Should I wash my hair the night before dyeing it? NO, except for two cases

 

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How Dirty Should My Hair Be Before I Dye it? 4 myths debunked by a hairdresser

 

 To wash or not to wash your hair the night before dyeing it? 

 

I can just imagine you with this doubt right now.

Looking at yourself in your bathroom mirror, while you’re getting things ready for the next day’s hair color application.

And suddenly, as if it were a horror movie, your own reflection in the mirror comes to life and haunts you with the question:

“Hey, shouldn’t you wash your hair tonight if you’re going to dye it tomorrow?”

But in addition, as if your doubts weren’t enough, your reflection also asks you: “Is it really true that dye works better if the hair is dirty?”

 

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And then the doubt starts deep inside you. And it grows, like a terrible storm, until you lose your calm.

At first, you think of calling your mother to consult her, but it’s late and she’s probably asleep.

Then you remember that your friend is an expert at dyeing hair, but you call her and her phone seems to be off.

 

And then, there’s your ever-faithful companion: the Internet. You open your phone and quickly type into Google, “should I wash my hair the night before dyeing it?

And magically, I appear to tell you that  you shouldn’t wash your hair the night before dyeing it. 

Why not?

Girl, just hold on a bit. Because that’s what I’m talking about next.

 

Why you shouldn’t wash your hair the night before you dye it

For one very important reason: the health of your hair.

If you don’t wash your hair the night before you dye it, the natural oils secreted by your scalp will protect both your hair and your scalp from the aggression of the dye.

Because you apply dye with developer and it contains ammonia. And these chemicals deplete your hair of moisture and nutrients.

 

In addition, these chemicals can irritate your scalp, especially if you have a very sensitive scalp. So colorists recommend not washing your hair to take advantage of this natural protection.

If you wash your hair just before applying hair dye or the night before, the dye can irritate your scalp and will further deplete your hair of moisture.

Therefore it’s essential  you don’t wash your hair for at least two days before coloring it. 

 

Now, there are two cases where you should wash your hair the night before you color it. Read on.

 

What are the exceptions when you should wash your hair the night before dyeing it?

I’m going to be direct and clear, to get straight to the point. After all, you’re probably tired and want to go to sleep.

There are two cases when you should wash your hair the night before coloring it:

Let’s take it one step at a time.

 

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All hair products leave residues in the hair, which you can obviously easily remove when you shampoo your hair.

Therefore,  if you used natural oils, gel, mousse, styling cream, setting spray, leave-in conditioner, or a mask , you should wash your hair the night before applying the dye.

Because thanks to the residue from any of these hair products, the dye won’t stick to the inner layer of your hair. Therefore, your color will turn out uneven or faded.

And in that case, you’ll have to recolor your hair. And you’ll have to expose your hair to the aggression of dye chemicals again in a short time.

 

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Now for the other exception.  If you decide to dye your hair with semi-permanent hair dye , you should wash it the night before. Because for this kind of dye, your hair must be clean, completely clean. I would even say freshly washed.

This way, you ensure your hair is free of dirt and environmental dust, as well as hair product residues.

 

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Remember that semi-permanent hair dye doesn’t use developer and doesn’t contain ammonia. So it doesn’t penetrate the inside of the hair. It only gets deposited on the outer layer of the hair.

Any dirt particles or hair product residue will prevent the dye from being deposited. Therefore, the dye will likely not change the color of your hair.

 

So  if you use hair products daily or have decided to apply a semi-permanent hair color , you should wash your hair the night before dyeing to achieve an even and long-lasting color.

Simply wash your hair with your usual shampoo.

 

Conclusion

You shouldn’t wash your hair the night before dyeing it.  As a colorist, I always recommend washing your hair 48 hours before coloring.

Now, if you use daily hair products or apply a semi-permanent hair dye, you should wash your hair to make sure the color is deposited properly.