If you’re like many clients who frequent salons for color treatments, you may have noticed that hairstylists always wash your hair again after applying dye. While it may seem redundant, there are several important reasons why a final wash is necessary. A post-color wash protects your scalp, ensures a complete service, and prevents your hair from looking greasy, all while maintaining your new hair color.
Protecting Your Scalp
Leaving excess dye on your scalp can cause irritation, itchiness, and other issues. “If hair isn’t washed after being colored, the color products can be left sitting on your scalp, which can get irritated,” explains Allison Gandolfo, a celebrity hairstylist. An irritated scalp leads to problems like dandruff, rashes, oiliness, and even hair growth issues, so washing away excess dye is essential for scalp health and maintaining your hair.
Ensuring a Complete Service
In many places, salons are required by law to wash a client’s hair, whether before or after a color treatment. “Washing your hair, either before or after color in the salon in New York state is the law,” says Gandolfo. “It ensures you, the client, receive a thorough hair wash while getting a color service.” Your post-color wash is part of the full service you pay for, guaranteeing your hair is clean and cared for properly.
Preventing Greasiness
Without a wash, colored hair can look weighed down, oily, and unclean. “It also may make your hair feel greasy and heavy,” warns Gandolfo. The wash removes any excess product and dye, leaving hair fresh, bouncy, and natural-looking instead of flat and lackluster.
Maintaining Hair Color
While washing colored hair is important, too much washing can cause color to fade prematurely. However, according to Gandolfo, “Washing right after color does not impact the intensity of the hair color.” A single wash directly following your salon visit will not dull or damage your new hair color. She does note, though, that “bright reds and intense rainbow colors will fade after multiple washes.” With special care and color-protecting products, salon professionals can formulate a plan to help all shades last as long as possible.
Can I Wash My Hair With Just Water After Coloring
It is not recommended to wash your hair with just water after coloring at the salon. There are a few reasons why:
- Water alone will not properly cleanse your scalp and hair of excess dye, color products, and chemicals. Shampoo is specially formulated to remove these types of products from your hair without stripping color. Water will not effectively remove these residues and your scalp and hair may feel irritated if left unwashed properly.
- Water can open up hair cuticles, which may cause color to bleed and fade faster. Shampoo, especially color-protecting shampoo, is pH balanced to minimize color fading. The cuticle-sealing agents and conditioners in shampoo also help lock in color and protect from fading.
- Your new hair color will not have the same bright, fresh-colored look after rinsing with just water. Shampooing with a color-safe shampoo helps maintain vibrancy and tonality, leaving your new color looking its best. Water alone may leave hair looking lackluster, dingy, or uneven.
- Your hairstylist recommends shampooing after coloring for the best results. Professionals know the chemistry behind coloring and how to properly care for color-treated hair. Their recommendations are meant to maximize color payoff and help you get the most from your salon service.
In summary, a post-color wash at the salon provides several benefits with few downsides. Your scalp remains healthy, you receive the full service you paid for, your hair looks and feels clean, and your new color is protected. While all color will fade over time and with repeated washing, a single wash following your salon treatment should not significantly impact vibrancy or tone. For the best results, be sure to follow your stylist’s recommendations for at-home care and color protection. With the right products and minimal washing, you can enjoy salon-fresh color for weeks after your visit.