How Long to Wait to Wash Hair After Coloring (Expert Tips & Instructions)

You just got the color of your dreams and can’t wait to show it to the world.

You spent so much time and effort creating the exact hue you’ve been dying for and want to keep it vibrant and fresh for as long as possible.

At that moment, you start asking yourself: How long to wait to wash your hair after coloring?

This is an age-old question and one that has been plaguing us for quite a long time.

On one side, you don’t want to do it too quickly and dissolve the newest hair color you needed so long to create.

On the other hand, you don’t want your hair to get greasy and sloppy, so you will have to wash it at some point.

The question is: When?

How Long You Should Actually Wait

So you looked at various hair color ideas and chose the one you wanted.

You did everything right and your hair looks perfect, but the time when you regularly wash your hair is getting closer and you don’t want to ruin the newly colored hair just because you’ve been itching for a wash.

Many hair experts say it is best to wait at least two to three days before washing your hair after coloring it. This is enough time for the new color to set in your hair and allow it to look the way you planned.

So doing it before that period could mess up the hair color. Do not worry about your hair getting icky. The very act of coloring requires rinsing it out. The very same wash will allow you to go through the three days fresh until it is time for a new one.

Should You Wash Your Hair Before Coloring

Contrary to what many people believe, washing your hair before coloring is not advised. Our hair contains various natural oils, which serve to protect our scalp. Washing those away may allow the harsh hair dye to affect our scalp.

Therefore, avoid washing your hair before coloring it, especially if you are using bleach. You can even look up some ways how to lighten hair without bleach. The only thing left to do is to follow the instructions about coloring your hair as explained and without deviation.

Best Products to Use on a Dyed Hair

After dyeing your hair, the best and most common practice is to stop using regular hair care products immediately. This is because the very act of coloring the hair includes various chemicals that damage the cuticles of your hair.

Therefore, one will need to adopt some color-safe products first, as their purpose is to revive your hair by nurturing it after it has changed its hue.

The best way to go about it is to choose hair products that protect your new color and nurture the hair simultaneously. Get yourself an excellent color-safe shampoo and conditioner first. Also, make sure to have a moisturizing hair mask as well.

The chemicals in the hair dye might render your hair dry, so the moisturizing hair mask will help to replenish the moisture, nurture the hair and allow it to look smooth and soft.

Also, if you go to a hair dyeing salon to dye your hair, you can ask for advice about which shampoos or a different safe product to use for treatment. An expert colorist will know what is best for the skin under your hair and the roots and will provide you with an adequate answer and pieces of information. 

You may also check the ingredients on the products or conditioners you are about to use on your locks, as they also may provide information for possible color fading and its effect on the pigment of the hair as well as when to take a shower.

Quick Tips for Keeping Color Vibrant

No matter which colorful alt hairstyles you decide to go with, there are still a lot of things that you can do to help the hair stay vibrant for as much as possible:

• Do not wash your hair every day after coloring it. 
• Use a dry shampoo instead of a regular one to eliminate the dirt that could accumulate in your hair between washes.
• Switch to color-safe products that will not fade the new hair color but will nourish and moisturize it simultaneously.
• Baby powder works just as well as dry shampoo and can be a worthy substitute.
• Use cold water instead of hot water when washing your hair. Hot water can open up hair cuticles and deprive them of their color. On the other hand, cold water helps to seal the cuticles so that no hair color can get out.

What to Avoid

No matter if you added vibrant color to your hair or have just included black hair with highlights, there are certain things that you have to avoid after coloring your hair.

Sun

The UV rays from the Sun can lighten your hair and strip it of its color. It works best if you avoid standing in direct sunlight for a while. If you have to, you can use a specific hair sunscreen to alleviate the potential damage of the sun to your hair.

Chlorine

Not many people know that chlorine is a type of bleaching agent that can strip the color from your hair. Chlorine can turn blonde hair into green and can dull darker hair. So avoid going into pools with chlorinated water.

Chemicals

Your hair is already exposed to various chemicals while dyeing, so it is best not to add more to your scalp. Something like alcohol-based hairsprays or even blow drying your hair can diminish its color quickly.

Heat Styling Products

Hair, in general, but wildly colored hair, is sensitive to heat. Using a hair straightener or a curling rod can damage colored hair. And if you have to style your hair that way, use a heat protection spray before doing it.

Rough Drying

Drying out your hair with a terrycloth towel can further damage your hair. The hard scrubbing effect of the material will fade the hair color. Instead, you should pat the hair gently to dry it or use a microfiber towel.

How to Last In-Between Washes

Most of you can’t go without a hair wash for a certain period. Having to wait for three days even could feel like an eternity. Indeed, our hair does get dirty as we attract all kinds of grime and dirt within it without us knowing about it.

Step 1 – Use dry shampoo

Since you are not allowed to wash it often after coloring it, you have to think of ways to clean it without shampooing it. One of the best and most prolific ways to do it is to use dry shampoo.

That way, you can get rid of the grime in your hair quickly without using shampoo or water. Not washing it regularly means preserving the color for a longer period and you still get to clean your hair.

Step 2 – Use a baby powder

Use some baby powder if you don’t have a dry shampoo nearby. It is an old cleaner and a fabulous alternative to dry shampoo, which will help you deal with the grime in your hair.

FAQ

What happens if I wash my hair the day after coloring?

You run the risk of fading the color of your hair. It will not wash out immediately, nor will you be able to wash it out thoroughly, but you might change the hue a bit, primarily if you use hot water or harsh shampoo.

Can I wash my hair twice after dyeing it?

You should not wash your hair once or twice after dyeing it. Hair coloring involves rinsing your hair so it is already washed. You will need to wait at least three days for the color to settle so you can wash it.

Why do salons wash your hair after coloring?

Salons wash your hair after coloring because rinsing the hair after coloring is necessary to remove the excess dye in your hair. It also helps to distribute the hair color evenly across the strands.

What are the signs that you should wash your hair after coloring it?

You are going to experience regular signs as with pre-colored hair. So this means it will get grimy or oily and look unkempt. You still have to wait about three days for the color to settle so you can wash it.

Conclusion

Changing your style and going for an interesting hair hue can be life-changing. Nevertheless, you still have to do it properly. If you want the color to turn out the way you planned it, you have to stave off washing it for a while.

It is best to wait for two or three days before giving it a nice wash than to regret ever coloring it in the first place by messing it up with a premature wash.