Perm or Color First and How Long to Wait Between Perm and Color Service

Madonna in the 80s wore a signature look that inspired women and men in droves to get spiral perms for an overly excited amount of volume.

Things have deflated into larger ringlets and soft waves with less volume for a more natural effect here in 2022.

But the biggest questions people are asking about perms have to do with color.  Can you dye permed hair? Can you highlight your permed hair? What about getting a perm and a color service at the same time? Can you perm hair that’s already dyed or visa versa? Let’s get into some answers about perming and hair coloring.

Beautiful girl with long permed and colored hair

How Do Perms Work?

Imagine your hair made up of tiny, connected molecules that can create a shape depending on how they are attached. In its most basic form, a perm occurs when your natural hair bonds are broken and then reformed with chemicals into a different shape. This alteration is permanent and produces a lot of impact on the hair. Your hair-care routine will be vital to the health of your hair after a perm.

Beautiful model girl with long permed hair

Can You Do a Perm and Color at the Same Time?

You can’t get a perm done at the same time as a color service, and it’s not recommended at all to both a perm and highlight the hair on the same day.

With highlights, there is a chemical activator that opens the cuticle of your hair to let in the bleach. The bleach goes to work on your color pigments, altering them by breaking them down. Color services differ from highlights in that molecules are deposited into the hair or on top of it to create a new tone. Both chemical services work at deep levels in the hair, which is why they aren’t compatible with a perm on the same day.

If you do both treatments at the same time, the hair color may turn out differently than expected and is usually a bit lighter than indicated on the package. Color may also fade faster than normal. This happens because the cuticles can’t close properly to seal the color. Neither the curls nor the color would turn out the way you wanted.

Beautiful girl with long permed and colored hair

How Long After a Perm Can You Dye Your Hair?

You should wait at least two weeks after perming service to dye your hair.

The reason for getting your perm first has to do with the integrity of your hair. You will want to see how well your hair reacts to these chemicals and what kind of condition it’s left in. If it’s healthy, you can move forward with a color service two weeks or more down the road. It’s not, however, recommended to do color or highlight services in conjunction with a perm. This waiting is necessary because perm and permanent dyes contain strong chemicals. Coloring your hair right after permanent waving could overprocess your hair and make it susceptible to damage.

curly hair woman with long permed hair

Can You Apply Semi-Permanent Color After a Perm?

Even if you use a semi-permanent dye, it is not recommended to dye your hair immediately after the perm service.

After a perm, the hair is very porous, and it is necessary to wait at least a week for the cuticles to settle down. Overly porous hair won’t absorb semi-permanent color evenly. Semi-permanent dyes won’t damage hair because they only deposit color without involving strong chemicals. However, the outcome probably wouldn’t be what you had expected.

How Long Should You Wait After a Perm to Get Highlights?

You should wait at least two weeks after a perm to apply highlights to your hair.

Highlights involve the use of bleach, which can damage permed hair and leave it overly porous.  It is recommended that chemical treatments performed in a short time frame should be performed only by a professional cosmetologist.

But there are still ways to get both a perm and a highlighted look – highlighted hair extensions.

Use the perm to create the curl pattern you want, then if you’re happy with your perm, go get highlighted extensions! It’s the perfect solution for people who want the texture of a perm with the highlights of their dreams. But make sure to work with a trained extension expert for the best results.

Attractive young woman with highlighted and permed hair

Can You Perm Colored or Highlighted Hair?

If your hair is overly bleached or damaged from frequent color services, you are not a good candidate for perm service.

Too many chemical treatments can result in severe hair damage, split ends, and breakage. It is also possible that a perm would make hair a bit lighter looking. After dyeing, your hair needs a rest. Also, make sure to do a chunk test before perming service. It is always advisable to consult a hair professional before using any sort of chemical treatment on your hair.

Nowadays, there are mild perms formulated for colored hair. Carefully read the label to ensure that the product is meant for color-treated hair.

In recent years, with the revolution of bond restoration treatments such as Olaplex, it is possible to do permanent waving on recently dyed hair. Olaplex restorative treatment is applied by a hair professional to prepare hair for perm service. Olaplex allows hairstylists to do multiple chemical treatments with minimal damage.

Modern Perms

Modern perm formulas are gentler and ammonia-free. The curlers are larger and vary in size. This way you can get loose curls that vary in size and look more natural. You can choose between beach waves, spiral curls or just to get more volume and texture for longer-lasting hairstyles. Modern perms are less damaging to hair and last shorter than traditional perms. Your hair will grow out nicely without being too obvious.

