We are all used to keeping our hair clean. That’s why many women don’t even think about whether they should wash their hair before dyeing or not.
The short answer depends on the exact color or lightener’s preparation directions. Several days of unwashed hair are not a universal requirement; ask your stylist how to prepare for the chosen system.
Even though most stylists won’t tell you anything about keeping your hair dirty before dyeing, that doesn’t mean you should forget about the matter altogether. However, excessively dirty hair full of buildup and sweat will not take in color any better.
Not every stylist will bring this up before your appointment, so it helps to read up on the rules yourself.
How to Prepare Your Hair Before Dyeing
Before deciding to skip the hair washing session before applying hair dye, check the exact system’s preparation directions. Washing needs and product buildup differ between people.
- The squeaky clean hair is slippery and instead of sinking in, the color can slide off your locks. It won’t prevent the hair from being dyed but the results can be far from what you expect. You might end up with patchy or uneven color instead of the shade you expected.
- When your scalp is squeaky-clean, it doesn’t have any oil on the surface to protect your skin. As a result, you can burn your scalp with the chemicals in the dye and end up with unpleasant sensations.
What Else Not To Do Before Dyeing Your Hair
For the last wash before coloring, follow the chosen system’s preparation directions rather than a fixed two-to-three-day rule. Check whether leave-in conditioner or other product residue is compatible.
Just go through the standard shampoo+conditioner washing routine and rinse your hair well. Try to avoid using any styling products, such as hair spray or hair gel. Too many products on the hair prevent the hair from absorbing the color molecules effectively.
Here are some other tips:
- Don’t use a clarifying shampoo in the days leading up to your dye job, and don’t scratch your scalp. Both of these can lead to scalp irritation during the process.
- Don’t use high heat near your scalp for the same reason, and avoid using it on your hair, as it could lead to visible damage.
- Don’t get another chemical process, like a perm, within the two weeks before you get your hair colored.
Should You Wash Products Out Before a Color Treatment?
It depends. If you use products that contain plasticizing ingredients, you’ll have to wash them out before getting a color treatment. Film-forming copolymers and some gums and waxes coat the hair with impermeable substances.
So your color treatment might actually go to waste if you have any of these in your hair. Still, at least try to shampoo the day before your color treatment.
Some people say you can get a color treatment with dry shampoo in your hair. We wouldn’t risk it as some contain clay, which can block your color absorption.
But don’t just grab shampoo and lather up. Rinse with a lot of water first to see if you can clean your hair without using shampoo.
If you still need to cleanse with something stronger, choose a no-sulfate, moisturizing shampoo and use as little as possible.
Whatever you do, don’t grab a sulfate shampoo or a clarifying shampoo. These strip the hair and scalp too much and can be the source of irritation and brittleness when you’re getting your hair dyed.
Can You Dye Hair That Isn’t Washed, But Wet?
It’s better if you come into the salon with dry hair because even water itself can cause the hair dye to come out in an unpredictable way. Hair colors are mostly designed to be applied to dry hair.
So if you show up with wet hair, you’ll probably get an extra fee tagged on when the stylist has to dry your hair first.
Can You Wash Your Hair Before Bleaching It?
Hair bleaching is one of the harshest chemical processes and incurs more damage than making your tresses darker, both to the hair and scalp.
Follow the chosen colour or lightener’s preparation directions. Greasy or unwashed hair is not a universal requirement, and product buildup and scalp needs differ between people.
Can You Wash Your Hair Right After a Color Treatment?
Follow the specific color treatment’s aftercare directions for the first shampoo. A fixed two- or three-day wait is not a universal rule for every formula and scalp.
Washing and care can affect fading, but the right schedule depends on the colour system and your hair and scalp needs. Do not use a universal waiting period in place of the product’s directions.
When you shampoo, choose an option compatible with the colour system and follow its directions.
If you use a shampoo that contains the same pigments as your dye job, it will help your color to last longer.
It might be hard to follow all these rules, but they’re essential if you want fresh, lustrous, and long-lasting colors on the first try.
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