How Long to Leave Strawberry Leopard Hair Dye In

Strawberry Leopard hair dye has quickly become one of the most popular semi-permanent hair colors on the market. Known for its vibrant, long-lasting colors and conditioner-based formula, Strawberry Leopard allows you to achieve fun, colorful hair without damaging your locks. But to get the best results from Strawberry Leopard hair dye, it’s important to leave it in for the proper processing time.

What is Strawberry Leopard Hair Dye?

Strawberry Leopard is a semi-permanent, deposit-only hair color made by the company STR. It comes in a range of 18 vivid shades like pink, purple, blue, green, orange, red and more.

Here are some key facts about Strawberry Leopard hair dye:

• Conditioner-based formula enriched with nourishing ingredients like Vitamin B5, shea butter and mango oil
• Free of harsh chemicals like ammonia and alcohol
• Vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free
• Vibrant colors last 4-8 weeks
• No developer required, ready to apply directly from the container

Strawberry Leopard uses a gentler formula than permanent dyes, making it less damaging to your hair. It works by coating the hair strand with color rather than penetrating the cuticle and changing your natural pigment. For this reason, it won’t lighten or permanently alter your base shade.

The conditioner-based formula ensures the dye spreads easily and evenly for full, saturated color. And the nourishing ingredients actually improve the health of your hair over time.

How Long Should You Leave Strawberry Leopard Dye In?

Strawberry Leopard recommends leaving the semi-permanent color on your hair for 20-30 minutes before rinsing. This allows time for the dye to fully saturate your strands.

Here are some tips for processing Strawberry Leopard hair dye:

• Apply to clean, dry hair for best results
• Section hair into four quadrants and work the dye into 1-2 inch pieces from roots to ends
• Leave on for 20-30 minutes at room temperature
• Rinse thoroughly with cool water until water runs clear

Leaving Strawberry Leopard dye on for less than 20 minutes may result in uneven coloring with splotches of undyed hair. Going over 30 minutes doesn’t improve color saturation further.

For maximum vibrancy, you may want to leave the dye on for a full 30 minutes if your hair is strong and healthy. Those with damaged or fragile hair can stick to 20 minutes to avoid overprocessing.

Factors That Affect Processing Time

While the standard timing for Strawberry Leopard is 20-30 minutes, there are a few factors that can impact how long you should leave the color on:

Hair Condition

If your hair is strong, healthy and undamaged, you can safely leave Strawberry Leopard dye on for the full recommended processing time.

But if your hair is fragile from overlightening, chemical processing, heat styling or other damage, shorten the processing time to 20 minutes or less. Damaged hair strands are prone to swelling and overabsorption of dye, which can lead to uneven coloring.

Hair Porosity

Those with high porosity hair may find the dye develops faster, while low porosity hair takes longer for the color to saturate.

High porosity hair may only need 20 minutes, while coarse, low porosity hair types can be left on for a full 30 minutes. Doing a strand test can help you gauge whether your hair porosity requires a shorter or longer leave-in time.

Desired Vibrancy

If you want a more subtle, pastel look, you can rinse the dye out sooner. For high-impact vibrancy, leave the color on for the full 30 minutes.

Mixing Strawberry Leopard with the Pastel Mixer also dilutes the shade for a lighter, softer color. Use this technique if you want to tone down the vibrancy.

Room Temperature

Leaving Strawberry Leopard dye on for the recommended processing time is based on an average room temperature around 70°F.

In a colder room, you may need to leave the color on a bit longer as lower temperatures can slow down the development time. For a very warm room or if you sit under a hair dryer, reduce the processing time by 5 minutes or so.

How to Apply Strawberry Leopard Hair Dye

To ensure you get the most out of your Strawberry Leopard hair color, follow these simple application steps:

1. Start with clean, dry hair – don’t shampoo beforehand
2. Separate hair into four sections using clips
3. Wear gloves to avoid stains on your hands and skin
4. Squeeze the hair dye directly onto 1-2 inch sections of hair from roots to ends
5. Use a tint brush to thoroughly work the product through each section
6. Ensure hair is fully saturated with dye
7. Let sit for 20-30 minutes
8. Rinse with cool water until water runs clear
9. No need to use conditioner after rinsing
10. Style as desired – avoid heat for 1-2 days
11. Shampoo hair with a color-safe, sulfate-free formula

How Long Will the Color Last?

When applied and processed properly, Strawberry Leopard’s vibrant shades can last 4-8 weeks before fading.

To make the color last as long as possible:

• Use color-protecting shampoo and conditioner
• Wash hair in cool water
• Avoid chlorine, salt water and other damaging elements
• Use a UV protecting product before sun exposure
• Refresh color every 4-6 weeks

While Strawberry Leopard washes out over time, you can continue to layer the dye to maintain your chosen hue. It’s safe to re-apply the color whenever you notice fading or want a color boost.

Can You Leave Semi-Permanent Dye In Overnight?

It’s not recommended to leave any semi-permanent dye like Strawberry Leopard in overnight, or for longer than 30-45 minutes.

Leaving the product on too long can overexpose the hair cuticles and cause damage over time. As the dye stops developing after 30 minutes, there’s no benefit to extended processing times.

It’s best to follow the instructions for 20-30 minute leave-in time. If desired, you can cover hair with a shower cap after the recommended time and rinse the following morning. But don’t leave dye directly on the hair overnight.

How to Maintain Strawberry Leopard Hair Color

To keep your Strawberry Leopard hair color looking vibrant in between applications, be sure to:

• Use sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and conditioner
• Wash hair in cool water and rinse with cold water
• Apply leave-in conditioner or mask 1-2 times per week
• Use heat protectant before heat styling
• Avoid chlorine, salt water, direct sun exposure
• Use a tinted conditioner or color refreshing product when needed
• Reapply the same Strawberry Leopard shade every 4-6 weeks

With proper maintenance habits, you can keep your Strawberry Leopard color from fading too quickly before your next application.

Can You Re-Dye Hair with Strawberry Leopard Dye?

One of the benefits of semi-permanent hair dye like Strawberry Leopard is that you can safely reapply it whenever needed. Strawberry Leopard washes out gradually rather than altering your natural pigment, so you can layer it on as often as you want.

In fact, regular reapplication every 4-6 weeks is recommended to keep the color vibrant in between salon visits. Simply follow the same application and processing steps each time.

Strawberry Leopard can also be layered over itself so you can switch up your shade – just be sure to fill out the color test strand first. And it can be applied on top of faded dye as well.

Strawberry Leopard Hair Dye Tips and Tricks

• For less maintenance, opt for darker, richer Strawberry Leopard shades rather than pastels which fade quicker
• Mix color with conditioner or Pastel Mixer to create custom, lighter shades
• If hair was recently bleached, wait 1-2 weeks before applying dye
• Strand test first when changing colors or using on bleached hair
• Apply petroleum jelly on skin around hairline to avoid staining
• Use an old towel or cape to avoid dye transfer on surfaces
• Rinse in cold water and use sulfate-free shampoo
• Add dye to conditioner to refresh color between applications

How Long to Leave In Strawberry Leopard Hair Dye

To recap, here are the key takeaways for processing time with Strawberry Leopard dye:

• Leave on hair for 20-30 minutes at room temperature
• 20 minutes is ideal for damaged or fragile hair
• Allow a full 30 minutes for maximum vibrancy on healthy hair
• Don’t leave on for more than 30 minutes
• Process for 20-25 minutes if hair or environment is cold