Semi-permanent hair color is hair dye that gradually fades as it is washed. It is designed to wash out in about six washes, while demi-permanent hair color washes out in approximately six to eight weeks of washes. You can purchase semi-permanent hair color at your local drugstore or grocery store or have a hair stylist apply semi-permanent hair color in a salon. If you don't like the color of your semi-permanent hair color, you can remove it naturally far more easily than you could demi-permanent or permanent hair color.

Semi-permanent hair color is generally used when an individual is not sure she wants to dye her hair permanently or wants to avoid the damage that ammonia-containing permanent dyes do to hair. Semi-permanent dye coats the hair without permeating into the shaft and cuticles of the hair, so it will not change the long-term consistency of the hair. Semi-permanent hair dye gradually fades as the hair is washed, although if you have very light hair and you dye it very dark with semi-permanent color, you may experience darkening of your hair, even after the dye washes out.

You can use hot water to naturally remove semi-permanent hair dye. Hot water causes hair cuticles to open, allowing more dye to be released and rinsed from hair than if you were washing it with cold water. Scrubbing your hair with baking soda, an acidic material you can purchase at the grocery store or drugstore, eats away at hair dye, causing the dye to fade more quickly. (Your hair may feel dry, however, after using baking soda.) Scrub the baking soda onto wet hair that has been washed in warm water. Leave the baking soda on for two minutes, then rinse and follow with a deep conditioner for best results.

Prell is a cleansing shampoo that you can purchase at your drugstore, grocery store or online. Prell removes residue from hair, which can leave hair feeling dry if you use it frequently. It does, however, help remove hair color and any other styling residue from your hair. Using a quarter-sized amount of Prell, lather up your hair and leave on for two minutes. Repeat, if necessary, to rid the hair of excess semi-permanent hair dye. Follow with a deep conditioner to restore your hair to its original condition.