Coloring your hair at home is easier than before with self-coloring kits and online tutorials. However, it’s important to follow instructions carefully to know the sequence and to avoid a hair-bleaching disaster.
There might be a question that may arise. “Should I shampoo after bleaching and before coloring?” Read on to find out more about the proper way to lighten your hair before applying permanent hair color.
Should I Shampoo Between Bleaching and Coloring?
Yes, you should shampoo after bleaching and before coloring. Bleach is harsh on the hair and it’s important to remove it completely before you apply your hair dye. If you don’t remove bleach properly, residues will continue lightening your hair and will cause damage.
Bleach is a mixture of chemicals selected for its disinfecting properties. The main ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, is harsh enough to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
It also acts as a lightening agent that removes melatonin from hair, facilitating the dying process. However, bleach can make hair feel dry and brittle.
If you fail to wash bleach from your hair, residues will remain active and will continue making your hair dry and brittle. Bleach is also a highly reactive chemical.
If you leave bleach residues in your hair, it could react with the sulfates in your shampoo and other ingredients used in hair care products, possibly causing further damage or releasing carcinogens.
How To Use Bleach When Coloring
Bleach lightens your natural hair color to help you achieve the desired shade. Note that you can apply hair dye without using bleach as long as you’re applying a dark dye on light hair or using a hair dye formulated for dark hair.
If you decide to use bleach, you’ll have to open your hair cuticles to allow the bleach to reach the hair cortex. The most common method for lifting your hair cuticles is to mix bleach with hydrogen peroxide.
You can mix one part water with one part hydrogen peroxide and spray this mixture on your hair. You can let this mixture sit for 30 minutes to an hour. You can then apply the bleach separately.
You can also mix two parts hydrogen peroxide for one part bleach and apply this mixture to your dry hair. Make sure to section your hair to get optimal coverage. Don’t let this mixture sit for more than 30 minutes.
Next, you should rinse the bleach thoroughly. If your hair has achieved the desired shade, you can move on to the next step. If your hair still looks dark, you can apply bleach again.
How To Remove Bleach from Your Hair
It’s important to get all the bleach out of your hair before you apply the hair dye. The hair dye will bind any bleach residues to the hair and result in damage.
Rinsing thoroughly with warm water should get most of the bleach out. However, it’s best to lather with a mild shampoo to get rid of any residues.
Your hair will likely feel dry and brittle from the bleach at this stage.
You can use a deep conditioner or hair mask to repair the damage, but you should wait since saturating your hair with hydrating ingredients will create a barrier that will prevent proper absorption when you apply the dye.
Should You Use a Toning Shampoo?
Bleaching your hair can result in brassy tones. You can correct these tones before applying your hair dye by using a toning shampoo.
The purpose of a toning shampoo is to neutralize the brassy tone by introducing color pigments on the opposite of the color wheel.
For instance, a purple toning shampoo can neutralize brass tones in blonde hair while a blue toning shampoo will remove orange tones that sometimes appear in darker hair.
So, Should You Shampoo After Bleaching and Before Coloring?
The answer is yes. After bleaching, you need to rinse and shampoo your hair thoroughly to get rid of any bleach residues before moving on to the coloring process.
You can also use a toning shampoo to neutralize unwanted brassy undertones before applying your hair dye.