This year has been tough on many of us. We had to adapt to a new way of life. Not being able to go out whenever we want has had many downsides, but it has also brought something good – we had more time to dedicate to ourselves and perhaps even learn new skills.
For example, not being able to visit a hair salon has inspired numerous people to learn how to dye their hair at home. If you, too, are among these skillful personas, you probably noticed that hair-dyeing is not as easy as it might seem when a professional does it.
If you are not really careful, hair dye can stain your furniture, tiles, sink, floor, carpet, but also your clothes, skin, fingers, and fingernails. It can happen to the best of us, even the experienced ones!
Luckily there are many effective methods for removing hair dye off of objects, surfaces, or your body. Today we will help you remove hair dye stains from your fingernails. It does not matter if your nails are natural or acrylic; the hair dye can make them look pretty awful.
For this reason, this guide will answer the crucial question: How to remove hair dye from fingernails? We will also provide you with a range of hacks. We guarantee that our tips and tricks are worth your time, so stay with us to the very end!
If you want to do things the right way, we can also teach you how to dilute hair dye and how to measure hair color from a tube.
Hair Dye Stains On Your Fingernails: How To Prevent Or Solve This Problem?
There is a wise proverb (aren’t they all!) that says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It is always better to think things through real good before you get down to business – hair-dying is no exception. In fact, you should think even harder when what you do concerns your head.
Therefore before you start dying your hair, make sure you go through what we call a disaster prevention checklist, and you should avoid the troublesome hair dye stains on any surfaces or your skin. Here it goes:
- Use old newspapers or plastic wrap to cover the area you work in and all exposed surfaces. As an alternative, you can use plastic bags or tin foil, or anything else handy you have around your home collecting dust.
- Use Vaseline to protect your hairline from hair dye stains. Apply it generously but be very careful not to get any on your hair.
- Wear gloves! There is a good reason why all hair dyes come with a pair of gloves. The gloves serve to protect your hands and nails from staining or irritation. We know that many of you feel uncomfortable wearing gloves, but they are highly beneficial and can save you a lot of stress!
Related: How to Remove Hair Dye From Skin with 11 Simple Ways
Failed Prevention: How To Remove Hair Dye From Your Fingernails?

The first rule you have to remember is to act as quickly as you can. The sooner you start removing the stains; the better are your chances of succeeding.
In fact, you should always have emergency hair dye removal equipment ready before you even start the hair dying process. It can be something as simple as a wet cotton ball that you will use to wipe off any “slipped” hue before it even gets a chance to set into your skin or fingernails.
If you failed to apply all the prevention measures listed so far and messed things up, we can still help you. Once the hair color has settled, you can rely on the following methods to get rid of the stains:
1. The Baking Soda Method
Baking soda has an abrasive nature, and as such, it exfoliates your skin and removes the dead skin cells. You can use this baking soda property to remove hair dye off your skin or nails too.
First, you’ll need to make a paste. It is a simple process and goes as follows:
- Measure two teaspoons of baking soda in a small bowl
- Add two teaspoons of water and two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar.
- Combine well
When the mixture is done and ready, apply it onto the hair dye stains on your nails and gently scrub it in. You will notice the color slowly vanishing. When the stains are completely gone, wash your hands well.
2. The Toothpaste Method
It might sound a bit unusual, but toothpaste can help you get rid of hair dye stains as efficiently as baking soda paste. It works in a similar way too.
Namely, the scrubbing crystals in your toothpaste that serve to make your teeth whiter can act as a sort of scraper on your skin and nails too, and help remove the dead skin and impurities.
The good news is that toothpaste will not have an irritating effect. For lighter stains or the ones that have not set in yet, it will be enough to apply the toothpaste and allow it to work its magic for a couple of minutes before you wash it off.
If the stains are still there even after this initial treatment, you can either repeat the process again or use your toothbrush to gently scrub off the dye. Make sure you rinse your hands and nails thoroughly once you are satisfied with the results.
3. The Petroleum Jelly Method
Petroleum jelly is most often used as emollients to protect the skin from irritations such as wind or frost. It is also used as a moisturizer since it forms a protective layer on the skin.
The good news is that petroleum jelly can also be used as one of the safest home remedies for removing hair dye stains. Simply apply some of it onto your fingernails, making sure that you cover all the tough stains. You can let it sit for a while and then rub it off gently to remove the stain.
In the case of a highly permeated stain, you should apply petroleum jelly before you go to sleep and let it work overnight. In the morning, wipe it off, and stains will be a thing of the past.
4. The Nail Polish Remover Method
The nail polish remover is the most obvious thing you can use to remove hair dye stains from your nails. Most nail polish removers contain acetone that has a similar effect as baking soda. Namely, it acts as an abrasive, removing the stains off your fingernails in a matter of seconds.
You know how to use the nail polish remover for sure, but we will still guide you through the process, just in case.
- Saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover.
- Place the cotton ball directly on the stain.
- Hold it for a couple of minutes.
- Wash your hands and nails with soap and water.
The important thing you need to remember is to use nail polish remover ONLY on your nails, NEVER on your face.
5. The Baby Oil Method
If you have baby oil, you can try the most gentle method of them all. All you need to do is rub a little bit of baby oil onto the stain before you go to sleep. When you wake up in the morning, simply wash your hands, and the stain should be completely gone.
How does this work? The oil breaks down the hair dye so that you can wash it off quickly.
What Can You Do About The Dyed Cuticles?
If you have dyed your cuticles, too, the best thing you can do is to trim them. They are made of dead skin and will change their color rather quickly when in contact with hair dye. Nail polish remover might work, too, but it will be rather harsh to your skin. You should thus use a cuticle clipper for the best results. Be careful not to hurt yourself!
Relevant: How to Get Hair Dye Off Counter Easily
Extra Tips And Tricks
When using the toothpaste, baking soda, or petroleum jelly, you can use a nail brush or toothbrush to make sure you clean the area underneath your nails thoroughly.
You can use the brush when washing off the dye too. Simply soak it in soap and water and use it to scrub off any residue.
If all hair dye removing methods fail you, choose your favorite nail polish color that is dark enough to cover the stains and paint your nails. Your hands will look great, and no one will know that you have a problem. You might even forget all about it too.
If you feel a burning sensation or notice any other sign of skin irritation while using any of the listed methods, stop immediately and make sure you remove all the chemicals by rinsing your nails with a large amount of water.
We hope that our methods will work for you too. If not, you should best consult a dermatologist.
If you have a suggestion or some additional tip, feel free to share it with us!
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