So you want to update your look and wish to dye your bleached hair? You can do that, but you’d have to choose what type of dye to use wisely.
Can I Put Semi-permanent Dye Over Bleached Hair?
Yes, you can! It’s the best dye for bleached hair because it’s less damaging and far safer than a permanent dye. That’s because semi-permanent dyes don’t contain ammonia, bleach, or any harmful chemicals that can cause further damage to your bleached hair.
With that said, semi-permanent dye is highly recommended if you:
- Have weak and brittle bleached hair.
- Want to go for non-conventional colors as semi-permanent dyes offer the widest range of hair shades.
- Wish to try a specific hair color for a short period only.
But please keep in mind that semi-permanent dye does come with a few cons. That’s why we don’t recommend that you use semi-permanent dye (and use permanent dye instead) if you:
- Have bleached hair that has a lot of grays because the semi-permanent dyes don’t offer full gray coverage.
- Want your dye to last longer.
- Wish to have a low-maintenance hair color since permanent dye would require lesser coloring touch-ups.
What are the Things to Consider When Dyeing Bleached Hair?
Before you decide to put semi-permanent dye over bleached hair, you must consider the following essential factors:
Hair Health
Does your hair exhibit any signs of damage like dryness, dullness, and frizziness? If yes, you may wish to hold off on the dyeing process. Instead, take a few days or weeks to nourish, hydrate, and nurse it back to its best condition.
Right Timing
How long do you have to wait to dye your bleached hair? This would depend on the condition of your hair.
If the bleaching process didn’t damage your hair, we recommend waiting for at least 2 to 3 days before dyeing it again. The waiting time is recommended to allow the cuticles and the hair’s pH to return to their normal levels.
On the other hand, you should wait for about 4 to 8 weeks if you have damaged hair. This allows the hair to recover and heal properly before exposing it to more chemicals.
Your Target Hair Color Shade
The process is easier if you plan on darkening your bleached hair since you can directly apply dye over it.
However, this is not the case if you wish to go for a lighter shade. That’s because lightening bleached hair would require more bleaching sessions which can get complicated and more damaging to the hair.
If this is your goal, it would be best to assess your hair condition thoroughly and determine how many bleaching sessions it would need to achieve your desired shade. And preferably, work with a hair color expert to ensure that the coloring process goes as smoothly as possible.
Tips for Dyeing Bleached Hair with Semi-permanent Dyes
Here are some fantastic tips to ensure that your bleached hair will look healthy and amazing after the dyeing process:
Pre-condition your hair.
Dyeing your hair semi-permanent after bleaching will expose it to harmful chemicals that may ruin its health and integrity over time. To ensure that your hair can withstand these harsh conditions and give off the most vivid colors, we highly recommend deep conditioning your hair to provide the hydration and nourishment it needs to survive the dyeing process.
Perform a strand test.
When dyeing bleached hair, achieving the shade you want can be tricky. That’s why it’s recommended that you do a strand test.
You can do this by gathering a small chunk of hair in the section near your neck. Then, apply the dye to the said strand and let it sit for around 20 minutes. After that, rinse off the dye and check if the resulting color is the color you want.
Protect your skin from staining.
You can avoid the hair dye from coming in contact with your skin or other things by covering your hair with either a shower cap or aluminum foil.
Dry hair without heat.
After rinsing the dye, you can either towel dry your hair or let it air dry. Avoid blow drying it since exposure to heat can increase the chances of hair damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can always choose to dye hair right after bleaching it. However, there’s a high chance that the color will wash out fast since the hair cuticles will still be quite open at that point.
Waiting for a few days to weeks can also help you see what the potential effects of the bleaching process are—whether it will damage your hair or not.
From their names, the main difference between permanent and semi-permanent dyes is their longevity. This is because the effects of permanent dyes last longer than semi-permanent dyes.
This is because permanent hair color works in two stages. First, it uses ammonia or bleach to open the hair’s cuticle. Second, the color pigments are deposited into the hair shaft, where they can stay longer.
On the other hand, semi-permanent dyes only coat the hair’s surface level, so it washes out easily.
Final Words
Can you put semi-permanent dye over bleached hair? Yes, it’s the safest dye for bleached hair because it doesn’t contain ammonia or bleach.
But while the semi-permanent dye is considered the safest choice, it’s still recommended that you follow all the hair coloring tips and the right timing that we’ve mentioned to keep your hair healthy and beautiful.