Generally speaking, dyeing your hair isn’t going to be excellent for its health. Constantly dyeing or bleaching your hair will take its toll on your luscious locks – but that doesn’t mean you should resign yourself to a life of unhealthy, damaged hair!
Contrary to what you might believe, it’s possible to keep your hair healthy when dyed. Most people simply neglect a few important steps when dyeing their hair, which is why it becomes overly damaged. This guide will show you what to do, so your hair remains in the best possible condition and you still get to enjoy different colors.
Get your hair ready for dyeing
Most of us dye our hair out of impulses. We see someone with nice red hair on Instagram, so we immediately want to replicate it. Or, we spot a few too many gray hairs in the mirror, so out comes the box dye to cover them up. Being able to make such fast decisions is fantastic on the one hand, though it usually means we’re not preparing our hair properly. Applying dye to already unhealthy hair will cause even more damage.
Before putting any dye on your hair, prepare it for what’s to come. If you get your hair dyed professionally, your hairdresser will normally look at it and prepare it for you. It will typically involve:
- Trimming split ends
- Washing and conditioning your hair
- Using treatments to repair damaged hair
If you’re not going to a salon, do this at home. Be aware that you might need to wait a few weeks before your hair is healthy enough for the dye. Give it time to feel thicker and healthier, and then you can dye it so the dye goes on healthy hair.
Use quality hair dye
This is another reason to maybe head to a salon to get your hair dyed. They’ll use professional hair dye products while a lot of box dyes in stores are pretty poor quality. The lower the dye quality, the more damage it can do to your hair. If you’re looking for a permanent hair dye solution, you have to get it done professionally as the alternatives simply aren’t good enough and will leave you with a lifetime of hair problems.
Permanent hair dye isn’t the best for your hair anyway – even if you use the highest quality products. That’s because they contain things like bleach or ammonia to help color your hair, though they also weaken it. One very popular alternative is to utilize demi-permanent hair color products instead. They don’t contain either of these chemicals and are less damaging to your hair. There’s a very good guide, What Is A Demi-Permanent Hair Color? Your Complete Guide To Trying No-Commitment Shades, that’s worth reading to learn more about this type of hair dye and why it could be beneficial.
A quick summary is that demi-permanent hair dye adds color to your hair without harming it. It won’t stay in permanently, but it lasts longer than semi-permanent dye and lets you try out different shades or hues every week if you want. Again, quality is key here! Only use the best products as you want what’s best for your hair.
Conditioner is your best friend
You’ll want to wash your hair less frequently after dyeing it (more on this shortly) but conditioning your hair is a must. You should do this pretty regularly and opt for deep conditioning treatments that get right to the roots. The main purpose of conditioning your hair is to provide it with the right amount of moisture so it remains healthy. This stops your hair from drying out and turning to straw, but it can also prevent split ends.
Before dyeing your hair, make sure you use a deep conditioner for a few days in the build-up. This adds moisturizing properties and also strengthens your hair follicles. When the dye is applied, it’s applied to stronger hair that can physically handle the dye. There’s a lower chance of your hair breaking or being badly damaged as a result.
Once your hair is dyed, you should continue conditioning it a few times a week. Use your deep conditioner every week to maintain moisture and strength. Pair this with a leave-in conditioner to apply daily for all the moisture your hair needs. These are great as they don’t need to be rinsed out, so you won’t be forced to wash your hair daily.
Don’t overly wash your hair & use color-safe products
The biggest haircare myth is the need to wash your hair every day so it stays clean and healthy. You don’t need to do this – and there’s even less reason to do so when you dye your hair. Washing every day will mean the color fades quickly and your hair dries out. Dry hair leads to damaged hair, so aim to wash it maybe once or twice a week at most. Use dry shampoo between washes to maintain cleanliness – along with your conditioner, of course!
At the same time, protect your hair and keep it healthy by using the right products for it. Two main things to keep in mind here:
- Use products suitable for colored hair
- Pick products aimed at your specific hair type – dry, oily, curly, etc.
The first point is more important when you dye your hair as regular shampoos and conditioners won’t interact well with hair dye. It can cause your dye to fall out too quickly or alter the color so you end up with horrible green streaks in your hair. Pick products designed for your specific hair color and you’ll reap the rewards.
Protect your hair from heat
Too much heat exposure can damage all hair types, though it’s a bigger problem for dyed hair. Your hair follicles can be weaker after dying and are more susceptible to heat damage, so be wary of this when drying your hair or using hair styling tools. Try to minimize contact with heat as much as possible to avoid further damaging your lovely hair.
The same goes for when you’re outside in the sun – heat from it can and will damage dyed hair if it’s left unprotected. You protect your skin from the sun with SPF, so do something similar with your hair. Unfortunately, you can’t lather on sunscreen as this will not work and you’ll make your hair super greasy. The best options are to wear hats when out in direct sunlight or use a heat-protective spray before you head out. This spray should also be used before you use any hot styling tools on your hair.
Don’t overdo it!
There’s a big temptation to dye your hair every week or fortnight. You can do this, but it’s best to give your hair a few weeks to recover between dyes. If you keep adding different dyes to your hair before it can adapt and get used to the existing dye, it’ll only become weaker and weaker. So, as tempting as it might be, don’t overdo it!
The big thing to take from this guide is that your hair can remain healthy when you dye it. Too many people resign themselves to having damaged hair after dyeing, so they don’t bother to look after it. “What’s the point?” they say, “it’ll just be damaged anyway, so why bother?!”. As you can see, plenty of things can be done to protect your hair and keep it healthy, even if you dye it somewhat regularly!
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