How To Get oVertone Out of Your Hair? 8 Easy Tips

oVertone seems to resolve three of our top hair coloring concerns – damage, fading, and cost. oVertone is a color depositing conditioner, and it’s much less damaging to the hair than traditional dye or bleach. It prevents fading and keeps your color bright and beautiful for a long time. Best of all, it goes for under $30 a jar!

However, there is one problem – oVertone is extremely durable. So, if that bubblegum pink is a little too shocking, or you’re tired of sporting that electric blue, and you’re wondering how to get oVertone out of hair, here are some techniques to try:

  1. Stop using the product and wait for it to fade.
  2. Indulge in sun, swim and hot showers.
  3. Apply a hot olive oil mask once per week.
  4. Use The Fader (oVertone’s clarifying shampoo).
  5. Wash up with Head & Shoulders + baking soda.
  6. Coat the hair with a Vitamin C powder paste.
  7. Wash your hair with a liquid laundry detergent.
  8. Wash your hair with a 20-volume developer/shampoo combo.

Let’s talk more about how oVertone works, if it’s damaging to the hair, and if it’s even possible to wash it out completely.

What is oVertone and how does it work?

oVertone is vastly different from traditional dye. It is labeled as a hydrating + coloring conditioner. You can apply it to your hair in the shower, just like regular conditioner. It will hydrate the hair while adding color pigments without any harmful dyes.

oVertone is a vegan formula with no harsh toxins. Its ingredients include shea butter, avocado oil, and coconut oil. While traditional dyes break the hair cuticle open to deposit color, oVertone does not work the same way. oVertone pigments lie on top of the hair strands rather than breaking in, so the process is non-damaging.

The oVertone brand offers the color conditioner as well as a regular daily conditioner and a few toning conditioner varieties. Here’s how to use oVertone:

  • Apply the color-depositing conditioner like you would normal hair conditioner. Leave it on the hair for about 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.
  • Use the color conditioner about once per week, or whenever you would like to build on or refresh the color. For touchups, you may only need to leave the color on for 3-5 minutes.
  • Use the regular daily conditioner in between uses of the color conditioner.
  • Use the toning conditioner whenever needed (when you see unwanted red, yellow, or orange hues).

oVertone is both affordable and easy to use, and comes in 14 different exciting shades (making it very appealing to bold color junkies). 

How long does oVertone last?

oVertone is classified as a “semi-permanent” hair colorant. In theory, some of the color fades with every wash. The more often you apply the conditioner, the more color you deposit, and the longer it lasts.

If you stop retouching with the color conditioner, you will notice the color begins to fade after about 10 washes. So, depending on how often you wash your hair, your oVertone results should last for about 4-6 weeks. oVertone has the same life span as many traditional dyes, and for some people, it lasts even longer.

If you love your color, you can maintain it forever with the oVertone product series. If you don’t love it, however, things get a little bit trickier.

What some ways to remove oVertone from your hair?

Although it’s labeled “semi-permanent,” oVertone can be very difficult to remove. Everyone’s hair texture is different. For many people, those pigments in oVertone have more staying power than an average hair dye. Regardless of your experience with oVertone, here are some tricks you can try to remove oVertone from the hair.

1.      Stop using the product and allow it to fade.

Your first move? Cease all use of oVertone color conditioner! Your color should begin to fade after 10 washes, or 15-20 days, depending on how often you wash.

Once your oVertone begins to fade, you might like the color a little more. If you’re patient, it will continue to fade and change with time. Wash your hair more frequently for faster fading.

2.      Enjoy sun, swim & hot showers.

Exposing your hair to the sun’s rays, as well as to chlorine, will slowly fade the color. In addition, we recommend washing your hair in hotter water, because hot water lifts the outer cuticle layer and causes color to fade.

3.      Apply a hot olive oil hair mask once per week.

Pure olive oil breaks down semi-permanent color by sticking to the hair fibers and surrounding the molecules of pigment. If you have dry, damaged hair, we highly recommend using this method over the others, as they can dry out and damage the hair.  

