If you're thinking about dyeing your natural hair for the first time, you need to do some research and preparation beforehand. Not only must you evaluate the hair color trend you want to try and the time commitment it will need, but you must also consider how the dying procedure may damage the health of your coils.
I spoke with three celebrity colorists and hairstylists ahead of time to acquire all the information you need before and after dying natural hair so you can get it properly the first time—without ruining your texture.
How Do You Color Natural Hair?
Unless you're an expert, you should leave hair coloring to a professional who can assess the state of your curls first. "This seems obvious and straightforward, but most people are unaware that curly hair is often very fine and delicate," says the celebrity stylist Christin Brown.
Blone ombre hair dye
Tiffany Daugherty, a celebrity hairstylist, reveals that to obtain a platinum-blonde ombre hair color, she needs to use numerous processes, higher-volume developers, and longer processing durations. A colorist can work with you to develop a long-term dying strategy that will raise your natural hair to the ideal hue while minimizing damage.
Dyeing Natural Hair Tips:
Although you should leave the dyeing to the professionals, there are a few things you can do to ensure the best outcomes before and after your color session:
Hair products for dying your hair
- Before you dye, skip the shampoo. "Dirty hair is good for applying color," Alvarez explains. "Skip the shampoo a day before you plan to color because the natural oils on your scalp function as a buffer between your scalp and the chemicals in the recipe."
- Apply a pre-color treatment to your hair. Preparing curly hair before your color appointment will make a significant impact on the final result. Brown advises that applying a restorative treatment, in advance of your appointment can assist prime and mend your strands, ensuring that you're a good candidate for a color service.
- Deep conditioning should be done on a regular basis. Both Alvarez and Daugherty advised deep-conditioning at least once a week to help repair the structure of color-treated hair, as well as investing in high-quality hair oils. Apply heat by sitting under a dryer or steamer for best results, then rinse and style as usual.
- After you've dyed your hair, use a color-preserving shampoo to protect it. Sulfate-based shampoos will dry out your hair, cause your color to fade, and diminish its brilliance—not ideal after spending hours in the salon to achieve the exact tone.
- To keep your color, avoid using hot water. Brown recommends toning down your shower water to "quite warm" rather than "molten lava" to avoid stripping your color. Rinse your conditioner in cold water to lock in moisture and seal the cuticle as an added bonus.
- Take a break from heat styling your hair. After intensive dying, such as becoming platinum blonde, Daugherty recommends utilizing protective styles like box braids, chignons, or cornrows to give your strands a much-needed respite.
