Your hair color went wrong or you want to change it completely. Maybe you’ve built up layers of dark dye over the years and your hair won’t lift to lighter shades anymore. Or perhaps that trendy color you loved last month doesn’t match who you are today. You need to remove the old color before you can move forward with something new.
Colourless Hair Colour Remover offers two formulas that shrink color molecules and wash them away without bleach. The Extra version handles most color removal jobs while Max Effect tackles the toughest cases like multiple dark dye applications and stubborn reds. Both let you recolor your hair the same day once you’ve finished the removal process.
This guide walks you through choosing between Extra and Max Effect based on your current color and goals. You’ll learn how to prepare your space and hair properly, apply the product for maximum effectiveness, and care for your hair afterward so it’s ready for your next color adventure. We cover the complete process from start to finish with clear steps that help you get the results you want.
What is Colourless remover and how do types differ
Colourless remover shrinks artificial colour molecules in your hair so water can wash them out during rinsing. Unlike bleach that strips natural pigment and damages hair structure, this product targets only the synthetic dye molecules you’ve applied. The formula works on permanent and semi-permanent colours including blacks, browns, reds, and dark blondes, though it won’t affect your natural hair colour underneath.
How the formula works
The two-part system combines a color reducer with a catalyst that penetrates your hair shaft. These ingredients break the bonds that hold dye molecules together and shrink them down to a size your hair can release. You mix both solutions together, apply the mixture to damp hair, and the chemical reaction starts immediately. Heat from your scalp speeds up the process, which is why you’ll see the colour visibly draining from your hair within minutes. After the processing time ends, you rinse thoroughly to flush out the shrunken molecules along with any residual chemicals.
The removal process reverses artificial colour without attacking your hair’s natural melanin, making it gentler than bleach-based alternatives.
Extra vs Max Effect compared
Extra works for most standard colour removal needs including single applications of permanent dye, faded colours, and lighter shades like browns and reds. This colourless hair colour remover handles typical build-up from regular home colouring without being overly aggressive. Max Effect contains a stronger concentration of active ingredients designed for stubborn situations like multiple layers of black dye, years of colour build-up, or particularly resistant red pigments. You’ll need Max Effect when Extra hasn’t fully removed your colour or when you’re dealing with professional-grade permanent dyes. The stronger formula processes for the same amount of time but penetrates deeper into your hair’s cortex where stubborn molecules hide.
Step 1. Decide if Extra or Max Effect suits you
Your hair’s colour history determines which formula you need. The wrong choice wastes time and money while the right one removes colour efficiently in a single application. You need to evaluate how many times you’ve dyed your hair, what colours you’ve used, and how long the build-up has accumulated before you can pick the appropriate strength.
Assess your current hair colour history
Look at your most recent dye applications from the past 12 months and count them. If you’ve coloured your hair three times or fewer with medium browns, light browns, or reds, Extra handles this level of build-up effectively. Hair that’s been dyed black or dark brown more than four times requires Max Effect because these shades deposit dense pigment that penetrates deep into your hair shaft.
Check if you’ve layered different colours on top of each other without removing previous applications. This creates stubborn build-up that Extra struggles to shift completely. When you’ve switched from blonde to red to brown over several months without stripping between changes, you’ve created multiple pigment layers that need the stronger Max Effect formula.
The more times you’ve reapplied permanent colour without removal, the more likely you’ll need Max Effect to reach the molecules trapped deepest in your hair.
Match your needs to the right formula
Choose Extra when you’re removing faded semi-permanent colours, a single application of permanent dye, or when you want to lift your hair from medium brown to a lighter shade. This formula works well if your last colour application happened 6-8 weeks ago and has already started fading naturally. Extra also suits you if you’ve never used black dye and your darkest shade was a level 4 or 5 brown.
Pick Max Effect if you’ve used box dyes repeatedly on the same hair, especially brands known for strong deposit like certain drugstore permanent colours. You need this stronger colourless hair colour remover when you’ve applied black or very dark brown (level 1-3) more than twice without lightening between applications. Max Effect also becomes necessary when Extra didn’t fully remove your colour during a previous attempt, leaving behind a strong undertone or patchy results that prevent even recolouring.
Step 2. Prepare your hair and workspace
Proper preparation prevents chemical burns, stained surfaces, and uneven colour removal. You need to set up your workspace like a professional salon to get consistent results across your entire head. Missing this step causes patchy removal where some sections process fully while others retain stubborn colour.
Gather your supplies
Collect everything before you start mixing because the colourless hair colour remover begins working immediately after you combine the two bottles. You’ll need old towels you don’t mind staining, a shower cap or cling film, a timer, plastic gloves, and a wide-toothed comb. Set up in your bathroom near running water so you can rinse quickly when the processing time ends.
Keep these items within arm’s reach:
- Petroleum jelly or barrier cream for your hairline
- Plastic mixing bowl (never metal, which reacts with the formula)
- Applicator brush or your gloved hands
- Clean towels for drying after rinsing
- Clarifying shampoo for the final wash
Protect your skin and clothing
Apply petroleum jelly along your hairline, behind your ears, and down the back of your neck where colour remover might drip. This creates a barrier that stops the product from irritating your skin during the processing time. Wear an old t-shirt you can throw away because the formula will stain fabric permanently if it drips during application.
Skipping barrier cream on your hairline often results in skin irritation that could have been prevented with 30 seconds of preparation.
Wash your hair with clarifying shampoo and towel it until damp, not soaking wet. Your hair should feel like it does after you’ve roughly towel-dried it post-shower. Too much water dilutes the formula while bone-dry hair struggles to absorb the product evenly. Remove all clips, bands, and accessories that might block sections of your hair from full coverage.