If you haven’t heard of the viral hair trend that involves a perm on medium-length men’s hair (cheekily coined “the merm”), then you’re welcome. Now you have heard about it.

What’s incredible about this trend isn’t so much that men get perms, but that perms have always found a way to stay relevant.

a beautiful woman with highlighted permed hair

What Is the Best Semi-Permanent Hair Color to Cover Gray?

When you first start going gray, it might seem like your only options are to embrace it gracefully or to commit to regular upkeep with permanent coloring.  However, semi-permanent hair dyes are a great alternative, providing users with more flexibility to camouflage their strands of salt and pepper.  These hair dyes can be used on their own or in combination with permanent hair dyes to reduce exposure to some of the harsh chemicals often found in permanent dyes. 

Semi-permanent dyes are gentler on hair and wash out more quickly than permanent dyes do; this makes for a less harsh look when roots grow out, and it provides users with more opportunity to experiment with their look without the commitment to a permanent dye color.

Adult Asian woman with Gray Hair

Pros and Cons of Semi-Permanent Hair Dye

Using semi-permanent colors to cover grays has its advantages and limitations.

Pros

  1. The biggest advantage of using semi-permanent paints is the absence of harsh chemicals that you will find in permanent dyes. Not only do semi-permanent colors not damage the hair, but they also condition your locks and add softness and shine.
  2. Semi-permanent dyes are easier to use without the help of professionals because they come ready to use and you only need to follow the instruction.
  3. Applying a semi-permanent color does not make the commitment to regular dyeing in a certain shade because the color will fade after a few shampoos, and you can replace it with a different shade. Semi-permanent color is a good choice for special occasions when you want to refresh your hair color without committing.
  4. If you are planning to transition to gray hair, and are reluctant to commit to permanent color, you can experiment with semi-permanent colors and test different shades.

Apart from these advantages, semi-permanent colors also have some limitations and cons.

Cons

  1. For the color to show on the hair, it is necessary to lighten the hair, especially if your hair is dark and you want to go lighter or use a fashion color.
  2. Semi-permanent dyes only deposit pigment on the outside of the hair shaft, so they wash out with shampooing and need to be applied more often than permanent dyes.
  3. Semi-permanent colors are not always efficient at covering gray hair, especially if your hair is of low porosity and does not absorb dyes well.
  4. Although the dying product comes ready to use, the application can be messy. Most semi-permanent colors tend to stain your towels and pillowcases.

Does Semi-Permanent Color Cover Grays?

How well the semi-permanent color will cover gray hair depends on the color and the type of your hair.

Porous gray hair can be a good canvas for semi-permanent dyes. If your hair is porous, the color will be absorbed more easily and may last longer.

If you have fewer gray hairs, it will be easier to achieve the effect of coverage and blending with the rest of your hair.

If you have a lot of grays and the rest of your hair is light, it will be easier to find a shade that will color both your gray hair and the rest of your hair.

If you have dark hair that’s starting to grey semi-permanent color can be a fun way to camouflage your grays. It will look like you have vivid highlights instead of your grey streaks. If you like changing your look, this can bring some freshness into your everyday life. Go ahead, you deserve some fun these days.

Best Semi-Permanent Hair Colors for Gray Coverage

This post contains links to Amazon. The publisher may get paid if You purchase something through the links without additional costs to You.

When purchasing a semi-permanent dye, you should stick to reputable brands and stay away from cheap unknown brands. Some so-called semi-permanent days can burn your scalp. I learned it the hard way (B…..).

1. Clairol Professional Beautiful Advanced Gray Solutions, Semi-Permanent Hair Color for Gray Coverage

Be aware that this semi-permanent color is not intended to cover hair that is 100% gray. This product will successfully cover and blend grays if you have up to 50% gray hair. For a higher percentage of gray, it will be hard to obtain the desired blending effect.

This mild semi-permanent dye does not contain ammonia and peroxide. You also do not need to apply heat to activate the desired color. The color develops with the help of oxygen from the air. Finally, instead of drying out the hair, it will leave your locks feeling soft and shiny.

Additional plusses are that the product doesn’t have an unpleasant smell and won’t make a huge mess in your bathroom.

The shades are marked by numbers from 1 to 10 starting from black as the darkest to platinum blonde as the lightest one. Shades are inter-mixable.

The achieved gray coverage lasts up to 12 shampoos. If you wash your hair frequently, the color may fade faster. Rain and sweat will not cause the color to bleed.

How to Use

The dye comes ready to use which is very convenient. It is advisable to wear gloves as the dye will stain your hands and nails.

