Kayla Young
If you are a colored hair enthusiast, you might have had experiences where you have washed your hair too soon or too late. So how long do you leave hair dye in before washing? The answer to this question varies according to different hair types and dye types.
Some types of hair will require less time and others more.Â
The trick to this question is to understand your hair type and see whether it will need more time than provided in the instructions or less. Moreover, the type of dye used can also determine how long you should let it settle before washing your hair.
In this article, we go over all the factors you need to be aware of when coloring your hair.
Contents
How to Prepare Your Hair for Coloring
Dye strips away most of your hair’s essential oils, leaving your tresses dry and stressed. An oil treatment on your hair a few days before the hair coloring will help moisturize and strengthen it.
Dye strips away most of your hair’s essential oils, leaving your tresses dry and stressed. An oil treatment on your hair a few days before the hair coloring will help moisturize and strengthen it.
Additionally, you should avoid washing your hair two days before applying the dye. The natural oils in your hair protect your scalp during the dyeing process.
Shampooing your hair with silicone-based products strips off the natural oils making your scalp dry and sensitive to the hair coloring process.Â
How Long Do You Leave Hair Dye In Before Washing?
It takes 45 minutes for hair color to permeate hair cuticles and bleach your hair. However, this might vary depending on your hair type.
For example, leaving the dye in for 45 minutes may lead to overprocessing if you have soft and less dense hair. On the other hand, if you have coarse and thick hair, you will need more than 45 minutes for hair color to permeate and fully develop.
Hair colors come with a guide on applying the dye and how long you should leave the dye before washing. You are advised to carefully follow the instructions and try it on a few strands to determine what amount of time gives you the color you want.
The more you push the time, the darker your hair will get… and the more damage you’ll do.
Carefully follow the instructions and try it on a few strands to determine what amount of time gives you the color you want.
Oh, and you definitely don’t want to leave dye in your hair overnight.
How Long Should You Wait to Wash Your Hair After Coloring It?
Washing your hair too soon after you have dyed it will wash away some of the dye, leaving your hair dull.
How long should you then wait before washing your hair?
You should give it three days before considering washing your hair. The three day target will give the hair dye breathing room to fully settle in your hair cuticles without the risk of washing away too early.
If possible, avoid physical exercises that lead to a lot of sweating in the first three days. Sweat will soak your hair, causing it to fade!
How Often Should You Wash Your Dyed Hair?
The more you wash your hair, the more the hair color fades. Additionally, washing your hair strips off the essential oils, thus causing your hair to be dry and lackluster.
If you want to keep your hair dye vibrant for a long period, avoid washing it every day.Â
Instead, wash it once or twice a week. Fewer washes also give your scalp enough time to produce the oils to keep your hair moisturized, fresh, and healthy.
Keep Your Dyed Hair Vibrant!
Dyed hair needs a lot of care because they are sensitive and can easily fade or break. In addition, you will need color-safe products for your colored hair that are specifically formulated to repair your strands and protect your hair from losing its shine.
Avoid using shampoos and conditioners that contain silicone. The chemical strips off the oils from your sensitive hair, leaving it dry and brittle.
If you must wash your hair, use color-safe shampoo, conditioner, and cool or cold water. Cold water closes the hair cuticles trapping the hair color, thus keeping your hair vibrant.
Additionally, invest in a good hair mask. Hair masks moisturize your colored hair, leaving it healthy and shiny.
Three Things to Avoid with Your Colored Hair
1. Rinsing your hair with hot water
Hot water opens up the hair cuticles allowing the hair color to escape. This causes the dye in your hair to dissipate, giving you faded hair color. If you want to keep your hair vibrant for longer, avoid rinsing it with hot water and use cold water instead.
Also, wear a shower cap when taking a hot shower to protect your hair from exposure to hot water.
2. Exposing your hair to the sun
Your colored hair is like your shirt; if you leave it in the sun for a long period, it starts fading. This is because the sun contains ultraviolet rays, which remove the color from fabrics and hair.
So avoid staying in the sun for a long period with your colored hair.
If you know you will be in the sun, wear a cap or a head wrap to protect your hair.
3. Blow drying your hair
Heat styles have the same effect on your dyed hair as hot water. They open up the hair cuticles, allowing the hair dye to escape, making your hair lose its desired color.
Avoid straightening your sensitive colored hair. If you find yourself in a situation where blow drying is necessary, then apply heat protection products. Frequent blow drying after dying will stress your hair.
Frequent blow drying after dying will stress your hair.
Conclusion
Achieving your desired colored hair can sometimes be challenging. It requires a delicate balance where you have to ensure you don’t wash your hair too soon or too late. You should always read your instructions for the dye you’ve chosen.
Most hair dye brands will instruct you to leave the dye for about 45 minutes before washing. This is the average time it takes for normal hair that is not too soft or too coarse to change its color. Depending on your hair type, you keep the dye in for more or less time.
