…so I wouldn’t think it was ‘epidemic’…
GothicRapunzel Says:

to add….

that Repelle looks a lot like chapstick…

oh, thats an idea, I think I’ll try that next time I touch up.
Office Hair Says:

Darker colours will stain more so I tell my clients to exfoliate into the hair line the morning of the colour and pack on the moisturiser as it’s the dry , dead skin cell that really grab the colour and stain.
thebeautybrains Says:

It probably won’t make any practical difference however, it seems that not exfoliating would be a better strategy. The top-layer dead skin cells are more easily removed than the ones below. If the fresh layer gets stained, the stain might actually last longer.
Delphine Says:

I just wanted to chime in that I used to dye my mothers hair and it was a HUGE issue! of course it came off and most women probably do this at night anyway allowing a morning shower to help take it off but it’s still very annoying.
Jill Says:

I get stains from dye, it’s awful. Dark browns and sometimes black. Can’t leave the house, people would look at me funny!!

Vaseline works ok but it’s kind of nasty to remove, and sometimes it gets on the hair, blocking the color. If this stuff is under $5, I’d try it. Where is it sold?
Karen Says:

I get staining. I use vaseline to help and when I am done coloring I use a exfoliating face wash
Basura Says:

That’s funny–so many people coloring their hair for the holiday season! My hair is red and black and down to my butt, I often thing of adding green for Christmas.

About the staining problem, I have more problems with getting stains on my clothing or sheets after a fresh dying.

Most people have mentioned using Vasoline. It works, but is so messy to remove. I use lube! I’m serious! It’s great! It creates a barrier and is easy to remove in the shower!
Jill Says:

Lube??? That sounds worse than vaseline! I foudn Repelle at Walgreens. The stuff works great! Easy to apply, a small stick, glides right on. Best thing is NO STAINS for the first time in 20 years. The repelle washed right off along with the hair color. Sure beats the mess of vaseline and the scrubbing i used to do with all the chemical cleansers in the house.
Sara Says:

This picture is an old picture of me!
You didn’t ask me if it was okay to put this picture up!

So now I’m telling you to take it down,or I’ll get my lawyers involved……
DEE Says:

Hair Color Stain Cleanser
Recommended for All types of stains caused by hair color products
1.18 fl oz.
$1.49
Use cotton to remove. Purchase at any beauty supply store. Excellent.
Hondalover540 Says:

I have been getting my hair color done professionally for some time now, and the only reason why so, was that I was having the hardest time with color dying my skin. But now, since I can’t afford a professional job, since gas is outrageous! I have to go back to doing on my own, so I googled on how to prevent dying my skin when self coloring, I thought about buying the stick at WalGreens but I think I might try the Vaseline or the Lube ideas!!!! Thanx for all the advice!