Step 3. Apply the remover for best results
The application method determines whether you get even colour removal or end up with patchy results that force you to repeat the entire process. You need to work systematically through your hair in sections while the formula stays active, ensuring every strand gets equal saturation and processing time. Rushing this step causes the most common failures people experience with colour removers.
Mix the formula correctly
Pour both bottles into your plastic mixing bowl immediately before you plan to apply the product. The chemical reaction starts as soon as the two parts combine, giving you roughly 45 minutes of working time before the mixture loses effectiveness. Stir the contents together with your applicator brush until you see a uniform consistency with no separate liquids swirling in the bowl.
Never prepare the mixture hours in advance or try to save leftover product for later use. The colourless hair colour remover stops working once the chemical reaction completes, typically within 60-90 minutes of mixing. If you have hair longer than shoulder length or particularly thick hair, you might need two boxes of product to achieve full coverage without running out mid-application.
Section and apply systematically
Divide your hair into four equal quadrants by parting it down the middle from forehead to nape, then from ear to ear across the crown. Clip three sections out of your way and work on one quadrant at a time. This sectioning method prevents you from missing patches and ensures consistent processing across your entire head.
Start at the back sections first because they’re hardest to reach and you want your arms fresh for detailed work. Take subsections roughly half an inch thick within each quadrant and apply the product from roots to ends using your brush or gloved fingers. Saturate each strand thoroughly until it looks visibly coated with the white formula rather than just dampened. Work the product through with your fingers or comb to ensure it penetrates into the hair shaft rather than sitting on the surface.
Pay extra attention to areas where colour typically builds up more heavily, including your hairline, the hair closest to your scalp, and any sections you tend to overlap when applying dye at home. These zones often need a second pass with additional product to match the removal level of the rest of your hair.
Missing the hairline or nape during application creates a frame of darker hair around your face that stands out dramatically after the rest processes lighter.
Apply the product to dry or barely damp hair rather than soaking wet strands. Excess water dilutes the formula and reduces its effectiveness, meaning you won’t get complete colour removal even with proper timing. If your hair dried too much during sectioning, lightly mist it with a spray bottle before applying product to that area.
Time the processing accurately
Set your timer for 60 minutes immediately after you finish applying product to your last section. The formula needs this full hour to shrink colour molecules down to a size your hair can release during rinsing. Some sources suggest shorter times but underdeveloping leads to incomplete removal that leaves behind strong undertones or patchy colour.
Check your hair every 15 minutes during processing by pulling back a small section and examining the colour change. You’ll notice your hair gradually lightening and revealing warmer tones underneath the artificial colour. This visual shift tells you the product is working correctly. Cover your hair with a shower cap or cling film to retain heat from your scalp, which speeds up the chemical reaction and improves removal effectiveness.
Keep your bathroom warm but not hot during processing. Cold temperatures slow down the reaction while excessive heat can cause scalp discomfort without improving results. Room temperature between 20-24°C works best for consistent processing across all hair sections.
Step 4. Rinse, aftercare and recolour safely
The removal process doesn’t end when your timer goes off. How you rinse and care for your hair in the next 24-48 hours determines whether your new colour takes evenly or develops into a patchy mess. Your hair shaft stays open and vulnerable after the colourless hair colour remover finishes working, making this post-treatment window critical for achieving the results you want.
Rinse thoroughly to remove all product
Rinse your hair with warm water for at least 10 minutes without applying any shampoo yet. Keep the water running directly through your hair while you squeeze and massage each section to flush out the shrunken colour molecules. You’ll see coloured water draining away during this initial rinse, which confirms the product worked correctly. Continue rinsing until the water runs completely clear with no hint of colour or white foam from the removal formula.
Apply clarifying shampoo twice after the initial rinse to eliminate any remaining product residue from your hair shaft. Work the shampoo through thoroughly, focusing on your scalp and the areas where you applied the heaviest amount of remover. Rinse again until squeaky clean, then apply a deep conditioning treatment and leave it on for 5-10 minutes before your final rinse. Your hair needs this moisture boost because the removal process temporarily disrupts its protective cuticle layer.
Care for your hair post-removal
Skip heat styling tools for at least 48 hours after using the remover because your hair’s structure needs time to stabilize. Avoid swimming pools, which contain chlorine that can react with residual chemicals in your hair and create unexpected green or blue tones. Use sulfate-free products during the recovery period to prevent stripping away natural oils your scalp produces to protect newly vulnerable hair.
Waiting 24 hours before recolouring gives your hair’s cuticle time to close properly, which helps new colour deposit evenly instead of grabbing unevenly across different sections.
Recolour timing and application
You can technically recolour immediately after removal, but waiting 24 hours produces better results for most people. This rest period lets your hair’s pH balance return to normal and reduces the risk of colour grabbing too strongly on overly porous sections. If you choose to colour the same day, apply a protein filler first to even out your hair’s porosity across all sections.
Select your new colour one shade lighter than your target because freshly stripped hair absorbs dye more intensely than virgin hair. Your colour will process faster than the box instructions suggest, so check it every 5 minutes after the 20-minute mark to avoid going darker than intended.
Key takeaways
Choosing the right colourless hair colour remover depends on your specific colour history and build-up level. Extra handles most standard removal jobs while Max Effect tackles stubborn blacks and multiple dye layers that refuse to lift. Your preparation work determines your results just as much as the formula you select, so invest time in proper sectioning and thorough saturation during application.
Wait 24 hours before recolouring to let your hair stabilize, even though same-day application is technically possible. This rest period prevents patchy colour uptake and gives you more predictable results with your new shade. When you’re ready to explore your next colour transformation, browse the full range of ethical, plex-enriched hair dyes at Smart Beauty Shop where every formula protects your hair while delivering vibrant, professional results at home.
