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How to Remove Hair Dye from a Wall Co-authored by Katherine Tlapa
Last Updated: February 19, 2026 References
Removing Hair Dye with Rubbing Alcohol
|
Using a Magic Eraser to Remove Hair Dye
|
Repainting Your Wall
|
Q&A
|
Tips
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Katherine Tlapa. Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 134,762 times.
When removing hair dye from your walls, you will get the best results if you work when the stain is fresh. Rubbing alcohol may remove hair dye from your walls. Alternatively, because nail polish remover contains acetone, it may remove the stain if the alcohol cannot. Additionally, try using the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove hair dye stains from your walls.[1]XResearch source If either of these strategies strips the paint from your wall, then you may need to repaint your wall.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Removing Hair Dye with Rubbing Alcohol
1 Test the alcohol on a small area. Wet a cotton ball with alcohol and rub it on an inconspicuous spot on the wall, first. Check for stains, discoloration, or residue. If the alcohol produces any unwanted affects, then try a different method.[2]XResearch source
You should always test products and solutions on small, hidden areas first before using them on larger surfaces to avoid unwanted effects.
2 Dampen a clean, white cloth with the alcohol. Hold the cloth with your finger on top of the bottle’s opening. In a quick motion, turn the bottle upside down then right side up again to dampen the cloth. Then gently rub the cloth over the stain in a circular motion. Once the stain begins to transfer to the cloth, use a different area of the cloth to finish cleaning the stain.[3]XResearch source
Alternatively, you can use nail polish remover if the rubbing alcohol does not work. Just remember to wipe the area clean with water before applying the nail polish remover onto the stain.[4]XResearch source
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3 Wipe the area clean with a towel. Use a wet towel to remove the rubbing alcohol from the wall once the stain is gone. Then use a clean, dry towel to dry the area.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Using a Magic Eraser to Remove Hair Dye
1 Wet the eraser under running water. Squeeze the eraser to remove any excess water before applying it to the hair dye stain.[5]XResearch source
Remember to test the eraser on a small, hidden area first before applying it to larger surfaces.
2 Scrub the area in a circular motion. Make sure to scrub the stain gently. However, if the stain is not coming out, you may scrub harder. If the eraser becomes dry, re-wet it and keep scrubbing until the hair dye stain is removed.[6]XResearch source
3 Use a clean towel to dry the spot. Wipe a clean, dry towel over the area. If you want, you can clean the area first with a wet towel before drying it.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Repainting Your Wall
1 Sand the wall. Use fine-grit, 120 sandpaper to sand the area. Working from the top to the bottom, sand the area in a horizontal motion, i.e., parallel to the ceiling and baseboard.
Use a sanding pole to sand large areas like an entire wall.
To avoid a patchy appearance, you may want to sand, prime, and repaint the whole wall.
2 Wipe the surface with a clean, wet cloth.[7]X Expert Source Katherine TlapaInterior DesignerExpert Interview The cloth will remove any debris leftover from the sanding. Wipe until all the debris is removed. Then dry the surface with a clean towel, or let it air dry.[8]XResearch source
You can use a gentle cleanser or plain water to clean your wall.[9]X Expert Source Katherine TlapaInterior DesignerExpert Interview
3 Apply a coat of primer. Apply the coat with a separate primer brush in a straight up and down motion. You may need to let the primer set for 24 hours, however, it depends on the type of primer you bought. Therefore, make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle.
4 Re-sand the primer. Do this once the primer is dry. Sand in a horizontal motion until the surface is smooth. Then wipe down the surface again to remove any debris.[10]XResearch source
5 Repaint the wall with at least two coats of paint. Dip a clean or new paintbrush into your bucket of paint until one-third of the brush is covered in paint. Tap the brush against the side of the can to remove excess paint. Paint the area in a straight up and down motion.
Let the first coat dry completely before applying a second or third coat.
When painting the wall, try to paint in full daylight so you can get an even finish.
You can sand in between paint jobs to get a professional look.
