Can You Use Semi-Permanent Color After Relaxer?

If you have chemically treated hair that has been relaxed, then you definitely know that it takes a lot of time and energy to keep your locks straight and sleek. And if you also color your hair, then you know that it needs even more attention than usual.

Many love the appearance and feel that relaxed hair can bring. But it’s a high-maintenance look. If you want to add color, you have to do it the right way to avoid damage!

So, can you use semi-permanent color after relaxer? We think so, as long as it’s done the right way.

We’ll explain how to do it below!

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What Relaxer Does To Your Hair

When chemical relaxers  are applied to natural hair, they break the disulfide bonds in the hair shaft. This makes the hair shaft weaker and more porous than natural hair, but this is the process that makes it appear straight.

Because of this process, it also means that it’s much harder for the hair to hold onto moisture, and this will leave your hair prone to becoming seriously dry, brittle and damaged.

This damage can happen whether you use a lye or no-lye relaxer.

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Can You Use Semi-Permanent Color After Relaxer?

Because of the chemical process that’s needed to relax your hair, usually when color is added, then it fades quite fast. This is due to the over-processing and higher porosity of relaxed hair. And this means your fading color will need to be refreshed between retouches.

Sometimes your hair color can develop a greenish tint after having a relaxer, which is something that’s definitely not pretty or what you had hoped for.

Luckily, there is a way to correct this atrocity — semi-permanent hair color.

Semi-permanent hair colors don’t contain lifting agents/developers like peroxide or ammonia, which permanent hair color does.

This makes them safe to use immediately after having your hair relaxed. It also means they can be applied to neutralize any greenish tint that may appear after the chemical processing caused by the relaxer.

Semi-permanent hair colors don’t contain lifting agents/developers like peroxide or ammonia, which permanent hair color does. This makes them safe to use immediately after having your hair relaxed.

If you do want to use a semi-permanent color after your relaxer, it would be best for your hair to have it done professionally.

However, if you’re on a budget or are intent on doing it yourself, then there is a way to apply a semi-permanent color without damaging your hair with more chemicals.

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Luxe Luminous Semi-Permanent Color Recommendations

Ama Herbal’s Vegetal Safe Hair Color 

Ama Herbal’s Vegetal Safe Hair Color is a certified organic semi-permanent hair dye that doesn’t contain ammonia, peroxide or PPD, the chemical widely used in hair dyes that have also been the known cause of many allergic and adverse reactions — especially in people who have tattoos.

Vegetal Safe Hair Color is made of 100% natural herbs and extracts like coffee, indigo, and henna in powder form, which you need to mix yourself with water. It’s gluten-free, paraben-free, and vegan, and will coat the hair shaft to provide protection from external pollutants like dust and dirt.

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SoftSheen-Carson’s Dark and Lovely Reviving Colors 

SoftSheen-Carson’s Dark and Lovely Reviving Colors is a gentle, semi-permanent hair color that has been specially formulated to be used on the same day as you have a relaxer applied.

The Reviving Colors formulation contains shea butter, vitamin E, and avocado oil, which will help to enrich the tone of color your hair will receive, while also providing nourishing hydration that will even cover gray hair.

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Can I Make It Permanent?

The trouble with relaxed hair and permanent color is that your hair will need to be treated with extra moisture, such as using an ultra-moisturizing shampoo, to keep it properly hydrated, and it requires even more daily care and maintenance.

This is because, more often than not, relaxed hair that has been treated with permanent color can appear extremely dry and dull. And this is why applying a permanent color to relaxed hair is definitely not something you should do at home.

This is because, more often than not, relaxed hair that has been treated with permanent color can appear extremely dry and dull.

Permanent hair dyes also contain ammonia and peroxide, and the processing of these harsh chemicals, when used on top of the relaxer, will definitely cause further damage to your hair — especially if you’re not a professional and don’t know exactly what you’re doing.

So, if you want your hair color to be a shade or two lighter, for example, then permanent color will be required in order to make this happen.

However, it’s a well-known fact that permanent color and relaxers basically don’t mix –- at all. And trying to do so will definitely cause your hair to become more prone to extreme dryness, brittleness and breakage.

If you’re still intent on having a permanent color, though, speak to your hairdresser, who will request a consultation with you to let you know what can be done. You will also have to wait at least a week, or even two, after your relaxer has been applied to have your hair permanently colored.

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Our Final Conclusion

So, can you use a semi-permanent color after a relaxer? Well, yes you can.

However, if you decide to do so without the help of a professional, then you need to make sure that you upgrade your hair’s maintenance routine so that you can enjoy your color without damaging your hair further.

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