diff --git a/src/proto/colors.rs b/src/proto/colors.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7da5e61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/proto/colors.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+//! An extension trait that provides the ability to strip IRC colors from a string
+use std::borrow::Cow;
+
+#[derive(PartialEq)]
+enum ParserState {
+    Text,
+    ColorCode,
+    Foreground1,
+    Foreground2,
+    Comma,
+    Background1,
+}
+struct Parser {
+    state: ParserState,
+}
+
+/// An extension trait giving strings a function to strip IRC colors
+pub trait FormattedStringExt {
+
+    /// Returns true if the string contains color, bold, underline or italics
+    fn is_formatted(&self) -> bool;
+
+    /// Returns the string with all color, bold, underline and italics stripped
+    fn strip_formatting(&self) -> Cow<str>;
+
+}
+
+
+impl FormattedStringExt for str {
+    fn is_formatted(&self) -> bool {
+        self.contains('\x02') || // bold
+            self.contains('\x1F') || // underline
+            self.contains('\x16') || // reverse
+            self.contains('\x0F') || // normal
+            self.contains('\x03') // color
+    }
+
+    fn strip_formatting(&self) -> Cow<str> {
+        let mut parser = Parser {
+            state: ParserState::Text,
+        };
+
+        let result: Cow<str> = self
+            .chars()
+            .filter(move |cur| {
+                match parser.state {
+                    ParserState::Text if *cur == '\x03' => {
+                        parser.state = ParserState::ColorCode;
+                        false
+                    },
+                    ParserState::Text => !['\x02', '\x1F', '\x16', '\x0F'].contains(cur),
+                    ParserState::ColorCode if  (*cur).is_digit(10) => {
+                        parser.state = ParserState::Foreground1;
+                        false
+                    },
+                    ParserState::Foreground1 if (*cur).is_digit(6) => {
+                        parser.state = ParserState::Foreground2;
+                        false
+                    },
+                    ParserState::Foreground1 if *cur == ','  => {
+                        parser.state = ParserState::Comma;
+                        false
+                    },
+                    ParserState::Foreground2 if *cur == ',' => {
+                        parser.state = ParserState::Comma;
+                        false
+                    },
+                    ParserState::Comma if ((*cur).is_digit(10)) => {
+                        parser.state = ParserState::Background1;
+                        false
+                    },
+                    ParserState::Background1 if (*cur).is_digit(6) => {
+                        parser.state = ParserState::Text;
+                        false
+                    }
+                    _ => true
+                }
+            })
+            .collect();
+
+        result
+    }
+
+
+}
+
+impl FormattedStringExt for String {
+    fn is_formatted(&self) -> bool {
+        (&self[..]).is_formatted()
+    }
+    fn strip_formatting(&self) -> Cow<str> {
+        (&self[..]).strip_formatting()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/proto/mod.rs b/src/proto/mod.rs
index 6d46691..e27925d 100644
--- a/src/proto/mod.rs
+++ b/src/proto/mod.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 pub mod caps;
 pub mod chan;
 pub mod command;
+pub mod colors;
 pub mod irc;
 pub mod line;
 pub mod message;
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ pub mod response;
 
 pub use self::caps::{Capability, NegotiationVersion};
 pub use self::chan::ChannelExt;
+pub use self::colors::FormattedStringExt;
 pub use self::command::{BatchSubCommand, CapSubCommand, Command};
 pub use self::irc::IrcCodec;
 pub use self::message::Message;