Coconut oil saves the day again.
Whether you're coloring your hair yourself
or you're visiting a professional colorist at a salon, it's practically
guaranteed that some of the dye will end up on your skin. Anyone who
doesn't find some color on their forehead, ears, or neck is clearly some
kind of sorceress with magical skin-forcefield powers. The rest of us,
however, have to contend with trying to prevent and clean up dye stains
on our skin.
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"The
pigment in hair dye is designed to penetrate through the outer cuticle
of the hair and remain there, giving a long-lasting color to the hair
shaft," explains Dr. Joshua Zeichner,
Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at the Mount Sinai Hospital
Department of Dermatology. "If exposed to the skin, it can also
penetrate through its outer layer, causing a semi-permanent tint to your
skin."
So before your
next touch-up or total makeover, study up on these pro tips for making
sure your skin doesn't turn the same color as your hair.
Be aware of the risks.
Getting
dye on your skin is, for the most part, an annoyance and nothing more.
"Most of the time this is just a cosmetic issue," Dr. Zeichner explains,
"but rarely it can cause serious skin irritation or allergies."
It's also important to keep in mind that certain topical treatments may make you prone to irritation from dye.
"While
all skin types are equally at risk for dye tinting the skin, if you are
using topical retinoids or products like alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids,
the skin may be more at risk for irritation from hair dye because it
will more easily will penetrate through the skin."
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Prep your skin.
Before
any dye is applied, protect the areas of skin most likely to come in
contact with it, like your hairline, tops and backs of the ears, and
back of the neck. "An occlusive ointment like petroleum jelly does the
job," says Dr. Zeichner, who recommends using Aquaphor Healing Ointment
(amazon.com).
Don't
have Aquaphor on-hand? "I apply a tiny bit of coconut oil around the
hairline before applying color to stop any staining before it happens,"
says Nikki Ferrara, celebrity colorist at Serge Normant at John Frieda in New York City. "You can also use a heavy conditioner around the hairline."
Ferrara
is also especially careful when applying dark brown and black shades,
having found they stain more stubbornly and obviously.
Remove dye from your skin as soon as possible.
"The
sooner you can remove the hair dye from the skin, the better," Dr.
Zeichner advises. "I recommend a simple non-soap cleanser and water,"
such as the classic Dove Beauty Bar (amazon.com).
If
a non-soap cleanser isn't doing the trick, "it's easy to remove dye
with a facial toner or something alcohol-based," says Ferrara, who has
also had luck with witch hazel.
"If
that is not working, you can try using rubbing alcohol," Dr. Zeichner
says. "Apply it to a cotton ball or use a pre-moistened alcohol swab.
Gently rub it against the affected area, taking caution not to overly
scrub the skin."
Speaking
of scrubbing, Ferrara strongly advises against trying to remove dye
with a face scrub: "They can cause irritation and tear the skin."
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Treat your skin kindly after dye is removed.
Cleansers and alcohol can strip your skin of more than just the dye you're trying to remove.
"Especially
after using rubbing alcohol on the skin, it is important to repair the
skin barrier with a moisturizer," Dr. Zeichner explains. "I recommend a
petrolatum-based product, as it forms a protective seal over the skin.
The newest generation of these moisturizers come in light, lotion
formulations that won't leave you feeling greasy." Vaseline Intensive
Care Advanced Repair Lotion (target.com) is a great pick.
Don't freak out if it doesn't completely come out.
If
the dye hasn't completely budged, don't worry — Dr. Zeichner assures it
won't be tinted for as long as your hair will be: "The good news is, in
time, as your skin cells naturally turnover, you will shed the pigment
within one to two weeks on its own."
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