Do you struggle with knowing the right time to color your hair after getting a perm? Contrary to popular belief, there is an optimal waiting period to ensure your locks stay healthy and vibrant.
This article will take you through some important recommendations on timing for coloring after a perm, how to care for your newly permed and colored hair, and even steps on how you can safely color your strands at home.
Ready to unlock the secret of maintaining stunningly beautiful permed plus colored hair? Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
- It is recommended to wait at least three weeks after getting a perm before coloring your hair.
- Perming and coloring your hair on the same day is not advised by experts due to the risk of damage and compromised results.
- To care for permed and colored hair, use sulfate-free and color-safe hair products, deep condition regularly, avoid heat styling, protect from the sun, minimize washing, use a wide-toothed comb, and trim regularly.
- Coloring your hair at home after a perm is possible but requires precautions such as choosing gentle dyes for chemically treated hair, performing patch tests, following instructions carefully, and protecting skin with petroleum jelly or barrier cream.
Table of Contents
How Long After a Perm Should You Wait to Color Your Hair?
It is recommended to wait at least three weeks after getting a perm before coloring your hair.
Recommended waiting time of at least three weeks
To safeguard your hair’s health and ensure optimal results from both treatments, industry experts suggest a waiting period of at least three weeks before coloring after perming. This allows your hair ample time to recover from the chemical process of the perm.
Giving this break helps prevent potential damage that could arise from applying two chemical treatments in quick succession. Following this advice lets you keep your tresses vibrant and beautiful even after multiple salon processes.
Allowing the hair to settle and recover from the perming process
Waiting for your hair to settle and recover from the perming process is crucial before coloring it. The chemicals used in perming can make your hair more vulnerable to damage, so giving it enough time to rest is essential.
Experts recommend waiting a minimum of two weeks, up to two weeks before applying hair dye to minimize the risk of damaging your newly permed locks. This waiting period allows your hair to regain its strength and health, ensuring optimal results when you finally decide to add some color.
Can You Perm and Color Your Hair on the Same Day?
Experts strongly advise against perming and coloring your hair on the same day due to the risk of damaging your hair and compromising the results.
Experts advise against perming and coloring on the same day
Perming and coloring your hair on the same day is not recommended by experts. This is because perming involves using chemicals that can make your hair more susceptible to damage. Adding hair dye immediately after a perm can put excessive stress on your hair, leading to potential damage and compromised results.
It’s best to give your hair time to recover and settle from the perming process before attempting any color treatments. Waiting at least two weeks between perming and coloring will help minimize the risk of damaging your hair while achieving the desired results.
Risks of damaging the hair and compromising results
Coloring your hair immediately after a perm can pose risks of damaging the hair and compromising the results. The chemicals in both processes can be harsh on your hair, and doing them together on the same day may put excessive stress on it.
Waiting for at least two weeks between a perm and coloring is generally recommended to give your hair enough time to recover. This waiting period will help minimize the risk of damage and ensure better results when you do decide to color your newly permed hair.
7 Tips for Caring for Permed and Colored Hair
Maintain the health and longevity of your permed and colored hair with a proper hair care routine, using sulfate-free and color-safe hair products.
Proper hair care routine to maintain the health and longevity of permed and colored hair
To keep your permed and colored hair looking its best, it is essential to follow a proper hair care routine. Here are some tips:
- Use sulfate-free and color-safe hair products: Regular shampoos and conditioners can strip away the color and cause damage to your permed hair. Opt for products specifically formulated for colored and permed hair.
- Deep condition regularly: Perming and coloring can leave your hair dry and brittle. To restore moisture and prevent breakage, use a deep conditioning treatment once a week.
- Avoid heat styling: Excessive heat from flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers can further damage permed and colored hair. Minimize heat styling or use heat protectant sprays before applying heat.
- Protect your hair from the sun: UV rays can fade your hair color, so make sure to shield it by wearing a hat or using UV-protective sprays or serums.
- Minimize washing: Frequent shampooing can strip away the color and natural oils from your permed hair faster. Aim to wash your hair every 2-3 days instead of daily.
