Should I wash my hair before dyeing it at the hairdresser’s? And at home?

 

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I washed my hair yesterday. Can I dye it today, or could the color go wrong?

 

More clearly, pour water on it.

In short, you could say that  your hair must be “dirty” before you go to dye it .

 

Well, actually, it must have an “acceptable level of dirtiness”, if I can put it like that.

What’s an acceptable level of dirt?

 

It’s hair that hasn’t been washed for 48 hours. I can assure you that we stylists are used to working with this level of acceptable dirt in the hair.

In many cases, a myth can become reality. And this is the case with the myth that dye works better if your hair is dirty.

Because if hair hasn’t been washed for 48 hours, we feel more confident when we’re dyeing it.

 

Believe it or not, almost all women have doubts about whether or not they should wash their hair before coloring it.

They’re not even sure whether or not they should wash their hair before applying a semi-permanent hair dye.

And of course, there are also those who want to get highlights and don’t know whether their hair should be clean or dirty.

Want to know why?

Read on.

 

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Why you shouldn’t wash your hair before dyeing it at the hairdresser’s or at home

The idea is simple.

 If you don’t wash your hair for 48 hours before going to the hairdresser’s to dye it , you’ll be protecting it with the natural oil your scalp produces.

Let me explain.

 

The oil produced by the scalp is full of nutrients, lipid acids, oils, and moisturizers that are essential for hair growth.

Hair follicles are little “pinholes” in your scalp and each one grows a hair.

That’s why it’s important that you protect your hair before you dye it, and one way to protect it is to avoid washing it before coloring it. This way you can prevent the dye chemicals from irritating your scalp.

 

Now, I also want to clarify something very important.

Let’s assume that today is Monday and on Wednesday you have an appointment with the hair stylist. Therefore, since it’s 48 hours before you dye your hair, you wash your hair using shampoo and conditioner.

You already know that for the next 48 hours you shouldn’t wash your hair. But you also know that  you can’t use any other hair products. 

What do I mean?

 

If you wash your hair 48 hours before going to the hairdresser’s to color it, you must use shampoo and conditioner in that last wash. And then you can’t apply repairing oils, sprays, gels or mousses.

 

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If you forget after washing your hair and you apply any of these products, I recommend that before going to the salon, you rinse your hair to remove the remains of these products.

Attention! I wrote RINSE . This means that you shouldn’t use shampoo or conditioner.

How should you do it?

 

 

Are you planning on going to the hairdresser’s for highlights or bleaching?

Then the following information will be of interest to you.

 

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You shouldn’t wash your hair before bleaching it at the hairdresser’s either

And in this case,  I recommend that you wash your hair 72 hours before bleaching it. 

 

Why? Because bleaching is one of the most aggressive processes that you can do to your hair. So it’s important you protect your hair before going to the hairdresser’s.

The bleaching chemicals are very corrosive and can cause severe irritation and even injury to the scalp.

In addition, bleaching is a process that takes a lot of moisture out of the hair.

 

Therefore, it’s essential that in this case, you don’t wash your hair before applying the bleach. Because the natural oil secreted by your scalp for 72 hours will protect both the scalp and the rest of your hair.

Which techniques can involve bleaching?

 

Want an extra tip?

If your scalp is sensitive, let your colorist know. Because there are specific products to protect a sensitive scalp during bleaching.

On the other hand, remember that if you’re bleaching your hair at home, it will be more difficult not to touch the skin on your scalp, so you need to be extremely careful.

I always recommend my clients don’t bleach at home if they want good results.

 

Conclusion

You should always wash your hair 48 hours before coloring, either at the hairdresser’s or at home. Because during those 48 hours, your scalp will produce natural oils that protect both your scalp and the rest of your hair.

And in that wash, use shampoo and conditioner and avoid applying other products afterward such as gel, mousse, or oils.

If your hairdresser appointment is for bleaching your hair, then remember to wash your hair at least 72 hours prior to bleaching.