Experimenting with hair color can be a fun way to change up your look. While dyeing your hair is often a lot cheaper than buying a new wardrobe, it's still an investment. And you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible. Which means knowing when and if you can wash your hair after dyeing it.
Content Can I wash my hair after dyeing: how long to wait? Why has my color faded? Do I need shampoo to wash off hair dye?
Proper care is the number one way to keep your color fresh. WomanEL understands this, so she's in a hurry to share her beauty secrets with you.
Can I wash my hair after dyeing it: how long should I wait?
“Many people believe that the color should set in within a few days of dyeing. But that’s just a myth,” says hair color expert Sydney Palmer. “Your hair color won’t set any more than it already is if you wait to wash it.”
Can you wash your hair 24 hours after coloring? Yes, you can. Hair colorist Jade Cromer adds that you can wash your hair whenever you feel like it (although you probably won't need to that day if you've just come from the salon). “Washing your hair right after coloring is not a problem,” she says. “Pay more attention to what products you use, not how long between washes.”
If you're heading to the gym right after the salon and need to wash your hair, don't fret. Just use cooler water and a quality product for your hair type. Palmer recommends washing your hair no more than three times a week, using cool water and the right product. Another tip to avoid dull hair is to regularly use a hair mask for color-treated hair.
You may be wondering why salons wash your hair after coloring? The answer is simple: they want to make sure all the dye is out of your hair before styling it. They may even wash your hair twice: once to get rid of the dye, and a second time to completely clean your hair.
- Do you need to wash your hair before coloring? “There's no need to,” says Palmer. “Your colorist will do that for you.”
Why has my color faded?
The type of shampoo, conditioner, and products you use at home is the main reason why your color will last or fade, Source: freepik.com
When it comes to hair dye, it's much more important to prevent the dye from washing out than to let it “settle” in your hair. Each strand of hair is surrounded by a cuticle, which is what holds the color in. When you wash your hair, especially in hot water, you risk opening the cuticle and allowing the color to leak out. Palmer recommends washing colored hair in cooler water. This keeps the hair cuticle closed, and the color stays inside the hair strands. In warm water, the cuticle will open more quickly and release the color, which is why the color fades so quickly.
Then there's the question of how to maintain your vibrant hair color. If cold showers aren't appealing to you, you can wash your hair less often and try to avoid hot water. If you've chosen a so-called “trendy” hair color, like hot pink, orange, or purple, Kromer recommends washing your hair just once a week, and using dry shampoo during that time.
If you don't have full hair color, but just highlights, you may want to be a little more careful with the water temperature, Palmer says. Less pigment in your hair means the water temperature matters less. In addition to how often you wash your hair and the temperature, what you wash your hair with can make a big difference in how long your color lasts.
Some drugstore brands of shampoo and conditioner may contain synthetic ingredients like sulfates, parabens, silicones, and other ingredients that can strip your hair of color. By investing in high-quality hair care, you're investing in your color and the overall health of your hair. Palmer also recommends avoiding clarifying shampoos, which “do a great job of cleansing your scalp, but often strip your hair of color.” So it's best to use them sparingly.
Do you need shampoo to wash off hair dye?
If you dye your hair at home, when it's time to rinse it out, simply use cold water. Continue rinsing your hair until the water runs clear, which means all the dye has been removed. Then, feel free to shampoo and then conditioner. Some manufacturers recommend not using shampoo after dyeing your hair, so be sure to read the instructions for the product you're using.
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