The color should be applied to freshly washed and towel-dried hair. The hair must be damp to accept the color. Leave the product on for 25 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water without using shampoo.

If you have long, thick hair, you may need to purchase 2 bottles. If you don’t use all the content from the bottle, you can save leftovers. Just close the bottle well and store it in a dry and cool place.

2. WELLA Color Charm Paints Semi-Permanent Hair Dye

The product comes in 18 semi-permanent inter-mixable shades, including a clear one. This semi-permanent dye will cover greys. How the color will look on the rest of the hair depends on your current color. If you have dark hair and want to cover gray, this could be a fun way to camouflage your greys. The color will show through on gray hair so you can have colored highlights. If you use Chrome shade it can color your grays in shiny silver color.

If you want the color to show on the rest of your hair, you will need to pre-lighten your dark hair, like with any other fashion colors. If you do not bleach dark hair, the color will not be visible on it.

The color will last up to 12 washes if you use mild shampoos and don’t wash your hair frequently.

How to Use

Put the dye in a bowl and use gloves. Apply the product to clean dry hair with a color brush. Comb through if you want to distribute dye evenly through your entire hair. Leave on for 20 minutes or a bit longer for gray hair. Rinse until the water is clear. Apply conditioner and rinse it thoroughly.

3 ARCTIC FOX Vegan and Cruelty-Free Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye

ARCTIC FOX color is formulated with vegan ingredients that won’t dry or damage your hair. This dye can be used often because it conditions the hair and restores shine. The product is ready to use without mixing or adding other ingredients.

Although the dyes are not intended specifically for gray hair, it is possible to cover gray hair or blend your grays, making them less visible. There is also the option to dye your grays in vibrant colors so that they look like brightly colored highlights.

To achieve better coverage, use darker and more pigmented dyes, that can deposit color on unbleached gray hair. ARCTIC FOX has a line of colors for unbleached hair.

If you have dark hair with some grays and use vivid color, the dye will leave a subtle tint in your dark hair and color your grays in vivid color. This can look cool if you like this kind of color adventure. With washing, your grays will turn pastel, giving your hair lots of dimensions.

The color may last between 4-8 weeks on bleached hair and 2-6 weeks on unbleached hair. The color longevity depends on washing frequency and your hair care regimen. 

How to Use

Since the product comes ready to use, it is easy to apply it. Use gloves and protect the hairline with coconut oil. Use a color brush and apply the dye to clean the dried hair. Wrap your hair in a plastic cap and leave the product to work for half an hour or longer. Rinse your hair well and use a conditioner.

attractive middle-aged Asian woman with long silver hair

How to Make Semi-Permanent Color to Hold on Gray Hair

Unbleached hair doesn’t take the color well. Here are some basic recommendations on how to make your gray hair take color and how to make the color last longer.

  1. Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo before applying the dye. Oil and product build-up can interfere with the dying process, and you can get uneven color. Clean hair will be more ready to absorb the color.
  2. After rinsing the dye from the hair, do not wash your hair with shampoo. Just rinse the dye thoroughly with lukewarm water and apply the conditioner. Then rinse the conditioner thoroughly with lukewarm to cool water.
  3. After dying, wait a few days before washing your hair with shampoo. Use a mild shampoo and wash your hair only when necessary. Make sure that the water you use to wash your hair is not hot.
  4. Use a dry shampoo in between shampooing as it doesn’t encourage color fading like a liquid shampoo.
middleaged woman with grey hair

12 Timeless Hairstyles for Business Women

Picking a hairstyle for the workplace can be a daunting task. Not only do you need to go over the basic guidelines provided in your professional setting, but you’ll want to effectively communicate your drive and passion with your look. There are a variety of hairstyles to think through, but ultimately the one you choose will speak to your unique personality and what you plan to bring to the table in a professional setting.

Hairstyles for Working Women

1. A Sleek High Pony

A Sleek High Ponytail

In a fast-paced work environment, you can’t go wrong with a sleek ponytail. With minimal styling effort, this look will get you through your day in style and without the fuss of hair falling in your eyes.

2. The Power Bob

The Power Bob Hairstyle

Clean, strong lines in your bob-length haircut are a beautiful way to say, precision is important to you. When you want to communicate meticulous attention to detail on the job, make sure your hairstyle speaks volumes.

3. Balayage in the Workplace

Balayage in the Workplace

Sometimes the best work attire is a great hairstyle. Keep things relevant and fresh by focusing on modern color. Balayage speaks volumes in an environment where you need to communicate forward-thinking and modern simplicity.

