Coloring your hair is always a good idea, always!
However, sometimes the dye has a mind of its own, and when you end up with a sunset orange instead of the blonde you anticipated when you bought your dye, it can be frustrating.
Luckily, there’s color oops to salvage the situation.
But what is color oops?
And does color oops damage hair?
Read on as we answer these questions and spill all the important details about color oops and their effect on your hair.
Table Of Contents
What Is Color Oops
Color Oops is a product you can use to remove hair color. If that fun peekaboo hairstyle goes south, you can use this product to rectify it. Since the product strips hair color, it can damage your hair. It is not, however, nearly as harmful as bleaching your hair.
If you’ve ever had your hair color go wrong, you are familiar with the panic that sets in when you realize you must make a quick fix. You could choose your next hair color and then get different results.
This is where Color Oops comes in. If you accidentally dyed your hair green or blue, this hair color remover claims to be able to fix even the worst mistakes.
To allow you to rinse out the dye molecules, it first opens the cuticle of your hair. This product can altogether remove the natural and dyed colors in your hair. This could be good or bad, depending on how you view it.
It’s undoubtedly the best option to remove undesirable hair color. However, it’s probably not the best choice if you’re trying to maintain your natural hair color, lighten your hair or even slightly change the color of your hair. Instead, you should consider using hair bleach.
Color Oops Ingredients
The Color Oops packaging states that the following ingredients are present in the product as active ingredients:
Hydrosulfites
The main active component in Color Oops is hydrosulfite. A self-heating substance causes the dye molecule to condense so you can rinse it out of your hair.
Citric Acid
This common chemical can irritate the skin, cause eye damage, and irritate the respiratory system. Small amounts of it are also present in lemon juice.
Does Color Oops Damage Hair
Contrary to what has been widely spread online, Color Oops can harm your hair. The product’s ingredients are designed to penetrate the cuticles of your hair and shrink dye molecules so you can wash them out.
Despite not containing ammonia or bleach, the product has a chemical that lifts your hair’s cuticles, making your strands weak and vulnerable. Additionally, it contains citric acid, which can dry out your hair and cause breakage by making it brittle.
Concerns about Color Oops extend beyond its ingredients. With Color Oops, dye removal is typically a harsh process. It entails letting Color Oops sit on your hair before repeatedly shampooing and rinsing it.
The rinsing needs to last several minutes each time. The reason this is bad is that hair with exposed cuticles has a difficult time retaining moisture.
You’ve got a recipe for a dry hair disaster when you add frequent shampooing and rinsing to remove the hair color pigments that have shrunk from your hair (and potentially serious damage).
Even if you don’t want to try a bleach bath, Color Oops isn’t as safe as they make it sound. Numerous people have accused Color Oops of ruining their hair.
Unhappy users claim that their hair felt like straw and lost its elasticity after using the product. However, many people use Color Oops without issues, re-dyeing their hair the following day after using the product (or a few days later).
The fact that Color Oops isn’t as harmful as bleach or oxidative dyes makes people believe it isn’t harmful. But it’s important to realize that just because it’s not as damaging as other chemical treatments don’t mean it isn’t damaging.
People’s hair has reportedly taken on orange or brassy tones after using Color Oops. This is typical of all chemical hair color removers, though. To reduce the orange color, try using a blue shampoo designed for brassy blonde hair or dyeing your hair a darker shade.
According to the manufacturer, only permanent and semi-permanent hair colors are compatible with their product—however, some individuals who have dyed their hair black claim that Color Oops produced subpar results.
Bright, direct-dyed colors like blue, purple, cherry red and green won’t be effectively removed by the hair color remover. Be prepared for unpredictable results if you use Color Oops with “fantasy” colors like these.
How to Use Color Oops
Although using Color Oops is not the worst thing you could do to your hair, you might experience some dryness and unmanageability after using the product. If you don’t use it properly, that is.
We advise you to read the following carefully to enjoy Color Oops’ benefits without causing hair damage.
Step 1 – Assess your hair’s condition
We strongly advise you to take your time if you recently dyed your hair and are considering using Color Oops. Before applying Color Oops to your hair, you should first examine the state of your hair.
Applying hair color removers to already parched hair is a big no-no because they can zap your hair off all its moisture. The same holds if your hair is frail or breaking easily. Compromised hair is more susceptible to further harm, so you shouldn’t exert too much pressure on it.
Step 2 – Read and follow the instructions
It’s crucial to adhere to the directions on the packaging if you want your Color Oops session to produce the best results possible.
It will not only guarantee that you get the most color removal possible but that you won’t require numerous, potentially drying sessions to get rid of all of the undesirable colors.
Here’s a detailed guide on how to use color Oops:
- Use a patch test to check for skin allergies. A little from bottle one and an equal amount from bottle two should be combined.
