Scandinavian hairlines, strawberry soda dye, rainbow hair: There are more awesome trends (and cute names to go with them) than we can count right now. The urge to try each one and switch up the color is *real*—but what happens when your copper looks more ketchup than cowboy, or an icy blonde shade isn’t as selfie-worthy as your inspiration pics? I learned this firsthand my freshman year of college when I finally got my hands on a boxed hair dye to dye my dark brown hair red. Spoiler alert: My hair turned eggplant-purple, and my mom kindly pointed out that my eyebrows no longer matched. (Salt, meet wound!)
That’s where hair color remover comes in. For the uninitiated, this stuff can actually reverse your dye and restore your previous shade. It can also be a real game-changer if you just want to lighten your color a little bit—no bleaching (or additional damage) required. But not all hair color removers are the same. Some can be harsh on hair—not ideal if your hair is already a little damaged from color treatments—and others only work on certain hair types.
Enter Color Oops Fix & Fortify Bond Rejuvenating Color Remover that works without ruin your hair. “If you color and it’s not quite right, there is now a healthy solution to remove the color,” says professional colorist Mandisa Duperval. This is especially important for those with textured hair, which is drier and more prone to damage than other hair types. While it can be used by anyone, Color Oops has carefully crafted the kit to meet the unique needs of textured hair. Here’s what you need to know before trying a color stripper.
What to look for in a paint remover
Some color-removal formulas “dissolve the pigment, but you still have to use a bleaching agent afterward,” says Duperval. (Translation: The color remover doesn’t completely remove the pigment, so you have to use bleach afterward and risk further damage to completely reverse the coloring.)
Others aren’t designed for specific hair types (curls, kinks, coils) — something Color Oops brand manager Whitney Moorman has experienced first-hand. “I have textured hair and thought we needed something for our hair type,” she says. Not only is this type more prone to dryness, as mentioned above, but you also risk weakening your curl pattern by over-processing it. Plus, using harsh chemicals “can cause hair to become brittle and break off,” says Duperval.
For this reason, “when developing the formula, I wanted to make sure we used ingredients that would help restore moisture and strength to hair during the color removal process and afterward,” says Moorman.
And that’s where Fix & Fortify stands out from the crowd. Not only does the remover contain aloe vera and soy proteins, the set also includes a Bond Rejuvenating Masque that strengthens and fortifies color-treated hair. Bottom line? “Having Fix & Fortify as an option to remove mistakes while keeping hair nourished is a lifesaver,” says Duperval.
Color Oops Fix & Fortify Bond Rejuvenating Color Remover
How and when should Fix & Fortify be used?
The color stripper works on virtually ~any~ permanent hair color. Want to remove your permanent color without causing additional damage? No problem. Want to tone down a shade that’s too dark and correct the color? No problem. Have an over-toned look and brittle strands and want to remove the color without making things worse? Absolutely.
The four-step process is simple: combine Color Remover Part 1 with Activator Mixer Part 2, then apply the mixture to the sections of hair you want to repair. Put on a shower cap, leave for a maximum of 20 minutes, then rinse. The kit also includes an activated charcoal shampoo that clarifies, tones hair, and completes the color removal process (so don’t skip it).
After washing—and this is *the* most important step—rinse your hair for a full 20 minutes. Set a timer, play music, think about your next hair color, whatever. “Some people think they can cut the time short, but the results won’t be as good,” says Moorman. This step will give you the softest, healthiest texture.
Finally, work in the Bond Rejuvenating Masque and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing to soften and detangle hair, as well as strengthen and repair damaged curls and kinks. Hair breakage, where?
What results can be expected?
Get ready: Once you complete the steps, your hair will go back to the last color. (Magic!)
Because the formula is so gentle, you can even re-dye your hair the same day with a different color you like better—or, you know, revel in the glow of your original shade. (But beware: This won’t restore your hair to its natural color, as permanent color alters the pigment. Only the good old days can do that.)
Conclusion? Even people with textured hair want to have fun and play with color, says Duperval – and with Color Oops Fix & Fortify, that’s not a risk, but a real reward.
Deanna Pai is a freelance beauty writer and editor currently based in New York. She has over 10 years of experience writing about beauty and wellness.