4. The Undone Bob

The undane bob hairdo

It looks effortless, modern, balanced, and chic. The undone bob goes with any style of work attire and carries a professional yet creative vibe.

5. Natural Waves Equals Natural Charisma

Natural Waves

Letting your hair wear its natural texture in the workplace showcases your charisma. Where once letting your hair air dry evoked unfavorable descriptions, times have changed, and we see the personality and beauty of natural waves in the workplace.

6. A Shaved Undercut

A Shaved Undercut

What’s cool about this look is not just the look itself, but its versatility. Need a day where your look is less “edgy?” Just flip your hair to the opposite side to cover up the shaved portion. Or wear it as is. Either way, this look is creative and edgy and great for communicating confidence on the job.

7. A Long Pixie

A Long Pixie

There hasn’t been a decade so far where some version of the long pixie hasn’t been “in.” For the workplace, this look is manageable and takes very little time to style while still looking professional and chic.

8. Professional Women and Braided Hairstyles

Black Business Professional Women and Braided Hairstyles

Not only do braids accentuate beauty for black women in a business professional setting, but they carry a history unlike any other. Proudly wearing various braid styles in the work setting is something that carries a profound effect.

9. Side Braid

Braids in the Workplace

Braids are in, and they are the perfect way to keep your hair neat while also showcasing beauty. Taking only minutes to style, it’s a perfect look for your everyday work wear.

10. Grey Elegance

Grey Elegance

Natural, grey hair color doesn’t speak to age, but elegance. Wearing a chic style and sporting your natural grey color is a great way to carry yourself professionally in the workplace.

11. A Platinum Pixie Cut

A platinum pixie cut

A platinum pixie cut has always been cutting edge, no matter what decade it’s in. Wearing this style is a strong way to communicate that you’ve got things under control.

12. The beauty of Natural Texture

The beauty of Natural Texture

There’s no better way to showcase your creativity and ambition than by wearing the beauty of your own natural hair texture. When you want to reveal your confidence, opt for natural curls styled with moisture-based products.

When Is The Right Time to Wash Your Hair Before and After Coloring?

Should You Wash Hair Before Color Appointment?

Neither squeaky clean hair nor dirty hair with a lot of sweet and product buildup is ideal for coloring. For best results, it is recommended that you wash your hair a day or two before permanent coloring.

The right time for washing depends on what type of color you are going to use and the condition of your hair and scalp. When it comes to permanent coloring, hair professionals don’t recommend applying color to freshly washed hair.

a woman choosing to use or not to use shampoo

Natural oils produced on your scalp act as a protective barrier against dye chemicals. If your hair is freshly washed, the dye chemicals would additionally dry out the hair, which may result in damage and hair breakage. To avoid any damage to your hair and scalp, you shouldn’t wash your hair right before coloring. An unwashed scalp is less exposed to chemicals which helps prevent burning and itching.

A lot of sweat in your hair can also interfere with the dying process. If you have been exercising, you should wash your hair to eliminate the buildup of sweat and oil and then wait a day or two before applying the dye.

If you do not have a buildup of hair sprays, gels, and other products in your hair, wash your hair with a mild shampoo for 1 to 2 days before visiting the salon. Gently massage the scalp without scratching the skin. The scratches are susceptible to irritation when dye chemicals get in contact with your scalp. A light oil coating formed during the next two days will shield your scalp and hair from strong dye chemicals such as ammonia and peroxide.

Should You Use Clarifying Shampoo Before Coloring

If you have a buildup from dry shampoo, hair oils, and other hair products, this could prevent the color from absorbing into your hair. In the case of heavy buildup, use deep cleansing shampoo and wait at least 2 days before dying. Since deep cleansing shampoo strips natural oils, you must wait until sebum-producing glands restore the natural protective oil layer. Don’t use any hair product before the coloring service.

a stylist washes client's hair in the salon

Hair Washing Before Bleaching

If a hair coloring service involves bleaching regrown hair, natural oils can be vital for protection. Bleach is a very harsh agent, and a fresh wash can lead to severe scalp irritation. You should refrain from washing your hair for 2-3 days before bleaching. This waiting period will give you enough time for your oil glands to build a protective oil layer on your scalp.

Should You Wash Your Hair Before Semi-Permanent Coloring?

If you are going to use semi-permanent color, your hair must be clean and free from product buildup. Product residues can affect the dye’s ability to adhere to the hair. Semi-permanent colors can be applied to freshly washed hair, as these dyes don’t contain chemicals that could irritate the skin or dry out your hair. After washing, wait no longer than 24 hours to apply semi-permanent color. Don’t use any styling product before the coloring service.