Apply the patch to a small, spotlessly clean area of your skin. According to the packaging, you should place it behind your ear or in the elbow fold. Unless you experience irritation, wait 24 hours before washing it off. If it irritates you, wash it away with soap and water. - Test a few strands to ensure your hair turns out the right color. Apply the same mixture to 20 to 30 hair strands cut from your head. Rinse the hair 20 minutes later. Spend at least five minutes shampooing it.
- Mix the two solutions by adding solution 1 to solution 2 and vigorously shaking the bottle. After that, remove the applicator bottle’s tip.
- Utilizing gloved hands, apply the mixture to your dry hair. Avoid dyeing the hair while it’s wet. Work fast when using the mixture on your hair so that it can start working before it loses its effectiveness.
- Make sure every hair is covered by working the product through the hair with your hands.
- The mixture should process for up to 20 minutes after you put on the processing cap. Set a timer to ensure you don’t unintentionally leave it on longer than necessary.
- Shampoo your hair thoroughly after removing the cap. The goal is to completely eradicate all signs of the Color Oops mixture.
Rinse your hair with warm water for a full 20 minutes after shampooing. To ensure you rinse it for enough time, set your timer. - Rinse your hair and give it one last shampoo. You’re finished after giving it a 5-minute rinse.
- If you want to change the color of your hair immediately, let it air dry. Use a shade a few shades lighter than what you want to see.
The hair will acquire more color than before, thanks to Color Oops.
Step 3 – Deep condition your hair afterward
Your hair will be practically pleading for additional care after suffering through two shampoos, two sets of blasted open cuticles and nearly 30 minutes of rinsing. We implore you to do just that. It’s a good idea to condition your hair after, as Color Oops suggests.
However, you need more than just a simple conditioning session if you have curly hair, which is known to be more prone to dryness. You require a deeply moisturizing deep conditioner to give your strands more moisture.
After using Color Oops, follow these instructions to restore your hair’s moisture content and elasticity:
- Start with clean, damp hair. After using Color Oops, you can immediately apply your deep conditioner.
- Use a wide-toothed comb or your fingers to comb through your hair after liberally applying the deep conditioner from roots to tips.
- Put a plastic shower cap on your hair.
- Wait for the deep conditioner to finish working for about 10 minutes.
- After rinsing the deep conditioner from your hair, style it as usual.
For an additional moisture boost, apply a leave-in conditioner or moisturizer after using a deep conditioner. A deep conditioner is also a great go-to solution to soften bleached hair.
What If Hair Is Damaged
Evaluate the harm if you’ve had a bad experience with Color Oops. You probably damaged your hair if it feels coarse, stretchy, brittle or always tangled. The degree of the damage will determine how to repair your hair.
You have only slightly damaged your hair if it is dry and frizzy. You have serious damage if it stretches out and snaps at the slightest pressure. Use moisturizing hair masks a few times per week for minor damage.
You can restore the natural moisture in your hair using this method. A chemical hair repair treatment is necessary if you have significant hair damage. For assistance selecting the ideal restorative product, consult your salon stylist.
Alternatives to Color Oops
Color Oops is a convenient solution for your hair color problems.
However, if your hair is already damaged, or you’re afraid the chemical will damage your hair, you can use either of the following alternatives:
Use a Color Shampoo
If the color of your hair isn’t what you bargained for, you can salvage the situation with color shampoo. Use it to clean your hair at least once every week to shed the undesired color until you get the right color.
This method may not be as fast as Color Oops, but it works. Furthermore, it’s safer for your hair because it won’t cause as much damage as the chemical.
Let the Dye Wear Off
Sometimes, the shade you get after applying dye to your hair isn’t too different from what you expected. For instance, if you got plum-colored hair instead of maroon, you could still make that color work.
In such instances, you can let the dye fade slowly and learn to work with your hair’s current color. Eventually, the dye will wear off, especially if you keep washing your hair. Always carefully condition your hair regularly to keep it moisturized and healthy.
Blend Other Colors
Try masking the dye mess on your hair by blending complementary colors. For instance, you can try gray blending for dark hair or blonde with darker highlights.
FAQ
What are the active ingredients in Color Oops?
Color Oops has two main active ingredients: hydrosulfites and citric acid.
How many times can you use the Color Oops on your hair?
We recommend using the chemical only once to avoid damaging your hair too much.
Does Color Oops turn your hair orange?
Yes, it does because of the chemical reactions.
How can I restore my hair after Color Oops?
Keep deep conditioning your hair to restore its lost glory.
Will Color Oops affect natural hair?
Yes. The product has chemicals that are harsh on natural hair and will weaken it.
Conclusion
When it comes to Color Oops, the question on many people’s minds is whether they should try it. The best course of action is to let your hair dye gradually fade, but if you must have your color gone quickly and your hair is in good condition, you can try Color Oops.
Vinnie is one of the members of the Beardoholic writers team. He’s also a barber and hairstylist for 15 years now and he has a kick-ass beard of his own, so he surely knows what makes a magnificent beard and hair and how to achieve them. He’s our go-to guy for all the latest beard and hairstyle trends and he always has a tip or two on how to grow and style a thick beard fast.