To use the hot olive oil method:

  • Wet your hair with hot water.
  • Put on some gloves and wear them throughout the process to avoid burns.
  • Microwave a cup of olive oil in the microwave for a few seconds.
  • Remove the hot oil carefully from the microwave.
  • With your gloves, lather the hair in hot oil from roots to end.
  • Place a shower cap over the hair and let the oil soak for 30-40 minutes.
  • Rinse the olive oil from the hair.
  • Use lots of shampoo and scrubbing to remove the oil completely

Repeat your olive oil mask once per week to significantly fade oVertone and keep your hair healthy at the same time.

4.      Use oVertone’s The Fader product.

oVertone’s pH-balanced shampoo is specifically designed to fade oVertone while also removing buildup from the scalp. It moisturizes the hair and encourages healthy new hair growth. It can also fade the color over time.

Keep in mind you can also use oVertone’s toning conditioners to change or improve your current color. The toners are formulated to make your color turn the opposite of what it is right now.

5.      Wash up with Head & Shoulders + baking soda.

If you have some classic Head & Shoulders sitting in your bathroom cabinet, mix it with a little baking soda and wash your hair with it. Apply a generous amount to the hair, massage thoroughly, and rinse well. Keep in mind this concoction is very drying and should be used with a deep conditioner.

6.      Coat the hair with a Vitamin C powder paste.

Vitamin C powder may also fade oVertone. Here’s how to use it:

  • Purchase some Vitamin C tablets at the drugstore.
  • Crush 5-10 tablets into fine powder.
  • Dampen the hair, but do not get it soaking wet.
  • Mix the powder in with your shampoo.
  • Apply the resulting paste into the hair.
  • Coat every strand well, top to bottom.
  • Let the mixture work its magic for at least 30 minutes, and up to one hour.
  • Rinse thoroughly.

7.      Wash your hair with liquid laundry detergent.

Liquid laundry detergent is strong enough to strip your hair of color. Be careful with your brand choice – make sure your laundry detergent does not use any bleaching agents. You just need to lather one tablespoon of detergent into the hair and then rinse. Repeat for about seven days.

Use extreme caution with this method, as risks include eye damage and skin irritation. This technique is very drying and should be paired with deep conditioning treatments.

8.      Apply a 20-volume developer.

This final method is very controversial. Some experts argue that applying a developer will only set the color deeper into the hair. Others say that it removes the oVertone almost completely.

Only use this trick if you’re desperate enough to risk permanent hair damage. Moisturize before and after with an oil or hair mask, maybe even overnight.

Pour 250 ml of developer into 250 ml of moisturizing shampoo and mix well, then massage into wet hair. Use extreme caution around the eyes! Leave on for 10-20 minutes, massaging every few minutes, then rinse it out completely. Follow up with a good conditioner.

This should get rid of a significant amount of oVertone. If there is still some left in the hair, wait at least 15 days before reapplying the mixture.

If your hair is unhealthy, you will wreak a lot of havoc with this method. Begin with the first few fading methods before moving on to more dire techniques.

Is it possible to completely wash oVertone from your hair?

In reality, there’s probably no immediate fix to your oVertone adventure. Some people will never be able to wash it completely from their hair.

However, oVertone affects everyone differently. Someone with thick, healthy hair who uses oVertone only once may be able to wash it out in a few weeks… but for someone with porous, bleached, or damaged hair, oVertone can have permanent consequences.

At the end of the day, you may need to cut or re-dye your hair to completely get rid of your current color. Visit a trusted stylist for the best results.

Does oVertone damage your hair?

oVertone can be much better for the hair than regular hair dye or bleach. The concept is that it moisturizes and protects the hair. How?

The toxins in dyes are formulated to damage the hair. They break the hair cuticle open to put the color inside, which destroys the hair to some extent. oVertone’s color sits on top of the hair strands, so it does not harm the hair.

If you simply dye the ends of your hair with oVertone, then cut them off after a few months, you won’t damage your hair at all. The problem lies in trying to remove the oVertone. If you resort to harsh chemicals, you may cause lasting damage to your hair.

Patience is Key

If you plan to use oVertone, set realistic expectations. Definitely do a strand test to see how your hair takes to the color, then take a wash & see approach to learn how fast it fades from a single strand of hair. These steps can give you a better idea of what to expect before committing your whole head!

oVertone can be a secret to vibrant, stunning hair, or it can be a path to frustration and damage. When it comes to getting oVertone out of hair, we recommend patient fading over hurried removal.