It is always a good idea to talk to your colorist before visiting the salon to see what they suggest for your specific service.

woman with semi-permanent color in the salon

Can You Wash Your Hair Immediately After Dying It?

You shouldn’t wash your hair immediately after coloring. The cuticles are not completely closed immediately after the dying process and the shampooing will wash out some dye molecules. The cuticle takes about 72 hours to fully reseal and lock in your fresh color. Try to refrain from washing your hair until that period ends.

After coloring your hair with semi-permanent dye, rinse out the dye with lukewarm to cool water. Wait three days before washing your hair with shampoo. This three-day non-washing period will allow dye molecules to adhere better to the hair, so the color will be vibrant for longer. Since your hair was clean before applying the semi-permanent color, waiting shouldn’t be a problem.

How Often Should You Wash Colored Hair?

Do not wash dyed hair too frequently because water opens the cuticles, and a bit of color will be washed away with each shampoo. Wash your hair only when it is dirty. 2 washes per week are acceptable for colored hair and shouldn’t cause premature color fading. Use shampoos intended for colored hair and avoid those that contain sulfate-based detergents. Set the water temperature to lukewarm or cooler as hot water lifts the cuticles allowing color to be washed out.

While you should avoid dry shampoo immediately before coloring, this product is an inevitable part of your post-color hair care regimen. Dry shampoos keep excess oil under control and help you delay your wash frequency. Dry shampoos don’t open the cuticles like liquid shampoos, so they won’t speed up color fading. Invest in a quality dry shampoo intended for colored hair and formulated without harmful chemicals. Oil-absorbing powder formulas are gentler and eco-friendlier than aerosol dry shampoos.

Reduced washing frequency is especially important after semi-permanent color treatment. This color is short-lived and washes easily with shampooing. Only use mild shampoos designed for colored hair and avoid washing hair with hot water. Dry shampoo is a lifesaver for semi-permanent color. You can go a few extra days without shampooing which helps extend the life of your color.

woman with freshly dyed hair
line

Color Remover vs Bleach: Which One is Better for Your Hair?

Color correction can be one of the most essential yet time-consuming and expensive services. There are costly steps to take when something has gone awry with your hair color.

But we’ve all been there. Maybe the advertising for that new black hair dye caught your attention “want perfect hair? Try the new black silk color line and leave of legacy of envy behind you …” Black silk? Envy? Sounds perfect, except in the end you’re crying in your colorist’s chair. 

Is Color Remover Better Than Bleach?

salon hair coloring service

In this situation and many more like it, one of the first steps to correct color is to remove what was put on that caused the problem i.e. the infamous “black silk.”

You might be wondering how do you remove hair dye? The two most common ways are either color remover or bleach.

So, what’s better, bleach or color remover? One reason many professionals turn to color remover instead of bleach for dye removal is that color remover is good at just binding to the dye molecules to remove them while leaving your natural color pigments alone in the hair.

Bleach on the other hand strips everything out of your hair, even the naturally occurring color pigments and not just the dye molecules.

Consequently, color removal is a gentler approach than bleaching. You should opt for a color stripper whenever it could provide you with the base for a new, desired color. You will get a kind of pre-bleached look which you then can re-color. Keep in mind that color removers can’t reverse the effects of the bleaching process.  

If you want to go lighter than your natural color, color removers won’t do the job. Since color removers can’t lighten the natural color, fake blondes still need bleach to lighten regrown roots and maintain their blonde shade.

smiling girl after using color remover for semi-permanent dyes

What Kinds of Color Removers are There?

Some color strippers are supposed to remove permanent/oxidative hair dyes, while others work for removing direct dyes which just stain the outermost layer of your hair.

One of the most popular permanent dye removers is the Malibu CPR Color Pigment Remover. It’s a professional-grade color remover that contains ingredients that use natural properties to remove unwanted color pigments. It removes mineral buildup and permanent dye from hair while preserving the integrity of your hair. Generally speaking, this brand is trusted for its ability to do the job.

Another permanent dye stripper is the Color Oops Extra Strength Remover. It’s specifically designed to target permanent hair color removing dye molecules from your hair shaft, although it’s not the best option for removing vivid colors. This bleach-free formula leaves hair ready to immediately take a new color. Most other removers ask you to wait to reapply.

Some color removers are formulated to strip semi-permanent colors. Color X-Change Phase-Out Gentle Dye Decolorizer is a mild vitamin C-based decolorizer that is supposed to be left in your hair overnight. You may need several applications until you reach a good base for your desired new color shade.  

