The question of whether you need to wash your hair before painting is very relevant. An unequivocal answer to it is very difficult to give. This is due to the fact that the earlier hair dyes were quite aggressive and contained a lot of ammonia and heavy metals.
The impact of these substances on the skin and hair led to sad consequences, because of which it was better to dye dirty hair, protected by a thin fat layer. Today, with the advent of more gentle methods of coloring, the situation has changed somewhat, making it possible to paint clean curls without risking damage to their condition.
Hair preparation
Whatever the upcoming method of dyeing, the hair before this procedure is necessary prepare well. To do this, curls pre-saturated with various nutrients and moisturize well. Preparation usually begins a couple of weeks before the event and consists of regular applying nourishing masks, using balsams and conditioners.
At the same time, oil based products are not recommended.
This is due to the fact that despite the strong support to the hair roots, the oil forms a microfilm on the surface of the curl and prevents the penetration of color pigment into the micropores.
Use folk methods in this case, you should be very careful and, if possible, use only proven cosmetic products specifically designed for such procedures. Another important step in preparing hair for coloring is to conduct two tests. The first is in determining the likelihood of allergic reactions on the selected dye. For this, a little diluted product is applied to the skin of the wrist and left for half an hour. If during this time no changes are observed, then the paint can be safely used.
If itching, redness or skin rash occurs, the use of this agent should be abandoned.
After the first test is successfully passed, it is necessary to conduct a second test. Its essence is in applying a small amount of paint on the hair strand and waiting for the result of dyeing. If the resulting shade has met all the requirements, then you can proceed to complete coloring.
Do I have to wash my hair?
There is no clear answer to this question. It all depends on many subjective factors: the method of dyeing and the composition of the paint, the individual characteristics and structure of the hair.
So, mandatory washing of the head is provided in some cases.
- If shortly before staining gel, varnish, foam or mousse was applied to the hair, then it is simply necessary to wash them. Otherwise, the remnants of the chemical components of the previous product may react with paint substances and lead to a completely unexpected result.
- If hair color it is planned to change very often, and this shade is applied for a short time, it is also better to wash the head.
- Curlsthat are supposed to be painted in dark colors, it is also recommended to wash. This will make the color more saturated and provide its depth.
- Aesthetic moment. Before going to the salon, many people rightly worry that it will not be very pleasant for the master to work with an unwashed head, and therefore they prefer to wash their hair at least a day before visiting a hairdresser.
- Most modern tools, such as tonics, semi-permanent dyes, mousses and henna are intended for applying only to clean hair, so washing your hair before using them is not even discussed. If this requirement is neglected, then the color will begin to wash off after a few days.
- Judging by the numerous reviews, when applying the dye to unwashed greasy hair, the dye is quickly washed out and there is no characteristic luster.
- The application of coloring compositions on clean, slightly moistened strands helps to obtain a more uniform dyeing over the entire length, which is not always possible to achieve when dying dirty hair.
Pros and cons of applying paint on dirty hair
As discussed above, there are quite a few prerequisites that require washing the curls before dyeing. However, there are several cases in which washing the hair is best excluded.
- Painting gray hair requires applying paint only on dirty hair. This is due to the fact that painting more gray strands requires a more durable paint, containing, as a rule, a large number of aggressive components. Their excessive presence can cause irreparable damage to the structure of the hair, and therefore it is better to dye it on oily hair.
A thin fatty film uniformly envelops each hair and reliably protects its structure from destruction. If you wash your head, the curls become defenseless against exposure to chemicals, noticeably dull and begin to split.
- Lightening also better to perform on a dirty head. This is due to the presence in the composition of bleaching preparations of high-percentage peroxide, mercilessly destroying the hair structure and leading to a strong drying of curls.
- Highlighting strands are performed according to a principle similar to bleaching and also require the presence of a fatty film on the hair. Before the procedure it is better to refrain from washing the head for 3-4 days. The period of abstinence from washing is chosen individually and depends on the productivity of the sebaceous glands.
- After perm You can dye your hair after 14 days. During this time, the head can be washed only once - a week after curling and, accordingly, 7 days before dyeing.
- Dry, brittle and damaged hair It is also one of the reasons why it is better to refuse to wash hair before dyeing. To the pigment is properly distributed and did not harm the hair, the hair should not be washed for at least 2-3 days.
- Problem and dry skin also requires painting on messy hair. Otherwise, the scalp loses its protective fat layer and begins to itch and peel off.
However, there is opponents staining dirty hair, motivating their beliefs that currently there are a large number of modern drugs that do not have a detrimental effect on the structure of the hair and even have a parallel therapeutic effect. There is also a poor staining of strands with very dirty hair, which is explained uneven sebaceous glandsin which some areas of the head are much fatter than others.
In such cases, the paint stains, so the desired result is not achieved.
Opinion professionals
According to experts and experienced hairdressers, the result of dyeing depends on many factors. So, regardless of the purity or hair greyness, you must strictly observe coloring ruleswhich are detailed in the instructions for its use. This is due to the fact that many manufacturers quite specifically indicate which hair should be dyed, therefore ignoring recommendations is highly wrong.
However, most experts still tend to the fact that before dyeing there is no need to wait for the hair to be contaminated and recommend performing the procedure on clean locks.
This position is explained by the presence in the composition of modern paints natural oils and plant extracts, neutralizing the action of aggressive components. Moreover, the modern market offers a huge number of brighteners on a non-ammonia basis, allowing you to perform the bleaching procedure on a clean head.
Thus, supporters of painting clean hair more, the only condition for their successful coloring is the choice of high-quality dye and regular care.
Useful tips
Painted curls require constant and competent care, which helps them recover as quickly as possible and get a healthy look and unique shine.
- In the process of painting the hair scales under the influence of ammonia open up and cause weakening of the hair. For their proper restoration, you should regularly make herbal baths, apply regenerating masks and not use hot water for washing your head. It is also forbidden to visit the solarium and style your hair with the help of stylers, tongs and irons.
- Immediately after staining it is necessary to neutralize alkali quickly. This can be done with the help of conditioners or shampoos-stabilizers.
- Wash my hair should be every 2-3 days. More frequent washing can cause a draining effect and prevent hair from recovering normally.
- Dry dyed hair recommended in a natural way. To speed up the process in some cases it is allowed to use a hairdryer, however, the air in it should be cold.
- Combing colored curls should be carried out using a rounded comb having rare and smooth teeth.
What is the difference between staining for clean and dirty hair, see below.