I dyed my hair too dark. When can I dye it again?

 

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I know what you’re thinking. “Why should I wait fifteen days if my hair was too dark after I dyed it?”

 

Because that’s how long it takes for the color to settle and for hair to expel the excess.

When you rinse your hair after coloring it, it’s saturated with color. That’s why it usually looks darker at first glance.

 You get to see the actual color after a few washes. 

 

If you still feel that your colored hair is too dark by then, you can dye it again.

I’ll tell you how to choose the new dye color to lighten your hair.

 

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 Waiting fifteen days is essential for the color to settle, which makes your hair look darker. 

Why shouldn’t you dye it before?

 

I’ll explain it with an example that has nothing to do with hair issues.

Let’s suppose that you do your grocery shopping today.

You take your shopping list with you, but you find hundreds of offers that are hard to resist.

 

The problem is that you didn’t drive to the supermarket that day, and you’re barely carrying a bag. So, when you get to the checkout line, you realize you cannot carry all the products.

So, you need to return most of them.

 

 In this case, your hair is like your shopping bag. It has a limited capacity. 

Your colored hair is full of dark pigments, which are also hard to remove.

If you color your hair twice in fifteen days, your hair will receive pigments from both processes.

What will happen?

 

Your hair will be two-colored.

So if you want to lighten your hair, you should wait two weeks to achieve an even and uniform color.

After fifteen days, you’ll face a new challenge.

 

Which new hair color to choose after fifteen days if my hair is too dark after coloring it

If you already spent 15 days or at least six washes, you can see the actual color in your hair.

You’ll probably notice it looks different than fifteen days before. That’s because the hair has expelled the excess pigment.

So the wait is over and you can apply a new color if you still don’t like it because it’s too dark.

 

 To lighten your hair without bleaching it, you have to choose a hair dye that is two levels lighter than the previous shade. 

Don’t forget that the developer with which you apply the permanent hair dye lightens your hair up to two levels too.

 

Alternatively, if you want a color that is more than two levels lighter, you should bleach your hair.

Remember that bleaching is a delicate process and can dry out and damage your hair irreversibly. If your idea is to bleach, I recommend you ask a hairdresser to do it.

 

If your decision is to color your hair after fifteen days, it’s time to choose the new color.

The color chart ranges from black 1 to platinum extra light blonde 10.

Do you remember what hair color you applied two weeks ago?

 

If you remember, just add two numbers to it.

For example:

 

If you don’t remember the color number you applied you can visit any hairdresser’s store and ask to see the color chart of your favorite brand.

The color chart is a booklet that has hair samples of the colors offered by the brand. Place a strand of your hair over each sample until you find the exact color.

 

How to color your hair after fifteen days

The most important thing is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Each brand has its own techniques and tips, but I can offer you a general guide to help you feel more confident.

 

Separate your dry, detangled hair into four sections, from forehead to nape and from ear to ear, holding each section with a hair clip.

I recommend not washing your hair 48 hours before application for the natural scalp’s oils to protect your hair.

 

Mix the developer with the hair dye in the container. If you find it more convenient, you can also use a plastic container.

 

Release one of the sections of hair and apply the dye from roots to ends. Distribute thoroughly. Repeat the procedure on each section until you saturate the hair.

Leave it on for 45 minutes.

This is a general time frame. Remember that each manufacturer has its own specifications.

 

After the exposure time, rinse your hair with plenty of warm water until it runs clean.

You can use your usual shampoo, but most box dyes include a post-color treatment to moisturize the hair.

Apply your usual conditioner and leave it on for three minutes.

 

Blow-dry your hair on medium heat.

And now, the moment of truth: do you like your hair lighter?

 

It was worth the wait.

You’ll only have to wait four weeks to touch it up. At that time, you can choose the same color or two levels lighter.

 

Conclusions

If you realize that your hair is too dark after coloring it, wait two weeks to dye it again.

In the meantime, the pigments will finish settling and prevent the risk of having uneven results.

Finally, don’t trust the colors you see on the box dyes. My advice is to never go by the photos. Instead, ask for the brand’s color chart to make your best decision.