As a blonde who loves experimenting with different hair colors, I’ve used my fair share of temporary colored hair sprays. While they can add a fun pop of color, I’ve found myself wondering if the color will wash back out or end up staining my light locks. So I decided to do some research on whether colored hair spray washes out of blonde hair or not.
What is Colored Hair Spray?
Before diving into whether it washes out of blonde hair or not, let’s first look at what exactly colored hair spray is. Hair spray color is a temporary hair color product that easily sprays on to color your hair. It comes in a wide variety of vivid shades like pink, blue, purple, green and more. The color is deposited onto the hair strands through the spray nozzle and sets quickly.
Colored hair spray is made of alcohol-based formulas. The alcohol allows the color to temporarily stick to the hair shaft without permanently altering or depositing pigment. The color coats the outside of the hair rather than penetrating the cuticle. This allows it to wash out with shampooing.
Some key features of colored hair sprays include:
- Temporary color that lasts 1-2 shampoos
- Vibrant, vivid shade results
- Easy, quick application
- No damage to hair
- Adds color without commitment
This type of hair color is popular for short-term, fun looks and is often used around holidays, festivals or costume parties. It allows you to experiment with bright shades without worrying about permanent color results. The color washes out with shampooing as it only coats the hair shaft temporarily.
Does Colored Hair Spray Wash Out of Blonde Hair?
The good news is that yes, colored hair spray does wash out of blonde hair in most cases! Here’s a look at why it washes out and how long it takes:
It’s Temporary Color
The reason colored hair spray washes out of blonde hair is because it’s a temporary color designed to wash out. Permanent hair dyes use peroxide and ammonia to open the cuticle and deposit permanent color pigments inside the hair shaft. This permanently changes the color.
Hair spray color, on the other hand, just coats the outside of the hair without penetrating the cuticle or shaft. It sits on top of the hair rather than inside it. The color molecules are larger and can’t penetrate into the hair, which allows them to be removed with shampooing.
Takes 1-2 Shampoos to Remove
Most colored hair sprays will wash out of blonde hair within 1-2 shampoos. Some factors that determine how long it takes to completely wash out include:
- Hair porosity – More porous hair may hold onto color longer
- Color shade – Darker colors last slightly longer than lighter ones
- Amount of product used – More product leads to longer wash out time
- Shampooing technique – Fully lathering and rinsing hair helps lift color
Using a clarifying or chelating shampoo can help lift color molecules and allow for faster wash out time. But in most cases, after 1-2 regular shampoos the color should completely disappear from blonde hair.
Tips for Using Colored Hair Spray on Blonde Hair
If you want to temporarily try a fun, bold hair color on your blonde locks, here are some tips to ensure it washes out well:
Do a Strand Test First
Before spraying all over, do a strand test of the color on a small section of hair to see how it applies and washes out. This can give you an idea of the results and wash out time.
Apply Evenly and Avoid Over-Saturation
Apply the spray evenly all over your hair, holding the can 6-8 inches from your head. Avoid concentrating too much product in one area as over-saturation can cause the color to stain.
Blow Dry Hair After Application
Let the hair spray dry completely, then use a blow dryer on a warm setting to set the color. The heat helps seal the color to the hair strands.
Wash With Cool Water
When shampooing to remove the color, use cool water instead of hot. Hot water can open the cuticle and allow more color to penetrate into the hair.
Lather Hair Thoroughly
Work the shampoo through your hair well to fully surround each strand and lift the color particles off. Let the lather sit for 2-3 minutes before rinsing.
Use Clarifying Shampoo If Needed
A clarifying shampoo can help remove stubborn color molecules. Chelating shampoos also work well to attract and remove the metallic dye molecules.
Can Colored Hair Spray Stain Blonde Hair?
While colored hair spray is designed to wash out, it is possible for some staining to occur on blonde hair in rare cases. Here’s how it can happen and how to prevent it:
Over-Saturation of Product
Using too much hair spray product in one area can lead to over-saturation. This allows more color pigment to coat the hair, making it harder to shampoo away. To prevent staining, spray evenly and avoid saturating any sections.
Leaving Color On Too Long
The longer colored hair spray is left on the hair, the deeper it can penetrate into the strands. For minimal wash out time, shampoo out spray color as soon as possible or within 1-2 days.
Using Hot Water to Remove
Hot water opens up the hair cuticle, allowing more color pigment to enter. Use cooler water when shampooing out temporary color to prevent staining.
Using Permanent Dye Over Spray
Applying permanent hair color over temporary spray color can lead to uneven results or staining. The spray color coats the hair unevenly and will affect how permanent dye penetrates the hair.
How to Remove Stained Hair Color
If you do end up with stained blonde hair from colored spray, here are some tricks to help remove it:
Baking Soda and Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Make a paste of baking soda and anti-dandruff shampoo and massage it into the hair. Leave on for 5 minutes before rinsing. The baking soda helps lift stain while the shampoo contains zinc which strips artificial dye.
Vitamin C Soak
Crush up vitamin C tablets into a fine powder and mix with hot water to form a paste. Apply this to dry hair and let sit 20-30 minutes, then shampoo out. Vitamin C changes hair dye molecules so they can be rinsed away.
Clarifying Treatment
Use a pre-treatment clarifying solution before shampooing. Massage it into the stained strands and let sit 5-10 minutes before washing as normal. The clarifying agent will help draw out color buildup.
Color Remover
Color removing products contain chemicals that break down artificial dye molecules to remove stain. Follow the product directions to apply it before shampooing hair.
Bleach Bath
In extreme cases, a bleach bath can remove stubborn stain by lightening the hair. Mix a small amount of bleach powder or chlorine powder into shampoo and gently apply to stained area only. Rinse thoroughly.
How to Prevent Staining from Colored Hair Spray
To avoid having to deal with stained blonde locks, here are some tips to prevent it from happening:
- Do an allergy test before using a new colored spray.
- Follow product directions carefully.
- Apply spray evenly, avoiding over-saturation.
- Allow spray to dry completely before touching hair.
- Use a blow dryer to set the color.
- Shampoo out color within 1-2 days.
- Wash hair with cool water when removing spray.
- Lather and rinse hair thoroughly until water runs clear.
- Avoid using permanent dye over temporary color.
- Don’t spray hair multiple days in a row.
Conclusion
The good news is colored hair spray will wash out of blonde hair with proper use and removal. While staining is rare, it can happen if product is overused or left on too long. To get fun temporary color results without commitment, follow the tips above to apply, set, and wash out spray colors correctly.
With the right techniques, you can rock vivid colored hair for a day without worrying about permanent damage to your blonde locks. Just be mindful of how long you leave the color on and wash thoroughly with cool water and lathering shampoo. Taking some preventive steps will allow you to have fun with spray colors that completely wash out of blonde hair.