How Bleach Removes Hair Color?

hairdresser using bleach to lighten hair regrowth

The way bleach works is by entering the hair cuticle with the help of another ingredient (the developer). Once it’s inside, it can attach to the natural hair pigments and change them, making them colorless.

The result of this process means dark hair can get lighter. Or medium hair can get lighter. Or light hair can get lighter until a certain point called “platinum,” where there are no more natural pigments to change.

But with the change in those natural pigments, you also deplete the integrity and strength of the hair. This is why bleach is a more drastic measure to take when considering color removal.

How Does Color Remover Work?

Blonde woman with stripped hair color

Color removers are definitely a gentler way to get rid of unwanted color. Most color removers don’t contain peroxide and won’t damage your hair in any way. Color strippers dissolve artificial color pigments, allowing you to wash them away.

Some mild color lifters are more like hair masks and need multiple applications to get the results you are aiming for. If your natural hair doesn’t need lightening a color remover is a safer way to go. They are generally safe for use at home, although a hair color specialist will easier get you back to your natural hue.

Unlike a color remover, bleach is a strong chemical that should be only used by hair professionals. Applying bleach improperly can damage the hair cuticles and leave your strands dry and overly porous. If you decide to remove unwanted colors yourself, a color stripper is a safer option.

Can You Use Bleach After Color Removal?

Since color removers only reverse the effects of hair coloring, the integrity of your hair won’t be compromised due color removal process. However, it is not recommended to bleach hair immediately after color removal. Wait at least one week and do deep conditioning treatment to restore lost moisture. If your hair is generally in good condition, it will be ready for bleaching service after a week. To stay on the safe side, let a professional colorist lighten your hair.

Hair bleaching at a salon

How to Moisturize Dry Hair After Bleaching or Color Removal

Moisture is one of the best ways to maintain the health of your hair after a more intense service like bleaching. Here are some ways to increase and/or maintain a healthy amount of moisture after using bleach:

  1. Don’t use shampoos that contain sulfates, parabens, sodium chloride, or drying alcohol.
  2. Invest in quality conditioners, leave-in conditioners, and hair masks. Be sure to use them regularly.
  3. Always use a quality heat protectant after shampoo and conditioner.
  4. Use Olaplex or other bond-repairing products to revitalize and strengthen hair and minimize the chances of breakage.

Although milder than bleach, color removers can also leave your hair dry. Use a hydrating hair mask to restore lost moisture and make the new color shade look more glamorous.

Charming brunette woman with freshly colored hair

How to Remove Semi-Permanent Hair Dye at Home? 4 Methods

Semi-permanent dyes are gentle alternatives to permanent colors. These non-damaging dyes only coat the outside of the hair shaft with pigments and wash out gradually with every shampooing. The fading process can last anywhere from 6 to 10 shampoos depending on the coloring product you are using, your hair porosity, and your washing habits.

Although semi-permanent dyes fade much faster than permanent hair color, bright semi-permanent colors are not always easy to remove from the hair. If your hair is overprocessed with bleach, the pigment can get absorbed into your strands and hang in there for a while. Over time, you can expect to have an uneven color as some areas with healthy hair fade faster than those with over-bleached hair. The stubborn semi-permanent dye that has reached the cortex fades slowly and may be very difficult to remove. 

If you are not thrilled with your actual color, the safest way to get rid of it is to leave color removal to a color specialist. A skilled colorist and professional color stripping products make results more predictable.

Cute girl with fashion hair color

How to Strip Semi-Permanent Hair Dye

1. Semi-Permanent Hair Color Removers

If you opt to remove your color at home, use products that will not damage your hair. You can use gentle, peroxide-free color strippers that lift the semi-permanent color, without harming your hair or skin.

Other safe ways to remove unwanted color at home include using the color-lifting properties of baking soda and vitamin C and washing hair with a deep-cleansing shampoo.

Cute girl with semi-permanent hair color

The Gentlest Color Stripper: Color X-Change Phase-Out Gentle Dye Decolorizer

Why this product?

  1. It removes the color without damage.
  2. Doesn’t contain bleach
  3. Free of cruelty
  4. Made in the USA

This vitamin C-based color-fading treatment comes in two small pockets. The first of them is a dye decolorizer, while the second one is a conditioning mask that is formulated to restore hydration after color removal.

For medium-length hair of average density, one packet will do. You should mix the content with warm water until the mixture turns into a gel. Apply the gel to freshly washed towel-dried hair (no conditioner). Cover your head with a shower cap, and leave the treatment overnight. Wash in the morning and much of the color will come out with shampoo.

