Can I Dye My Hair After A Perm? Tips for Safely Coloring Permed Hair

If you recently got a perm and are looking to change up your hair color, you may be wondering – can I dye my hair after a perm? The answer is yes, you can dye permed hair, but special care must be taken to avoid damage.

When perming and coloring are done too closely together, it puts a lot of stress on the hair. The perm chemicals already alter the structure of the hair, making it more vulnerable to damage from dye processing.

However, by following proper precautions, you can safely color your locks after perming them. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know, including:

• How long to wait before dyeing newly permed hair
• What risks are associated with coloring too soon after perming
• Tips to minimize damage when coloring permed hair
• The best hair dye formulas and techniques for permed hair
• Aftercare to keep permed and colored hair healthy

How Long Should I Wait to Dye My Hair After Perm?

Ideally, you should wait 4-6 weeks after getting a perm before applying hair color. This gives your locks adequate time to recover from the chemical processing of perming before subjecting them to more chemicals from dye.

Here’s a look at the recommended wait times:

• 2 weeks minimum: At least 2 weeks is advised to allow the perm to settle completely.

• 4 weeks optimal: Waiting 4 weeks gives your hair a good amount of time to rebuild strength and elasticity.

• 6 weeks ideal: Holding out 6 weeks before coloring is best to ensure your hair is healthy enough for dye processing.

While some people do dye sooner than 2 weeks, this is not recommended. The longer you can wait, the better for the integrity of your strands.

What Are the Risks of Coloring Hair Too Soon After Perm?

Applying permanent or semi-permanent hair dye too soon after getting a perm can lead to a number of problems:

• Fading of perm: The chemicals in hair color can react with perm chemicals still present in the hair, causing the curls to relax or loosen.

• Frizziness: Dyeing over-processed hair often leads to frizzy, dry texture making perms look unruly.

• Damage: The excessive processing causes weakness, brittleness, and breakage.

• Color unevenness: Permed hair tends to absorb dye unpredictably resulting in splotchy, uneven color.

• Skin irritation: Chemical irritation or burns can occur on the scalp due to the high amount of chemicals.

To limit these risks, you need to give permed hair adequate time to heal before applying dye. Otherwise, you may end up with damaged locks and unsatisfactory color results. Waiting those recommended 4-6 weeks allows the perm to fully set while giving your hair a chance to rebuild lost moisture and protein.

Tips for Coloring Permed Hair With Minimal Damage

When you’ve decided the timing is right to dye your permed tresses, follow these tips to minimize any potential damage:

1. Do a Patch and Strand Test

Before applying color all over, do a patch and strand test to see how your hair reacts. This will give you a preview of how even the color will be over your permed hair.

2. Use a Semi-Permanent or Demi-Permanent Dye

Stick to semi, demi, or vegetable-based dyes. These deposit color on the outside of the hair without fully penetrating the shaft, putting less stress on already-fragile strands.

3. Select an Ammonia-Free Formula

Avoid ammonia-based dyes, as these can be harsh during chemical processing. Seek out a gentler, ammonia-free hair color.

4. Don’t Bleach

Bleaching perms requires high volumes of peroxide which damage hair severely. Hold off on bleaching until your perm has grown out significantly.

5. Apply Sparingly Near Roots

When applying color, use less product near the roots and scalp to avoid excess chemical exposure that could irritate skin.

6. Follow With a Deep Conditioner

Always deep condition after coloring permed hair to infuse moisture and protein back into dry, porous strands.

Best Hair Dye Formulas for Permed Hair

Now that you know how long to wait and tips for minimizing damage, let’s look at the best hair dye products and formulas for permed hair:

Permanent Hair Dyes

• Clairol Natural Instincts – Uses a gentle formula with antioxidant vitamin C and keratin.

• L’Oreal Excellence Crème – Conditions while coloring thanks to collagen and soy protein.

• Schwarzkopf Igora Royal – Utilizes nourishing argan oil and keratin actives.

Demi-Permanent Hair Dyes

• Redken Shades EQ – Features a lower ammonia formula with ceramides to fortify hair.

• Wella Color Charm – Contains provitamin B5 and olive oil for softer, shinier hair.

• Olaplex No. 4P – Uses the bond-building active from the Olaplex system to repair damage.

Semi-Permanent Hair Dyes

• Clairol Natural Instincts – An ammonia-free, gentle demi-permanent formula.

• Davines Alchemic Shampoo – Gradually infuses color while cleansing hair.

• Overtone Color Conditioner – Deposits pigment into hair with every wash.

Aftercare Tips for Permed and Colored Hair

Once you’ve colored your permed hair, it requires some extra TLC to keep it looking healthy. Here are some aftercare tips:

• Use a sulfate-free shampoo and a deep conditioner at every wash.

• Allow hair to air dry instead of blow drying to prevent excess heat damage.

• Apply a thermal protectant before using any hot styling tools if heat is necessary.

• Use leave-in treatments and masks to add protein and moisture back into the lengths.

• Handle hair gently and avoid tight hairstyles that can cause pull on fragile strands.

• Get regular trims to snip away split ends before they travel farther up the shaft.

• Use a broad spectrum UV spray to protect colored hair when outdoors.

Signs Your Hair Needs a Break From Chemical Processing

While it is possible to safely color permed hair, your strands have a limit when it comes to chemical processing. Here are some signs it’s time to take a break:

• Noticeable thinning or excessive shedding

• Increased tangles, knots, and breakage

• Lackluster, dry appearance even when conditioned

• Unusual textures like gumminess or stretching when wet

• Extreme frizziness even when air dried

• Scalp sensitivity, burning, or rashes during dyeing

If your hair shows signs of damage from overprocessing, avoid perms, color, bleach, relaxers, and other chemical treatments until your hair has had time to recover. Focus on rehabilitating your locks with protein treatments, oils, masks, and frequent trims.

The Takeaway

Can you dye your hair after a perm? Yes, it is possible to safely color permed hair as long as you follow some key guidelines. Always wait at least 2 weeks, but ideally 4-6 weeks before applying dye to give your strands adequate recovery time.

When the timing is right, minimize damage by doing a patch test, choosing a gentle semi-permanent formula, avoiding bleach, applying sparingly near the scalp, and conditioning deeply after coloring.

With the proper precautions, regular trims, and deep conditioning, you can successfully revamp your color after perming. But if your hair shows signs of serious damage from overprocessing, it’s best to take a break from chemicals altogether until your hair is healthy enough to handle them again.

At Heather Annz Salon, we’re happy to offer professional guidance to all our clients looking to safely color their permed tresses. Our expert stylists can assess your hair’s condition, recommend ideal timing, and suggest the safest dye and formulas to achieve your desired results. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!