Can I Dye My Hair After A Keratin Treatment?

Keratin treatments have become increasingly popular over the past several years as an effective way to tame frizzy, curly hair and give it a smooth, sleek look. But many people who get these treatments also color their hair, so a common question is whether it’s okay to dye your hair after getting a keratin treatment.

The short answer is yes, you can dye your hair after a keratin treatment, but you need to wait a certain amount of time first. Keratin treatments open up the hair cuticle, so coloring too soon after can lead to uneven results.

Below we’ll go over everything you need to know about timing, tips for great results, how different keratin treatments impact dyeing, and more.

How Long To Wait Before Dyeing After A Keratin Treatment

Most stylists recommend waiting 2-3 weeks after a keratin treatment before applying permanent or semi-permanent hair dye. Here’s why:

• Keratin treatments work by depositing keratin protein deep into the hair shaft. This requires opening up the cuticle, the outer layer of the hair.

• Coloring also penetrates the cuticle to deposit or remove pigment. If done too soon after a keratin treatment, it can interfere with the treatment results.

• The keratin needs time to fully set and bond with your hair. Coloring too soon can strip away some of the treatment.

• If you color immediately after, you also risk uneven results. The opened cuticles can lead to faded or splotchy color.

So giving your hair enough time to fully absorb the keratin treatment is key for protecting the results. Most stylists find 2-3 weeks to be the optimal waiting period before coloring.

During this waiting period, be extra gentle with your hair. Use a sulfate-free shampoo, limit washing to 2-3 times per week, and avoid heat styling when possible. This helps the keratin absorb properly so your treatment lasts longer.

Tips For Coloring After A Keratin Treatment

Once the 2-3 week waiting period has passed, you can safely color your hair without compromising your keratin treatment. Here are some tips for getting the best results:

Do a strand test first. Before coloring all of your hair, do a patch test on a small section near the nape of your neck. Check to see if the color develops normally or if the keratin treatment impacts it.

Use a lower volume developer. Opt for a 10 or 20 volume developer instead of 30 or 40. Higher volumes open the cuticle more which can interfere with keratin results.

Use lower processing times. Cut the suggested processing time by 2-3 minutes to avoid over-depositing color. The opened cuticles allow deeper penetration.

Rinse with cool water. Rinse the dye out with cool water instead of hot to help seal and smooth the cuticle.

Blow dry and gently straighten. Air dry hair halfway, then blow dry. Finish by gently running a straightener from mid-lengths to ends to seal the cuticle.

Deep condition after. Use a hydrating hair mask or treatment to condition and nourish hair after coloring.

Wait 2 weeks before repeating. Give your hair time to rest before coloring again or using other chemical treatments.

Use color-protecting products. Opt for shampoos, conditioners, and styling products formulated for color-treated hair to boost vibrancy and prevent fading.

Following these tips can help you successfully refresh your hair color while keeping your keratin treatment intact! The key is being gentle on those freshly treated strands.

How Different Keratin Treatments Impact Coloring

Not all keratin treatments are created equal. The formula your stylist uses can impact how soon you can color after and how careful you need to be with processing time and heat.

Formaldehyde treatments are the strongest keratin formulations. These require waiting at least one month before coloring, lowering developer volume, and being very careful with heat tools.

“Natural” keratin treatments use milder formulas with less protein deposited into the hair. You may be able to wait just 1-2 weeks before safely coloring with these options.

DIY keratin treatments vary greatly in their formulations. Some have you wait just 48 hours before coloring while others require 2 weeks. Check the product instructions.

Brazilian Blowouts are a popular salon keratin treatment. Most colorists recommend waiting 14 days after this service before dyeing your hair.

No matter what formula you use, doing a strand test is wise to see how the color develops on your treated hair before doing an all-over application. And always consult your stylist if you aren’t sure about the timing.

Permanent vs. Semi-Permanent Hair Dye

Permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes interact differently with keratin-treated hair:

• Permanent hair dye penetrates the cortex of the hair and can interfere more with keratin results. Waiting the full 2-3 weeks is recommended.

• Semi-permanent dye only coats the cuticle so has less effect on your treatment. Some colorists say you may be able to dye right away with these.

• Gloss treatments are the least disruptive since they simply coat the outside of the hair. You can likely use these immediately after a keratin treatment.

However, to be 100% sure you aren’t compromising your treatment, it’s always smartest to wait at least 2 weeks before using any type of hair color.

The Best Types of Hair Dye To Use

Some types of hair coloring tend to work better on keratin-treated hair than others:

• Demi-permanent color – These last 4-6 weeks and cause minimal cuticle damage, making them a great pick. They come in every shade imaginable too.

• Ammonia-free permanent color – These are less porous than formulas with ammonia but still provide long-lasting color. Great for covering grays.

• Low-volume developers – As mentioned earlier, 10 or 20 volume clears are gentler than 30 or 40 for keratin-treated strands.

• Gel or cream colors – These condition as they color and require less developer. They cause very little damage to the hair’s protective outer layer.

• Glossing treatments – Perfect for freshening color between permanent applications without harming your treatment.

• Semi-permanent colors – While these don’t last as long, they are safe for frequent use on keratin-treated hair.

Avoid high-lift blonde dyes if possible, as these require stronger developers and extensive lightening. Talk to your colorist about whether any adjustments need to be made to your typical hair dye routine after having a keratin treatment.

Can I Bleach My Hair After A Keratin Treatment?

Bleaching is much harsher than normal coloring and requires extra caution after a keratin treatment. Here are some tips if you do want to bleach your hair:

• Wait one month – Let your treatment fully settle before lightening. Most pro colorists recommend waiting 4 weeks minimum before bleaching.

• Strand test first – See how the bleach develops on your hair by doing a tester strip first before applying to your whole head.

• Use Olaplex – This bond-building additive helps limit damage from lightening by repairing disulfide bonds. Highly recommended for bleaching keratin-treated strands!

• Lower the volume developer – As with coloring, use the lowest volume developer that will still effectively lift your hair color. This minimizes cuticle damage.

• Purple shampoo afterward – Use a toning shampoo to fight brassiness and keep bleached hair looking icy.

• Deep condition – Nourish your strands with a reparative hair mask after rinsing out the bleach.

Will bleaching damage your keratin treatment? There is certainly higher risk of impacting the results. But you can minimize this by taking precautions and widening the wait time between services. Discuss your options with your stylist.

Can I Do Keratin And Color at the Same Appointment?

Some salons offer keratin smoothing treatments and hair coloring as a single service to save you time. However, this is not recommended.

Processing a keratin treatment and coloring your hair in one long appointment puts a huge amount of stress on your strands. This almost always damages hair and ruins the results you’re trying to achieve with either service.

Here are just a few reasons to avoid combo keratin-color appointments:

• Keratin treatments require perfectly clean hair – coloring first coats strands with pigment

• Direct dyes can block keratin from properly absorbing

• Lightening or bleaching swells and opens the cuticle, preventing keratin from sealing smoothness in

• Too much chemical processing at once leads to dry, brittle hair

• You won’t get the full longevity of your keratin treatment

• Colors are more likely to fade unevenly or appear dull

Instead, schedule your keratin treatment and color appointments at least 2 weeks apart for the best results with both. This is worth the