Can I Color My Hair After A Keratin Treatment? The Complete Guide

Keratin treatments have become increasingly popular over the last several years as an effective way to smooth, straighten, and add shine to hair. These salon treatments work by infusing the hair with keratin protein to strengthen and repair damage.

One of the most common questions about keratin treatments is whether you can color your hair afterwards. The short answer is yes, you can color your hair after a keratin treatment, but you need to follow some important guidelines.

In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about coloring your hair after a keratin smoothing treatment, including:

• How keratin treatments work
• Why you should wait to color your hair
• How long to wait before coloring
• Coloring treated hair safely
• Maintaining your color
• Aftercare tips
• Keratin and highlights
• Keratin on previously colored hair
• Doing a keratin treatment after coloring
• Keratin treatments on bleached hair
• When to get a trim
• Type of color to use
• Ammonia-free hair dye
• Permanent vs semi-permanent color
• Lightening hair after keratin
• Can you bleach hair after keratin?
• Keratin touch-ups

How Do Keratin Treatments Work?

To understand why special care is needed when coloring treated hair, it helps to first understand what keratin treatments actually do to your hair.

Keratin is a protein that makes up about 90% of your hair’s structure. It gives hair strength, smoothness, and elasticity. Keratin treatments work by infusing the hair cuticle with extra keratin protein to fill in gaps and micro-fissures in the strands.

The treatment product is applied in sections all over the hair and left to process for about 30 minutes. Next, the stylist uses a flat iron heated from 350°F to 450°F to seal in the keratin and smooth the hair. The high heat helps the keratin bond inside the hair cortex.

This process results in hair that is straighter, smoother, shinier, and far less frizzy. The treatment also makes hair easier to style and provides some protection from heat styling damage.

Why Should You Wait to Color Treated Hair?

Keratin treatments require high heat to work properly. Coloring your hair too soon after a keratin treatment can fade or oxidize the color. The cuticle is still opened up from the smoothing treatment, so coloring right away allows the hair dye to escape.

The results will be disappointing – uneven color, patchiness, and lackluster results. You won’t get the full vibrancy you expect from fresh color.

That’s why it’s important to wait a few weeks before applying permanent or semi-permanent hair dye. This gives the cuticle time to fully close and allows the keratin to integrate into the hair.

How Long Should You Wait Before Coloring Treated Hair?

The general rule of thumb is to wait 2 to 4 weeks before applying color to keratin treated hair. However, the exact wait time depends on the specific keratin product used in the smoothing treatment.

Here are some wait times based on popular keratin brands:

• Brazilian Blowout – Wait 72 hours (3 days)
• Keratin Complex – Wait 2 weeks
• Global Keratin – Wait 2 weeks
• Marcia Teixeira – Wait 2 to 3 weeks for Original, Chocolate, or Advanced formulas; you can color immediately with the Soft Treatment or Soft Chocolate formulas.
• Lasio – Wait 3 days
• Coppola – Wait 2 weeks

Many keratin smoothing treatments require a 72 hour waiting period before you can wash your hair after the service. You should continue waiting 2 full weeks after this point before applying color.

The takeaway is to always follow your stylist’s recommendations for when your specific hair can be colored after a keratin treatment. Don’t rush it! Waiting preserves your color and allows for longer lasting smoothing results.

How To Safely Color Over Keratin Treated Hair

Once the waiting period has passed, it is safe to apply permanent or semi-permanent hair color. Here are some tips for safely coloring over keratin treated hair:

Do a strand test first. Apply the color to a small, inconspicuous section of hair and process as directed on the box. Rinse and check for any signs of fading, unevenness, or other issues. If all goes well, you can safely proceed with coloring the rest of your hair.

Turn down the heat. Many keratin treatments recommend using heat around 400°F or higher when styling the hair. However, turn down your iron to 300 to 350°F when processing the hair color to minimize fading.

Apply to the roots only. Focus on touching up your new growth when applying permanent dye. Avoid applying it unnecessarily on previously treated mid-length and ends.

Use a clarifying shampoo. Use a clarifying shampoo 1-2 days before coloring to remove product buildup and fully open the cuticle.

Do a deep condition. Deep condition your hair the day before coloring to ensure hair is hydrated and primed to accept the color.

Use ammonia-free dye. Look for ammonia-free hair color which is gentler on keratin treated strands. More tips on dye formulas in a moment.

Protect hair after. Use a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and nourishing hair mask or treatment in the weeks after coloring to maintain your color.

Maintaining Your Color After Keratin Treatments

To keep hair color looking vibrant in between salon visits, be diligent about at-home care. Here are some tips:

• Use a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and conditioner
• Wash hair in lukewarm water instead of hot
• Rinse hair with cool water after shampooing
• Limit washing to 2-3 times per week
• Use a deep conditioning hair mask 1-2 times a week
• Blot wet hair with a towel instead of rubbing
• Allow hair to air dry when possible instead of heat styling
• Use heat protecting products when using hot tools
• Get a gloss or glaze service done 4-6 weeks after coloring

Following a gentle hair care routine keeps the cuticle smooth and closed, preventing fading of hair color.

Coloring Keratin Treated Highlights

Partial highlights are a popular option for adding dimension to hair color. If your highlighted hair has been treated with keratin, take special care when touching up the highlights.

The lighter highlighted pieces are more porous and prone to damage. Use a lower volume developer, like 10 volume, when applying highlight color. Process for less time than you normally would.

Avoid overlap between the highlights and darker roots. Stick close to the regrowth when touching up your highlights after keratin treatments.

Using Keratin Treatments Over Previously Colored Hair

If your hair is already colored from a previous salon service, you can still do a keratin treatment. However, you must wait 2 weeks after your last color before having the keratin service done.

Never book a keratin smoothing treatment right after a color touch-up. The stylist will likely turn you away for your hair’s safety. Lightly filled or glazed hair may be ok. Discuss options with your stylist.

Once your color has fully oxidized, a keratin treatment can make it look vibrant and healthy. The smoothing effects help compromised hair look better between coloring.

Just keep in mind that each successive keratin service makes hair smoother and straighter. Embrace the change or avoid keratin if you wish to maintain your current texture.

Getting A Keratin Treatment After Coloring Your Hair

Some people like to schedule their keratin appointment right after a color touch-up to maximize vibrancy and shine. This is fine but the order does not necessarily matter.

You can color your hair first and then get a keratin treatment once the waiting period has passed. Or get the keratin service first and then wait 2 weeks to color.

One benefit of keratin before color is that the strengthening effects help hair hold onto color better. But plenty of people do color first with beautiful results. Consult your stylist about the best order of services for your hair goals.

Using Keratin Treatments on Bleached and Lightened Hair

Bleached and heavily highlighted hair is especially prone to damage and dryness. A keratin treatment can help restore some softness and manageability.

However, lightened hair is very fragile. Use a gentler keratin formula meant for compromised hair. Avoid max strength treatments that use very high heat.

Do a patch and strand test before applying keratin to bleached hair to gauge results. Monitor the processing time and temperature carefully so as not to overdo it. Shorter processing with medium heat is safer.

Keratin cannot fully repair bleach damage but can temporarily improve texture. Follow up with bonding Olaplex or protein treatments for added repair. Handle lightened hair very gently.

When Should You Get A Haircut After A Keratin Treatment?

It’s best to get a trim after having a keratin smoothing service, not before. Here’s why:

The high heat from the flat