Today’s innovations in hair dye technology mean that altering or enhancing your natural hair hues needn’t be inherently damaging, but how often it’s done depends on how it’s done – and how you care for it between salon hair coloring appointments with the right hair wash and maintenance. The good news is that there’s no reason why dyed hair can’t
stay in brilliant shape. 1 THE HAIR COLOR METHODSHow often can you dye your hair safely? It depends primarily on which method of hair color you and your colorist choose: permanent hair color, semi-permanent hair color, or demi-permanent hair color. The long and short of permanent vs semi vs demi permanent is this: Permanent hair color has the greatest potential for hair damage due to the chemistry involved and should be done most cautiously. Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide combine to open up the hair’s cuticle to reach the internal structure and make a color change. Permanent hair color can either lighten or darken and can last up to 8 weeks, although it may require touching up at the roots as your natural color grows in. Permanent color is the best way to achieve full coverage of gray hair, and it’s more a matter of growing it out rather than washing it out. It may be used in any coloring process or technique, including single process (bleach-only), double process, highlights, lowlights, and balayage. If a lot of bleach is involved to considerably lighten your hair, referred to as “lifting,” your hair may be very porous, which means it is prone to moisture loss, fragile, and susceptible to environmental discolorants such as smoke or the cosmetic colorants other hair products may contain. So how do you take care of bleached hair? In this case, count on waiting at least 4 weeks before you repeat the coloring process to spare your hair from potential damage. The less frequent, the better. Of course, if your hair is very short and you cut it frequently, hair damage is less of a concern. There are still options for
how to get rid of brassy hair if your blonde is turning orangey between hair appointments. Re-dying the entire length of your hair can be done safely about every 8 weeks, but if you simply want to make a tonal change – warm it up or cool it down – there are less permanent and non-damaging – options.The frequency of root touch-ups depends on how long you can tolerate seeing your re-growth, and since they are performed on “virgin” hair, frequency is at your discretion. Keep in mind that the average growth rate is a half an inch every month. Re-dying the entire length of your hair can be done safely about every 8 weeks, but if you simply want to make a tonal change – warm it up or cool it down – there are less permanent – and non-damaging – options such as glazes or toners in the semi-permanent color category (more below). Demi-permanent hair color is ammonia-free but requires a small amount of peroxide to slightly lift the outer hair cuticle so that the pigment can take hold without lightening your natural color. As long as the hair cuticle is properly restored to its naturally flat and closed position – and you’ve followed the care protocol (more on that below) – you should be able to safely re-color your hair as often every few
weeks. For colorist Julia Elena, how often you can safely use demi-permanent color depends on your hue, even if color is not applied overall: “It is only potentially damaging to blondes achieved with constant bleaching. I recommend waiting up to 3 weeks if necessary for touch-ups, but otherwise, I recommend they let their hair ‘breathe’ until the next full service. Otherwise, demi-permanent color isn’t harsh on brunettes and reds, and since bleach is rarely involved, they can come in often without concern – though it’s not usually necessary.” Stylist and colorist Jennifer Covington-Bowers adds that it depends on what demi-permanent color is used for. “If it’s simply used to blend grays, I say 4 weeks is a good interval. I also use it to give shine and dimension by using it every 6 to 7 weeks, or just about the average time between haircut appointments when I will do both. If I’m using it to correct color, it can be done sooner than 4 weeks after the initial service, but I pay extra attention to keeping the hair healthy throughout the process.” Semi-permanent color can be safely used as often as your wants and whims change – perfect for a weekend fashion fling. This low-maintenance and short-term option is simply a stain or toner that is deposited on the surface and can be removed in as little as one washing if you use an aggressive cleanser, such as a clarifying shampoo, which by itself can be more damaging than the hair dye will ever be. 2 COLOR MAINTENANCE AND HAIR HEALTHSince permanent color is a chemical process that occurs inside the hair fiber, it can break a number of the structural bonds (disulfides) that hold the protein strands together and can leave your color treated hair brittle, porous, and more damage-prone. The more often you color your hair, the more protein you lose, and it can become challenging to comb, style, maintain, and the likelihood of split ends increases. A couple of tips for dyed hair to stay healthy: • Pick a color-safe washing and conditioning option. • Always use a heat protectant. • Try moisturizing
oils. So go forth and color, but keep in mind that all that fun that blondes are purported to have can be spoiled with too much bleach. So stay safe and listen to your colorist: your hair health – and their hard work are always their first concerns. * * * Sources: 2. What is permanent haircolor & is it right for you? 4 popular myths debunked. Redken. URL. Accessed October 7, 2020. Related ArticlesDoes ammonia permanently damage hair?If possible, you should look for a hair dye sans ammonia as it is a powerful chemical that can have harmful results. It can change the pH of your hair and the effects are almost irreversible. The long-lasting damage on your hair just isn't worth it.
How soon after dying Can I dye again?"Experts advise waiting at least 2 weeks (technically 15 days) before dyeing it again. However, this is the minimum amount of time and, in some cases, you may need to extend that period to 4 weeks.
How long does ammonia hair dye last?Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide combine to open up the hair's cuticle to reach the internal structure and make a color change. Permanent hair color can either lighten or darken and can last up to 8 weeks, although it may require touching up at the roots as your natural color grows in.
Can you dye your hair every 2 weeks?Standard time in between appointments is 4-6 weeks, since your hair grows on average 1/2” a month. Of course you can stretch this out to 6-8 weeks if you don't mind the roots. Being able to stretch it out usually depends on what your natural hair color looks like compared to your artificially “sweetened” hair color.
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