- Use a wide-toothed comb: Wet permed and colored hair is more fragile, so use a wide-toothed comb when detangling to minimize breakage.
- Trim regularly: Keep split ends at bay by getting regular trims every 6-8 weeks to maintain the health of your permed and colored locks.
Using sulfate-free and color-safe hair products
To maintain the health and vibrancy of your permed and colored hair, it is important to use sulfate-free and color-safe hair products. Sulfates can strip away the natural oils from your hair, making it dry and more prone to damage.
Color-safe products are specially formulated to protect the longevity of your hair color, preventing fading and maintaining its shine. Look for shampoos, conditioners, and styling products that are labeled sulfate-free and color-safe to ensure that you’re giving your permed and colored hair the care it needs.
Can You Color Your Hair at Home?
Coloring your hair at home after a perm is possible, but it’s important to take certain precautions and follow instructions carefully.
Considerations and precautions for coloring your hair at home after a perm
When coloring your hair at home after a perm, there are a few important considerations and precautions to keep in mind. Here’s what you need to know:
- Wait for at least two weeks after getting the perm before attempting to color your hair. This allows your hair to recover from the chemical process of perming.
- Choose a hair dye that is specifically formulated for permed or chemically treated hair. These products are gentler and less likely to cause further damage.
- Perform a patch test before applying the hair dye all over your head. This helps you determine if you have any allergic reactions or sensitivities to the dye.
- Follow the instructions provided with the hair dye carefully, including the recommended processing time and application techniques.
- Protect your skin by applying petroleum jelly or a barrier cream along your hairline, ears, and neck before applying the dye.
- Use gloves while handling the hair dye to prevent staining on your hands and nails.
- Be mindful of the color outcome when choosing a shade to avoid any unwanted results due to interaction with your permed hair.
- Avoid overlapping the dye onto already permed sections of your hair as it may cause double processing and damage.
- It’s always a good idea to have someone assist you when coloring your hair at home, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
- After coloring, follow up with regular deep conditioning treatments to keep your permed and colored hair healthy and moisturized.
Importance of following instructions and using proper techniques
Following instructions and using proper techniques are crucial when coloring your hair after a perm. It ensures that you achieve the best results while minimizing the risk of damage to your hair.
By carefully reading and following the instructions provided with the hair dye, you can ensure that you apply it correctly and leave it on for the recommended amount of time. This will help prevent over-processing or uneven color application.
Additionally, using proper techniques such as sectioning your hair and applying the dye evenly from root to tip will result in a more professional-looking finish. Whether you choose to visit a salon or do it at home, taking these steps will help you achieve vibrant, long-lasting color without compromising the health of your permed locks.
Conclusion
To ensure the health and longevity of your hair, it is best to wait at least two weeks after a perm before coloring. This will allow your hair to recover from the perming process and minimize the risk of damage.
Consulting with a stylist or hair professional can provide personalized advice on the optimal timing for perming and coloring your hair. Remember, patience is key when it comes to achieving beautiful and healthy locks!
FAQs
1. What is the waiting period for coloring hair after a perm?
The waiting period for coloring after perm varies, but it’s generally recommended to wait at least two weeks before applying hair dye on permed hair.
2. Can I color my hair at home after perming it?
Yes, you can color your own hair at home post-perm; however, make sure to follow all dyeing tips after getting a perm and consider using semipermanent hair dyes initially.
3. Are there specific coloring options for permed hair?
There are different coloring options available depending on how soon you wish to color your freshly permed hair and what effects of the chosen dye have been observed on chemically treated or relaxed strands.
4. How does perm and hair dye compatibility work?
Some perms may weaken the structure of the strand making them more susceptible to damage from dyes, hence screening for products with high compatibility reduces chances of further damaging your locks.
5. What is the timeline for applying semi-permanent dye after a perm?
Although timelines vary by individual cases and manufacturers’ instructions, typically semi-permanent dye should be applied no sooner than 48 hours post-perm treatment
6. Is maintenance higher when combining both perm and color treatments?
Often yes – given that these two processes independently tend to dry out tresses requiring increased hydration efforts through conditioning regimes to preserve overall health & sheen of manes.
