If you have ever dyed your hair, you have certainly come across to the question whether dyeing your hair with product in it is good or bad. While hair-dyeing and its results may vary from person to person, there are general rules to follow in order to get better results and the best color pay-off.
Can you dye your hair with product in it? Yes, if all you have in your hair is hair spray or some natural oils. But generally speaking, hairstylists recommend washing your hair 1-2 days prior to coloring them. Other products, such as gel or mousse, may inhibit hair dye from saturating the hair evenly.
Read on to learn more about the rules you should follow to get the most out of your hair-dyeing experience and end up with hair that looks just like those in the commercials.
Should I Wash My Hair Before Dying It If It Has Product in It?
You have probably heard it from your grandmother or mother that it is best to dye your hair when it is dirty.
This is not considered to be true anymore. However, it was close to being true back then when hair dyes had very harsh chemicals in them.
Nowadays, hair product companies manufacture dyes that are less damaging to the hair. Ammonia-free hair dyes have conquered the market along with those enriched with vitamins and oils.
This means that the old way of thinking that it is best to dye your hair when it is at its dirties is not true any longer. While the grease accumulated on the hair and scalp is good at protecting them from harsh chemicals, there is no need for it now.
So, washing your 12-24 hours prior to getting them dyed is a must. But what if you have a product in it?
Stylists recommend dyeing the hair when there is no product in it as the color pay-off is better this way.
The way hair-coloring works is hair dye molecules penetrate into the hair cuticle. From there, they get into the hair cortex and come into reaction with the melanin in your hair.
Some hair styling products, gels or mousses, for example, contain chemicals and if you have applied them on the roots of your hair, they may act as a shield that will not allow the hair dye to do its job.
The principal reason why the majority of women dye their hair is grey or outgrown roots. Having a small amount of hair styling products is not the end of the world.
But make sure to wash it off if you have applied it on the roots as long as you do not want to end up with unevenly or not well-colored roots.
Having hair products all across your hair will not do justice to your hairstylist either. You will leave the hair salon with patchy hair color. Hair dyes contain hydrogen peroxide.
This is the ingredient that is responsible for opening up the cuticle of the hair and making the hair strand absorb the product all across its length.
Too much product in your hair will block the way of hydrogen peroxide to the cuticle. The look of your hair will not be as smooth and the color will not be as saturated as you would want it to.
Both hair products and natural grease of the hair form build-up on the scalp, which inhibits the hair dye from working its wonders.
So, try to get your hair dyed when you have no product in it.
Can I Dye My Hair with Hairspray and Mousse in It?
Have you been wondering if you can dye your hair with hair styling products in them, such as hair spray and mousse? Well, there are different opinions on this.
Some stylists think that hair styling products in the hair will not interfere with the hair dye doing its job so long as you have not emptied half the mousse bottle or gel can on your hair. Other professionals think that the best results can only be achieved if there is no product in the hair.
From all hair styling products, hair spray is the safest when it comes to dyeing your hair with product in it. The reason for this is that it is usually sprayed over the hair and very often does not even reach the scalp.
Mousses and gels, on the other hand, are used for hairstyles where the hair is drenched in these products. So, they are more likely to inhibit the hair dye from coloring the hair properly.
However, if you do have hair styling products in your hair and there is no way you can wash it before dyeing it, brush it out really well and you should be good to go.
Can I Dye My Hair with Leave-In Conditioner or Hair Mask in It?
If you want a beautiful color on your hair like the ones you have seen infamous hair commercials, then dying your hair when it has conditioner or hair mask in it is a big no. Simply shampoo your hair and let the natural oils come through.
Professionals recommend using hair masks before and after dying your hair. If you want to get your hair into a good shape for the color to be nice and shiny later on, try doing masks twice a week prior to visiting your hairstylist or doing it on your own.
Healthy hair will absorb the dye better and you will end up with an evenly distributed hair color.
Almost all hair dyeing kits come with a conditioner. Try to use it right after you have dyed your hair. This will lock in the color and the result will be maintained for a longer period of time.
Can I Dye My Hair with Coconut Oil in It?
Stylists recommend washing the hair 12-24 hours prior to dyeing it. This is explained by the fact that the natural oils that our body produces are actually helpful in protecting the delicate skin on the scalp.
Pure coconut oil, being as natural as our body oils, will not interfere with the hair-dyeing process. Just drop a few drops of coconut oil on your palms and run them through your hair for some extra protection.
Using such natural oils as coconut oil or rosemary oil in the process of dyeing the hair is especially helpful for those with a very dry scalp.
How Should I Prepare My Hair Before Coloring?
If you are planning on dyeing your hair and want to get the best results possible, finding a good stylist is simply not enough. There are a few tips we recommend you implement in order to achieve great results.
Tip #1: Wash your hair 12-24 hours prior to dyeing it.
Not to sound like a broken record, but it is highly important not to dye your hair when you have just washed it. It is recommended to wash your hair a day prior to the big event.
12-24 hours is enough for your natural oils to come through and act as a protective layer for your scalp in the process of dyeing the hair.
Tip #2: Do not scrub your scalp to avoid unpleasant sensations.
If you have dyed your hair multiple times and have some experience with different brands, you probably know that some of them make the scalp itch and start to even burn it. This, of course, may have to do with the brand of the hair dye you have chosen.
However, unpleasant sensations are often caused because of the damaged scalp. Do not scrub your scalp too hard before dyeing your hair. If you do want to get rid of the build-up to achieve better-colored roots, use a mild exfoliating shampoo.
Tip #3: Dry hair for permanent color, wet hair for semi-permanent color.
It is always nice to know some professional details about salon procedures, especially if you are planning on replicating them at home.
If you are using a permanent hair color your hair should be all dried up. Even if you have broken the golden rule and washed your hair just before dyeing them, make sure that they are not wet or damp before you apply color to it.
As for semi-permanent color, wet hair is needed. Semi-permanent hair dyes do not have ammonia. So, the hair should be wet in order to absorb the product well.
Tip #4: Use a clarifying shampoo.
Use a clarifying shampoo to wash your hair before dyeing it. Clarifying shampoos, otherwise known as deep-cleansing or purifying, detox the hair and help you to get rid of the buildup that can interfere with the hair dye.
Clarifying shampoos are good to use before dyeing the hair and not after as they are strong enough to take away the dye. So, do not use them on your freshly done hair.