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Whether you want to experiment with a neon hair color for your next Halloween or New Year’s Eve party, or you want to try semi-permanently dyeing your hair in an effort to hide some gray hairs that have taken up residence, you need to know how to care for your hair after using hair color. Using the correct conditioner may save your hair from serious signs of damage from dyeing.
Temporary Dye
If you only want to transform your hair color to a more vibrant shade for a night, choose a temporary color formula. The pigment in these dyes only coats the outer portion of your hair shaft and doesn’t cause the damage associated with chemical formulas used to open the hair shaft for pigment penetration. The dye should wash out the next time you shampoo, letting you return to your natural color after flaunting neon locks for a day or two. It’s fine for you to use your normal conditioner after temporarily dyeing your hair. Your hair shouldn’t sustain any damage from temporary dye, so there’s no need to buy a conditioner made for color-treated hair.
Semi-Permanent Dye
Semi-permanent hair dye allows you to darken your natural shade, and the pigment lasts a week or two. Since semi-permanent hair dyes are designed to partially penetrate the hair shaft, these formulas contain peroxide. Peroxide has the ability to weaken your hair shaft, leading to breakage during styling. To prevent damage, make sure you use that tiny bottle of conditioning formula that came with your store-bought hair color. If you plan on using semi-permanent hair dye regularly, consider investing in a conditioner for chemically treated hair. These conditioners are designed to temporarily strengthen the outer hair cuticle by coating it, in an effort to prevent breakage and split ends.
Conditioner Types
Daily conditioners for dry or chemically treated hair may contain essential oils and proteins that infuse the outer portion of the hair shaft with moisture, making it temporarily look glossy. You need to use these conditioners regularly to keep your hair looking healthy. Weekly deep-conditioning hair treatments or masks sit on your hair for a longer time than daily conditioners and work by chemically attaching themselves to the hair shaft, making the results last longer than your next shampoo.
Considerations
If you use a hair dye that contains chemicals such as peroxide or ammonia, prepare yourself to deal with some chemical damage, particularly to the ends of your hair. If your hair already shows signs or damage, like breakage, before dyeing, proceed with caution. Using a semi-permanent hair color formula may cause your hair to become dryer than the Sahara Desert. Conditioners have the ability to temporarily fix the problem, but you’ll need to visit your stylist for a trim to permanently get rid of those damaged ends.
