Should You Wash Dirty Hair Before Coloring? Professionals Weigh In

Table Of Content

• Keep Your Hair Color Simple
• Should You Wash Your Hair Before Dyeing It?
• Can Hair Products Interfere With the Coloring Process?
• Should I use a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner?
• What’s In My Hair Today? Keratin Infusion Hair Care System
• If you’re getting a single-process color (aka all-over color):
• Don’t:

"Personally, I love a bold brow with certain blondes," she says. In this situation, Pineda assures us, "less is always more." The best period of cleanliness is just when the natural oils have started to build up. Aside from hair and scalp protection, the oil makes it easier to divide the hair into sections when coloring. There will be less tingling when using bleach and less staining for hair dye.

Keep Your Hair Color Simple

Skip the heavy oils and deep conditioning masks right before the dye session. These products can create a barrier that may hinder the dye from fully penetrating your hair. Run your fingers through your hair and make sure there’s no lingering residue from styling products. Before you dye, ensure your hair is free of styling products such as gels, hairsprays, waxes, and serums. Just because you have two boxes of hair dye doesn't mean you should use them both at once.

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Should You Wash Your Hair Before Dyeing It?

Washing your hair before you dye it will help to ensure that the color is evenly distributed and prevents any unwanted staining. In the end, it’s up to you to decide what works best for your hair type and coloring needs. Washing your hair before dyeing it gets rid of all the impurities and product build up that can stop the dye from properly penetrating your hair. Here’s everything you need to know about how to dye your hair without ruining it. For that reason, I asked Allison Gandolfo, a celebrity hairstylist and designer colorist at the Zahir Ziani Salon, and she broke down everything there is to know about the best pre-coloring routine.

Can Hair Products Interfere With the Coloring Process?

With the right post-dye hair care routine, you’ll have your vibrant hair looking fabulous for as long as possible. If you’ve been using products like hair masks, leave-in conditioners, or heavy oils, it’s a good idea to wash them out. For example, when treating locks to Color Touch or a Shinefinity Color Glaze, you have the option to wash hair just beforehand and apply your client’s glaze to damp strands. This will enhance the translucent finish of the formula, giving it an even softer and extra seamless glow, with that same signature shine.

Lighter-colored hair may require scrubbing before bleaching to get an accurate read of its natural color and texture. Between coloring sessions, keep strands in tiptop shape with regular shampoo sessions followed by a nourishing mask treatment tailored to protect your hue from fading away quickly. Clean shampoo is recommended for lighter-colored locks to get an accurate read of their natural color and texture before deepening or adding lowlights.

The natural oils coat the hair and scalp, which can lead to less hair damage, and it can reduce the risk of potential scalp irritation. Ultimately, you’re better off dyeing hair that’s a tad greasy, than dyeing squeaky clean strands. When you are ready for your first post-treatment wash, "I always recommend a color-safe shampoo and conditioner," Pineda tells us. "A $5 drugstore shampoo is not going to maintain your new hue correctly," says Rae, who recommends Pravana's Truity Cleanse and Condition because they protect hair color for 30 plus washes. "Plus, they are 95 percent naturally derived and smell like heaven in a bottle," she adds.

If you’re getting a single-process color (aka all-over color):

"Only prepare and mix what you are going to use," Morales says. You don't want your hair dye to go to waste if you don't end up needing it. Don't worry—the few minutes it takes to mix up that second box won't lead to an uneven color. Prior to reaching for your hair dye, Morales recommends thoroughly detangling your hair.

Is It Bad to Wash Your Hair Every Day?

This is doubly true if you tend to spend long hours outside in the sun during the summer or take part in a lot of water sports. When you guard your hair against these external factors, you ensure that your hair won't get too dry and your new hair color won't fade too quickly. If you are planning to go swimming or go in the water at all, make sure to prep your color-treated strands before you swim and take care of your locks after. Make sure to always set a timer when you're dyeing your hair at home so you leave the hair dye on for the appropriate amount of time. Leaving the dye on your hair for too much or too little time can have a negative impact on your overall hair health and color.

Not to mention that as the temperature rises you will be dealing with not only oil but also sweat. People with oily hair or who use products regularly will likely need to wash more frequently than those with drier hair or who do not tend to use products in their hair. Since everyone has different types of hair and oil levels, it can be difficult to generalize when a person should wash their hair.

McLean says mousse colors are more translucent, leading to a shimmery, iridescent effect after being applied. Liquid colors are typically more opaque or condensed and may lead to a more pigmented final look. Thankfully, we know a few professional hairstylists and colorists who shared their expert insights with us.

We asked the experts for their advice on what to do before getting your hair colored. Keep scrolling to read what they had to say about the do's and don'ts before coloring your hair. While there is conflicting information on how long you should wait to wash your hair after coloring it, most experts say that you should wait about 24 to 48 hours after dyeing your hair to wash it. It’s important to allow time for the hair color set and for your hair’s cuticle layer to fully close without the potential risk of fading color. Another hair dyeing mistake that many people make when coloring their hair at home is not taking the time to properly style their hair afterward.

This will prevent any knots or tangles from creating an uneven application—plus, we doubt you want to worry about any detangling mid-application. Use a wide-tooth comb and gently work your way from your ends to your roots. If there’s a special occasion and you absolutely need to wash your hair the same day, it's not the end of the world. Not following the "do not wash your hair" rule a couple of times won't hurt. The intensity of your color also dictates its sensitivity to your water's temperature. When working with vibrant or cool tones, Pineda says she's sure to keep the water on the cooler side to help keep those color molecules from going down the drain.

We'd be willing to bet that one of the last things you want is a stained hairline post-hair dye. McLean suggests applying a barrier cream at the hairline to prevent staining. Try using Vaseline's 100% Pure Petroleum Jelly ($4), which will keep any hair dye from adhering to your skin mid-application. When you're done, you can wipe away any dye—and petroleum jelly—from your skin using a cotton pad and some lukewarm water. Before applying dye all over, Gould strains the importance of doing a strand test first to make sure your hair reacts well to the formula. (You wouldn't want to damage your hair to the point of breakage, now would you?) Plus, he says doing this will help you see how the hair color will actually turn out and how long it needs to process.