When Can I Color My Hair After Perming?
You love your new permed locks but also can’t wait to enhance the curls with some vibrant color. However, overlapping these chemical processes too soon can mean disaster for your strands. Follow these tips to determine the safest timeline for dyeing newly permed hair.
The Golden Rule: At Least 4-6 Weeks
Stylists agree – waiting one full month after perming before applying permanent color or bleach gives the best results. This allows complete fading of chemicals while also permitting new texture to settle in.
Coloring during the first few weeks poses extra risks like:
- Severe Dryness: Overlapping chemical processes dehydrates and damages hair.
Increased Frizz: Making curled strands porous before they adjust can cause extreme frizz.
Color Fade: Permed cuticles may not hold onto color well, causing fast fading.
Bond Breakage: Harsh chemicals plus lightener or bleach can break bonds needed for curl retention.
Unexpected Results: Styles may morph with uneven curl patterns or straight sections.
With a little patience, however, you can safely enhance your permed tresses with color for extra pop.
When Is It Safe To Dye Permed Hair?
Most salon experts agree waiting between 4-6 weeks allows new curls to set completely while also preventing color mishaps. But if you just can’t wait that long, here are a few shortcuts.
Semi-Permanent Dyes
Typically depositing glossy color without lifting or penetrating the hair shaft, semi-permanents pose little risk even when used shortly after perming. Since they simply coat strands versus changing structure, these fun dyes wash out over 4-6 weeks without damage.
Demi-Permanent Options
Demi-permanent color formulations do penetrate the cuticle surface to stain hair so they last longer – usually 4-12 washes. However, they don’t require developers so are less abrasive than permanent dyes. Used with care 2-3 weeks post-perm, they can enhance curls gently.
Low Volume Developers
The key to safely coloring permed hair sooner is to avoid overly aggressive formulatings. If aiming to go permanent during weeks 3-4, stick to gentle 10 volume or 20 volume developers versus stronger 30 or 40 volumes. Lower volumes mean less damage to already compromised bonds.
Bond Protecting Additives
When deciding to layer chemical services, add bond-protecting treatments into the color mixture. Bond multipliers like Olaplex and SmartBond use active ingredients to reinforce fragile bonds weakened by chemical processes helping prevent major damage.
Getting a Test Strand
If you just can’t stand to wait the full 4-6 weeks for coloring, ask your stylist to test a small subsection first. By color-testing a half inch strand, you can preview potential dryness, weird curl reactions, or fading issues to decide if it’s worth moving forward or better to wait.
Caring for Hair Post Chemical Services
Once you take the plunge to layer coloring and perming, be extra gentle with strands by:
- Using intensive weekly conditioning masks to add lost moisture
Alternating with protein filling treatments to help rebuild bonds
Avoiding heat tools for 1-2 months to prevent fragility
Sleeping on a satin pillowcase to minimize friction
With some strategic scheduling, planning, and TLC, you can successfully enhance bouncy permed locks with vibrant color for extra dazzle. Just practice patience and understand that overlap comes with risks. Working closely with your colorist ensures the best results.
Wait 4–6 weeks between perming and coloring for healthiest hair and maximum curl retention. Quicker touch-ups pose risk of damage but when strategic, demi-dyes or bond-protecting additives 2-3 weeks post-perm can colorfully enhance texture. With a careful approach, you can safely add show-stopping color to freshly permed tresses.