Should I Wash My Hair Before I Dye It? A Colorist's Guide to Hair Color Upkeep

Table Of Content

• Myth 4: It’s Ok To Wash Your Hair Right After A Color Treatment
• Tips on How to Care for Colored Hair
• DON'T: Use Box Dyes When You're in a Pinch
• What’s the Best Shampoo for Colored Hair?
• Should Your Hair Be Dirty Or Clean Before Coloring?
• Can You Wash Your Hair Before Bleaching It?
• How to Find Infallible Foundation Shades That Match Your Skin Tone

“Semi-permanent dyes sit on top of the hair cuticle rather than inside as a permanent dye does. When you have natural oils or products like conditioner on the hair, it actually creates a barrier between the hair cuticle and the dye which causes the dye to not take as well as it could,” adds O’Connor. If you want an in-your-face, vivid color, he says it is best to apply on clean, unconditioned, and dry hair. For all those new to coloring their hair, you should not wash your hair before coloring it. This is because washing strips your hair of its natural oils and chemicals in the hair color may make your hair drier.

Myth 4: It’s Ok To Wash Your Hair Right After A Color Treatment

Too many products on the hair prevent the hair from absorbing the color molecules effectively. Whenever you wash your hair the last time before dying (preferably 2-3 days before the coloring session), don’t use any leave-in conditioners. If you just washed your hair or used a specific haircare product, you might be nervous that this will harm the coloring process. Maybe you used a de-frizzing oil or a leave-in conditioner, and you are worried about how this will affect the dye. Many women who want to change their hairstyle, color, or shade wonder, “should I wash my hair before coloring? ” Knowing the answer to this question can help prevent breakage, damage, and dry hair.

Tips on How to Care for Colored Hair

Do you want your hair lighter (highlights or all-over color)? Lightening your hair is a permanent process and can even continue to change small amounts after being in the sun and with frequent washing. Hair lightening needs to be performed cautiously because it typically involves a decolorizer which could wreak havoc on your tresses.

DON'T: Use Box Dyes When You're in a Pinch

Even though Goddard did Kim Kardashian's hair in one sitting (one very long sitting), she says you absolutely need to expect two to three sessions for “wiggle room” if you’re going from dark to super-light. Cutting your hair pre- or post-color all depends on how drastic the cut is and where the color is sitting, says Bodt. "If you are doing a lot of color on the ends, we recommend getting a haircut before so it doesn’t get cut out. But if you are doing something solid you can do it after," she says.

You don't want your hair dye to go to waste if you don't end up needing it. Don't worry—the few minutes it takes to mix up that second box won't lead to an uneven color. Prior to reaching for your hair dye, Morales recommends thoroughly detangling your hair. This will prevent any knots or tangles from creating an uneven application—plus, we doubt you want to worry about any detangling mid-application. Use a wide-tooth comb and gently work your way from your ends to your roots. Skip the heavy oils and deep conditioning masks right before the dye session.

13 Best Shampoos for Color-Treated Hair in 2024, According to Colorists - Allure

13 Best Shampoos for Color-Treated Hair in 2024, According to Colorists.

Posted: Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

This will allow the color to set and the cuticle layer to close without risking any fading. For best results, use a shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for colored hair, such as L’Oréal Paris Sulfate-Free Simply Clean Shampoo & Conditioner with Essential Oil. It is recommended to wait a few days before dyeing your hair. Natural oils from unwashed hair can protect the scalp against irritation caused by the dye, while clean locks offer an accurate reading of natural color when deepening or adding lowlights. When you are ready for your first post-treatment wash, "I always recommend a color-safe shampoo and conditioner," Pineda tells us. "A $5 drugstore shampoo is not going to maintain your new hue correctly," says Rae, who recommends Pravana's Truity Cleanse and Condition because they protect hair color for 30 plus washes.

Should You Wash Your Hair Before Dyeing It?

Then, switch to a shampoo and conditioner formulated to care for colored hair. Finally, limit your use of heat tools to keep your color vibrant. By following these tips, you’ll be sure to get the best results from your hair color and keep it looking beautiful. Avoid using heat styling tools and opt for a natural look to preserve your hair’s color vibrancy. To achieve the best match between freshly washed hair and permanent color, use an ammonia-free dye option with fade-resistant properties. You’ll love L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color for its long-lasting, fade-resistant color that lasts up to 8 shampoos.

