One day you may decide that you’re tired of the color in your hair and want it out of your hair and a new color in. Stripping your hair of the current hair dye then is the natural thing to do. But stripping your hair is a chemical process and you might ask yourself: Can I dye my hair after stripping it?
A great question actually and that’s why this blog post was written.
Below you’ll find answers to questions like: can you dye your hair after stripping it, what does stripping your hair mean, and how to take care of your hair, and more!
So read on and find the answers you need to make the right decision!
What does stripping your hair actually mean and how does it work?
If you’ve ever tried it, you know that it is a process where you remove the color with sulfur-based products. Stripping hair exposes your hair to extremely irritant chemicals that will not only damage it but can also cause allergic reactions on the skin it comes in contact with—and that means your scalp and the back of your ears—wherever the solution is applied. This means that you not only deal with dryer, porous, and more fragile hair, but you could also end up with a red and itchy head.
Color strippers don’t alter the structure of your hair other than removing any artificial color that has been deposited in it. So in comparison to bleaching, color strippers are less damaging. However, when used often, it will still wreak havoc on your hair strands by leaving raised cuticles. This causes the strands to become more breakable.
Now, imagine dyeing your hair right after you used a hair stripper. Consider the damage of the first process and what happens when you color your hair.
Hair dyeing is a procedure that makes use of a mixture of pigment or hair color, and an oxidizer. The oxidizer lifts the hair cuticles which allows for better color deposit. By lifting the hair cuticles, the mixture leaves the hair dry, porous, and prone to breakage—similar to how hair strippers work but even more intense.
So when you put two on two together, you can conclude that it’s dangerous to dye your hair after stripping it. But is that going to stop you from achieving your dream hair color? No. Isn’t that why you’re finding ways to control the damage? You’ve come to the right place.
Can you dye your hair after stripping it?
Yes, you can dye your hair after stripping it. However, it is important to take into account the appropriate waiting time before doing so. This is because when a chemical process such as striping has been recently applied to the hair, the hair becomes weak and fragile and thus vulnerable to further damage.
It usually takes around two weeks after stripping your hair before you can start the process of dyeing your hair again.
During this period of recovery time, try not using any other chemical treatments on your locks (such as perms or color) and allow them some relief by avoiding heat styling tools like curling irons, straighteners and blow dryers which could all cause more distress if used too often.
Additionally you should use deep conditioning treatments at least twice a week with products that are designed specifically for chemically treated hair in order to ensure your hair is nourished in preparation for coloring.
How long after stripping your hair can you dye it again?
As said earlier, it is important to wait at least 14 days before dying your hair again after stripping it. This gives your scalp and your hair time to recover from being stripped of color, before applying another dye that can further irritate and damage it.
Allowing 14 days between stripping and coloring sessions helps protect the health of the hair and ensures that the color will take properly when applied. Additionally, if you’ve recently bleached or stripped your hair, you should also do a couple of things to reduce the damage from stripping your hair. You’ll find more information about that in the sections below.
Does stripping your hair cause damage to your hair?
Yes, stripping your hair can cause damage to your hair. This is because when you strip your hair, you are essentially removing the natural oils from it, leaving it vulnerable and more prone to breakage. Additionally, certain chemicals used in the process of hair stripping can be damaging and harsh on the scalp and strands of the hair, causing it to weaken and become brittle over time.
Furthermore, the drastic change in colour can also cause further damage as a result of bleaching and other lightening agents that may be used during the process. Therefore it is important to ensure that any products used are gentle and minimize damage as much as possible.
Tips to reduce the damage from stripping your hair
Don’t wash your hair before coloring
The scalp produces natural oils that protect and nurture the hair strands. If you wash your hair before dyeing it, you’re removing this natural layer of protection. If you must wash your hair, wash only with cold water.
Don’t use color strippers and dye your hair on the same day.
Allow your hair to “rest” after each procedure. This will give you a recovery period and help prevent further breakage due to chemical processes. This will also help your hair and scalp regain some moisture. Remember that the damage from color strippers goes beyond dried-out hair. Hair Stylists recommend refraining from dyeing your hair at least 48 hours from using a color stripper and at most 2 weeks. The longer you wait, the better.
Use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment
Before you apply color strippers or hair dye, use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment. This infuses the hair with a much-needed dose of moisture, shine, and bounce. The treatment serves as a protective layer of the hair strands.
Deep condition
After dyeing your hair, use deep conditioning treatment. At this point, your hair is dying from thirst. Be generous with nutrient-rich hair masks or conditioners. If you’re looking for ingredients that help nurture your hair, here are some examples:
- Proteins
- Glycerol
- Propylene Glycol
- Panthenol
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Hydrolyzed Proteins
- Amino Acids
- Plant Oils
- Glycerin
- Mineral Oils
- Dimethicone
Color the roots only
If the rest of the hair strands still retain color, refrain from applying hair dye over these areas and instead focus on the roots. Remember, dyeing your hair is damaging. You don’t have to put another layer of pigment unless you want badly damaged hair just to have the same color. Practice damage control whenever possible.
Use temporary or semi-permanent color
If you must color your hair on the same day—right after applying color strippers—it’s advisable to use temporary or semi-permanent hair color over permanent ones. These types of hair dye do not contain bleach, nor do they need the use of oxidizers. These are also free of harsh chemicals that irritate the scalp and the hair strands such as peroxide and ammonia.
In other words, it’s gentler than permanent hair color while still delivering vibrant hues. Unfortunately, as the name suggests, these wear off after each wash and you will need to reapply more frequently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is stripping your hair of its color once enough to start dyeing your hair again?
Yes. But this depends on the type of hair color you had prior. Darker hair colors might need more stripping before you can remove their traces and preserve the vibrancy of the new hair color.
If I leave color remover in longer, will it remove more color?
The answer is a big NO. In fact, it can do the opposite and darken your hair instead.
Will stripping my hair lighten my natural hair color?
No. Stripping hair is merely a process where you remove deposited color. If you want to lighten your natural hair color, try bleaching.
Is it true that my hair will turn orange after stripping my hair?
Yes—but only if your hair was partially gray before dying it with a permanent darker color.
Final thoughts
So getting the hair dye out of your hair is possible! However, the question is, as mentioned earlier in the article, whether you should want this. You are dealing with a lot of chemicals that affect your hair and can cause it to break quickly, for example.
Take this advice to heart and make the right decision. Sometimes it is better to go a little longer with your hair color and let it fade than to try and get the hair color out of your hair right away. However, this is not always the case so consider what is the right decision for you!
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