Should You Wash Hair Before Colouring? The Ultimate Prep Guide
There’s a lot of talk about how to care for coloured hair after that dream shade is locked in, but the steps your client takes before they sit in the salon chair can be just as important. One question that often comes up is, ‘should you wash your hair before colouring?’ And it’s a good one to ask – there’s a lot of debate around whether clean hair or ‘dirty’ hair is the best canvas for a flawless shade.
So, keep scrolling to find out when to wash hair before colour or highlights, as well as tips to prepare your clients for the most stunning services…
What’s the Verdict: Should You Wash Hair Before Colouring?
It depends. If your client’s hair is very oily then, yes, they might want to wash their hair around 24 to 48 hours before colouring. However, they don’t need to head to the salon with super squeaky clean locks, so tell them not to wash on the day of their appointment. The day before should leave oil-prone hair and scalps fresh enough for flawless application.
Meanwhile, for normal or dry hair types that aren’t as prone to oiliness, ‘day two’ or ‘day three’ hair can act as the perfect base for applying hair colour. You want a little bit of natural oil in the hair to keep it moisturised and protected, but not so much that it switches up the finished result.
So, in short: there’s no ‘one size fits all’ answer. As long as your client arrives at the salon with hair that’s not too clean but not greasy, it’s ready to go for a fresh coat of their dream shade.
Should You Wash Hair Before Bleaching?
The same rules above apply for lightening hair. Your client won’t want their locks to be too oily beforehand, but you also don’t want hair to be too clean – just somewhere in between. They’ll know their hair washing cycle best, so ahead of their appointment, simply advise them to choose a pre-colour hair wash day that will guarantee that perfect balance. For most, this will mean they can wash their hair around two days before a lightening appointment.
What Happens When You Apply Colour or Lightener to Damp Hair?
There are some cases where you might want your client’s hair to be washed right before their colour, such as when you’re applying formula to damp locks to achieve a softer result. Case in point: a wet balayage, which is exactly what it sounds like – a balayage that’s applied to damp hair for a subtler finish. You could simply mist strands with water to prep for this effect, but you could also apply lightener to freshly shampooed, towel-dried locks.
The same rule applies for certain toners and hair colours. For example, when treating locks to Color Touch or a Shinefinity Colour Glaze, you have the option to wash hair just beforehand and apply your client’s glaze to damp strands. This will enhance the translucent finish of the formula, giving it an even softer and extra seamless glow, with that same signature shine.
3 More Tips to Prep Hair for Colour
1. Hydrate and Nourish Hair
The better the condition of your client’s hair pre-colour, the glossier their shade will appear. That’s why we recommend clients work on nourishment in between salon visits – especially if they’re planning a big transformation. For hydration and repair that suits all hair types, ULTIMATE REPAIR is their perfect regimen. It features a luxuriously sumptuous Shampoo, a creamy yet weightless Conditioner, and one of the biggest hair innovations in the salon world, Miracle Hair Rescue. All three feature a blend of skincare-inspired ingredients, with AHA to rebuild the bonds inside and Omega-9 to replenish the outer layer. Recommend your client uses the three together to repair damage in 90 seconds*. They’ll enjoy 12x smoother hair** with 99% less breakage*** – the ideal base for any colour service.
2. Decide if Hair Needs Cutting First
Usually, hair is trimmed after colouring, but if your client is going for a dramatic new cut, this could alter the way you would apply their highlights and toner. In this case, you may want to cut their hair before you start colouring. This way, you’ve got the foundation for your masterpiece already in place, and can see clearly which areas you want to play up with light and shading. Cover the topic of cutting during consultation, so you’ll go into your client’s appointment with a clear idea of where to start. You can still give strands an extra trim at the end, if needed, to neaten up the finished look.
3. Protect Sensitive Scalps with a Primer
If your client has a sensitive scalp but wants their lightener and/or colour to start close to the root, make sure you protect their skin with a scalp primer first. The Marula Oil Blend Scalp Protecting Primer is a salon essential, featuring a fine nozzle that allows you to target it directly onto the scalp and into the roots of hair. Apply it in horizontal sections, and the protective oil will shield skin during even the most demanding colour transformations, while preventing moisture loss on skin that’s prone to dryness. Best of all, it doesn’t compromise the look or finish of the colour you apply. So, whether you’re sweeping on highlights or creating a colour block mane, the finished look will be flawless from root to tip.
How Long After Colouring Can Hair Be Washed?
Your client has their dream shade. Next up: when can they wash their hair after colouring? There’s no single answer, as it all comes down to their unique hair type and scalp condition. As a general rule, they should wait as long as they can, until hair feels like it’s ready to be washed. Why? There are two key reasons to hold off on the shampoo until their hair tells them it’s time:
- Hair simply doesn’t need to be washed right away. Because you wash your client’s hair when rinsing out their colour formula, it should be fresh and clean enough to be enjoyed for a few days. Some clients with oil-prone hair may then want to lather up around 48 hours post-colouring, but others may be able to wait even longer before reaching for the shampoo.
- Semi-permanent and demi-permanent hair colours only last a certain number of washes. Even the best colours can’t last forever, and each shampoo may shorten the lifespan of your client’s shade. So, if they wash their hair too soon after their appointment when they don’t actually need to, they may find the vibrancy doesn’t stay intact for as long.
When it is time for your client’s hair to be washed after colouring, recommend they use INVIGO Color Brilliance Colour Protection Shampoo, which is pH-optimised to close the cuticle. This helps to boost colour retention by locking the molecules in for boosted vibrancy.
We hope these tips help you when advising your clients ahead of their next colour appointment. Don’t forget to check out our hair colour maintenance guide, so you’ve got them covered pre- and post-transformation.
* When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
** Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.
*** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.