The product doesn’t contain bleach and wouldn’t hurt your hair at all but you may have to use it a couple of times to lift the stubborn semi-permanent color.

The drawback is the smell which is unpleasant but not overpowering. Some people may experience slight itching on the scalp, so if you have a sensitive scalp, try to work it through the length of the hair and don’t rub it into your scalp.

girl with blue-semi-permanent hair color

2. How to Remove Semi-Permanent Hair Dye with Baking Soda

Thanks to its alkaline properties, baking soda can lift the cuticle and remove semi-permanent dyes or slightly fade permanent dyes.

The ingredients you will need:

  • 2 tablespoons of baking soda
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 tablespoon OF apple cider vinegar

Steps:

  1. Mix baking soda and other ingredients in water to form a paste.
  2. Wash your hair with warm water to open the cuticle and then apply the paste.
  3. Apply the paste and let it sit in your hair for 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Rinse off the paste with water.

It may take a few washes to see the noticeable results.

Baking soda doesn’t contain moisturizing ingredients you’ll find in shampoos and conditioners and using it multiple times may leave your hair feeling dry. Use the paste sparingly and do deep conditioning treatments to restore lost moisture.

3. How To Use Vitamin C and Clarifying Shampoo to Remove Hair Dye?

Clarifying shampoos contain more cleansing agents and less nourishing ingredients than regular shampoos. Sulfate-based clarifying shampoos are known for their capability to strip natural oils and color from the hair. Make sure not to use a color-safe formula for color-removing purposes.

To boost the color-stripping potential of clarifying shampoos, use warm water to saturate your hair. The heat will raise the cuticle and trapped color pigments will wash out easier. Apply shampoo to create leather and put on a shower cap. Wait for about 10 minutes to let the shampoo work. Then thoroughly rinse your hair until the water becomes clear.

You may need to repeat clarifying process until your current color fades to a softer shade that can be easily recolored. To avoid over-drying your hair, deep condition it and clarify no more than necessary.

4. Vitamin C Hair Color Remover

Hair colorists know about the hair-lightening properties of vitamin C and often use it in their color-stripping mixtures. Since vitamin C is a natural substance, you can safely add it to your shampoo and use it for color lightening and color fading purposes.

The simplest method is to use vitamin C in powder form and mix it with your clarifying shampoo. Wrap the hair with a plastic cap and leave the mixture to work for 30-60 minutes.

If you don’t have vitamin C powder, you can crash vitamin C tablets and mix the powder with the shampoo you will apply. Vitamin C helps to break down pigments, so you can wash them out of your hair.

Although the methods we mention are natural, make sure to do lots of conditioning to restore lost moisture and make your hair ready for a new color adventure.

Beautiful girl with fashionable hair color

How Long Does Toner Last and How Often Should You Tone Your Hair?

There’s this crucial step when you change your hair color that comes right after the highlight but just before the blow-dry style.

It’s the kind of step that makes all the difference for the blonde who wants to look icy platinum versus the blonde who wants to be ash grey. Or the brunette who wants to be mushroom brown versus the brunette who’s going for a cool violet undertone – get it right, and your hair exudes a perfect, shiny hue.

So, what is it?

What is Hair Toner?

young girl with toned blode hair

Usually a semi-permanent hair dye, a toner deposits color back into the hair that has been previously highlighted. Highlighting lifts the darker pigments out of the hair by breaking them down. The toner can then come in and add color back in to create a shift in hue. If your hair looks yellow, you can shift it to a pale, icy blonde. Or if your color isn’t golden enough, you can tone it to reflect warmer light by increasing the gold in the toner.

They are wonderful, incredible tools. So how often and when should you tone your hair? It all depends on what you’re going for.

When to Tone Your Hair?

If you get highlights that are too warm naturally, you’ll want to add in a toner. The darker your hair is naturally, the more warmth you’ll get when you highlight it. Just after getting your highlights is a good time to tone. But there are other times it comes in handy as well.

Toners are only semi-permanent hair dyes, so they fade after a certain amount of time. A good time frame for a toner refreshment is about 6 weeks after your initial appointment. Stay consistent with these and your highlight schedule. Your hair is getting trained and the more regular you are with appointments, the better it will look.

Getting a toner to deepen your color is a good option as well. If you are a lighter color and are going dark again, toning it down can maintain a nice level of dimension while deepening your color to the level you want it.