Apply as many coats as you need until the color you want is achieved.[11]X Expert Source Katherine TlapaInterior DesignerExpert Interview
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Question How do I get dye out of the sink? Community Answer Try using rubbing alcohol, bleach, and/or vinegar. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 12
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Try to remove hair dye stains as soon as possible. The quicker you act, the easier it will be to remove. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Katherine Tlapa Interior Designer This article was co-authored by Katherine Tlapa. Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016. This article has been viewed 134,762 times. 70 votes - 71% Co-authors: 4Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 134,762 Categories: Wall and Ceiling CleaningArticle SummaryX
The best way to remove hair dye from a wall is to clean it off as soon as you can. Try using rubbing alcohol to remove the hair dye. Just dip a clean, white cloth in rubbing alcohol and wipe the stain with it. You can also use nail polish remover instead of rubbing alcohol. Another option is using a magic eraser. Soak the eraser under running water and squeeze it well to remove the excess water. Then, scrub the hair dye in a circular motion to remove it. To learn how to repaint your wall to cover up hair dye, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Velia
Dec 10, 2021
"I got some hair dye on the wall, googled how to remove it and this popped up. I tried the nail polish remover and it worked beautifully. Thank you!"..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Katherine Tlapa Interior Designer 70 votes - 71% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 4Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 134,762
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Dec 10, 2021
"I got some hair dye on the wall, googled how to remove it and this popped up. I tried the nail polish remover and it worked beautifully. Thank you!"..." more Share yours!
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Co-authored by: Katherine Tlapa Interior Designer This article was co-authored by Katherine Tlapa. Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016. This article has been viewed 134,762 times. 70 votes - 71% Co-authors: 4 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 134,762 Categories: Wall and Ceiling Cleaning Article SummaryX
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1 Test the alcohol on a small area. Wet a cotton ball with alcohol and rub it on an inconspicuous spot on the wall, first. Check for stains, discoloration, or residue. If the alcohol produces any unwanted affects, then try a different method.[2] 
2 Dampen a clean, white cloth with the alcohol. Hold the cloth with your finger on top of the bottle’s opening. In a quick motion, turn the bottle upside down then right side up again to dampen the cloth. Then gently rub the cloth over the stain in a circular motion. Once the stain begins to transfer to the cloth, use a different area of the cloth to finish cleaning the stain.[3] 
3 Wipe the area clean with a towel. Use a wet towel to remove the rubbing alcohol from the wall once the stain is gone. Then use a clean, dry towel to dry the area. Advertisement 
1 Wet the eraser under running water. Squeeze the eraser to remove any excess water before applying it to the hair dye stain.[5] 
2 Scrub the area in a circular motion. Make sure to scrub the stain gently. However, if the stain is not coming out, you may scrub harder. If the eraser becomes dry, re-wet it and keep scrubbing until the hair dye stain is removed.[6] 
3 Use a clean towel to dry the spot. Wipe a clean, dry towel over the area. If you want, you can clean the area first with a wet towel before drying it. Advertisement 
1 Sand the wall. Use fine-grit, 120 sandpaper to sand the area. Working from the top to the bottom, sand the area in a horizontal motion, i.e., parallel to the ceiling and baseboard. 
2 Wipe the surface with a clean, wet cloth.[7] The cloth will remove any debris leftover from the sanding. Wipe until all the debris is removed. Then dry the surface with a clean towel, or let it air dry.[8] 
3 Apply a coat of primer. Apply the coat with a separate primer brush in a straight up and down motion. You may need to let the primer set for 24 hours, however, it depends on the type of primer you bought. Therefore, make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle. 
4 Re-sand the primer. Do this once the primer is dry. Sand in a horizontal motion until the surface is smooth. Then wipe down the surface again to remove any debris.[10] 
5 Repaint the wall with at least two coats of paint. Dip a clean or new paintbrush into your bucket of paint until one-third of the brush is covered in paint. Tap the brush against the side of the can to remove excess paint. Paint the area in a straight up and down motion. 
Community Answer Try using rubbing alcohol, bleach, and/or vinegar. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 12 