Can You Wash Your Hair Before Bleaching It?

"Buy more than one box of color—you don't want to be short on product in the middle of the process." Imagine your hair as a canvas, and hair dye as the artistic paint that’s going to give it a beautiful new hue. When your hair is a little greasy (but not excessively so), it’s like preparing the canvas with a primer. Creating a protective layer that can help shield your scalp. In essence, it’s a built-in defense mechanism for your scalp. When changing your color from light to dark, our experts recommend asking your colorist to use a semi- or demi-permanent color until you are absolutely certain you can commit to the change.

How to Find Infallible Foundation Shades That Match Your Skin Tone

This product offers a Root Touch Up service with no visible roots, so you don’t have to worry about toning or oxidizing each time you color your hair. Its advanced sulfate-free formula keeps your scalp protected while also providing maximum shine, softness, and vibrancy of colored hair without damaging it. But if you’ve used a permanent color, it’s best to wait at least 24 hours before shampooing.

Others say that washing immediately after coloring helps to seal in the pigment and prevents the color from staining or fading too quickly. Dyeing wet hair can cause the color to be uneven and patchy. A consistent hair color regimen can cause your hair to become dry, dull and lifeless. Add a nourishing mask like the L'Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Signature Masque, Color Care Hair Mask to your weekly hair routine. It hydrates, revitalizes all hair types, and restores smoothness thanks to vegan protein. Apply the pre-shampoo treatment first and leave it on for five to eight minutes before rinsing.

Some shampoos are too mild to get all the grease and dirt off the hair, making them ineffective in achieving the cleanliness that you desire. Learn the importance and benefits of hair cleansing before adding hair dye to your mane. If you’re planning to have an extremely light color like platinum blonde, you can skip 2 washes before going to the salon. If you’re using a product with no ammonia or a low-volume developer, the dye may not break through the dirt stuck to your hair. Hair dye products include damaging chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.

If you’ve been using products like hair masks, leave-in conditioners, or heavy oils, it’s a good idea to wash them out. For the best maintenance of your hair color, it is recommended to use a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner system. If you have blonde hair, you may also need to use toning shampoos. Heat protection is key as it prevents scalp irritation due to dyes, minimizes color fading, and avoids damage to strands from hot tools. Between coloring sessions, keep strands in tiptop shape with regular shampoo sessions followed by a nourishing mask treatment tailored to protect your hue from fading away quickly.

While they may seem like a viable solution in the short term, Rae assures us that the damage they cause, such as turning the hair dry and brittle, can actually create long-term issues. "Because they interact poorly with professional products," even a color correction may result in multiple rounds and added stress to your already vulnerable strands, she says. With something as expressive as hair color, the idea of permanence doesn't really align. Permanent hair color is, perhaps unsurprisingly, difficult to remove.

If your locks are too greasy after 4 days of no shampoo, dyeing it can be pretty challenging. The short answer is clean; both Yusef and O’Connor advise that it’s better to color clean hair if you want your new shade to be vibrant and adhere better. “Product and metal and mineral buildup could interfere with the process and cause a chemical reaction,” explains Yusef. “This can end up causing uneven color and lift.” He likes to use a detoxifying shampoo (like the K18 Detox Shampoo) to get rid of any buildup and create a clean canvas for hair color. Freshly washed hair can be a bit too clean and may not provide that protective shield against the chemicals in the dye. Touch up your hair color every 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the desired look.

As mentioned above, both experts say that hair color adheres better on clean strands as there is nothing blocking it from directly attaching. Yusef says that product buildup can prevent color from reaching the hair, and emphasizes that keeping your locks healthy will help prolong your new hue’s life. If you’re not sure whether you should wash your hair before the coloring process, it’s a common step to be confused about. In order to settle the debate, Bustle tapped two celebrity hairstylists — Yusef and co-founder of Good Dye Young Brian O’Connor — to break it all down. We'd be willing to bet that one of the last things you want is a stained hairline post-hair dye.