Another good option for when to tone would be using a clear gloss/toner to add shine after your regular color appointment. This looks incredible on single-process color, especially on dark hair. It seals down your cuticle, adds shine, and leaves you feeling refreshed.

How To Brighten And Tone Your Hair In One Easy Step with WELLA Colorcharm Toners by ellebangs

How Long Does a Toner Last?

Toner can last about 6 to 8 weeks. But many factors affect this duration and there are some things you should avoid to prevent stripping. For example, if you are using low-quality shampoo, your color can get stripped faster. Typically, with chlorides and sulfates, you’ll see these kinds of negative results.

It’s not fiction, there are plenty of products that strip your toner. Some of these include salt and sulfate-based shampoos, clarifying shampoos, chlorine in pools, direct prolonged sunlight, porous hair, drugstore shampoos with “extra strength” on the label, lack of moisture, and more.

The moisture piece is incredibly important for locking in color. Using quality shampoos and conditioners, oils, and heat protectants will protect your strands and keep your hair cuticles healthy. Healthy cuticles can receive color and hold onto it better than very dry ones.

Creating a foundation in your routine consists of a quality shampoo and conditioner, oil, and a heat protectant. Staying consistent with these will maintain your toner!

To protect your toner from the sun in the summer months, consider purchasing a sunscreen product designed for your hair. Always apply the product according to the directions and your color will be preserved. For chlorine, slather your dry hair in a moisture-rich conditioner and tie it in a high bun before entering the pool. The conditioner will act as a natural barrier to the water.

Related Article

Happy girl with toned blonde hair

How Often Should You Tone?

I recommend sticking to the 6-8 week toning schedule for most types of highlights or when deepening your color. When going darker though, after several sessions, you’ll be able to space it out further to 10-12 weeks and add permanent dyes to your schedule.

If you had to get corrective color done, toning may be required more frequently in the beginning, like every 3-4 weeks.

Does Toner Damage the Hair?

Toners add a lot of shine and help seal down your cuticle. When using professional products, toners can be good for your hair.

However, some toners may contain a high alcohol content which increases shine but can affect the hair’s health negatively. Make sure you work with a trusted professional for applying quality toners if you’re worried about the health of your hair. They can guide you in the right direction, keeping your hair safe and healthy while combating yellow and orange strands left by the bleach.

a French girl with beautifully toned highlights

What to Do Once Your Keratin Treatment Starts to Wear Off?

How Long Does Keratin Treatment Last in Your Hair?

Keratin treatments are a semi-permanent straightening process for those with unruly curls. The effects fade over time, with the moisture from each hair wash opening hair cuticles and stripping away some of the keratin coatings. There is no unsightly demarcation line between keratin-treated and regrown hair since the treatment fades away gradually as your hair grows. The straighter your hair is, the harder it is to notice the difference between treated and regrown hair.

By the time the root regrowth of your natural hair becomes too long, the effects of the treatment on the rest of the hair will almost disappear.

a girl brushing her keratin straightened hair

Traditional keratin treatments, if done professionally, last approximately 3-4 months. This is dependent on your hair texture and how well you adhere to the aftercare instructions. Formaldehyde-free smoothing formulas are designed to combat frizz, allowing hair to retain its natural curl pattern. Results can vary depending on the selected treatment and may last anywhere between 1 and 5 months.

How Does Freshly Keratin Treated Hair Looks Like?

Keratin treatment fills the cracks in the hair structure making your hair look healthy and shiny. The treatment forms the layer of keratin around hair strands. This keratin film blocks humidity that would otherwise cause strands to swell, resulting in a frizzy appearance. Curly hair gets straight in shape and temporarily loses the ability to hold a curl. Your morning hair routine is effortless, and you can enjoy gorgeous straight hairstyles. You don’t need your flat iron anymore. After blow-drying your hair feels silky smooth with a sleek and glossy finish.

Beautiful brunette woman with long keratin straightened hair

What Are the Signs that Your Keratin Treatment Has Started to Fade?

Over time your keratin treatment begins to show signs of wear and tear. If your hair grows fast, and your natural texture is curly or coarse, your untreated roots will be more noticeable. The treated portions of your hair will begin to return to their original state, which may result in an uneven and messy texture until your hair eventually returns to its normal shape.

Another problem you may experience when your treatment starts to wear off is frizzy hair. That is exactly what the treatment is aimed to prevent.

A good thing about a keratin treatment is that you can use flat iron without fear that it will speed up the fading process. However, some may not want to return to their flat iron again.

So now what? Some women feel the need to get a new treatment to maintain a straight, smooth look. Others may want to speed up the fading process to return their hair to its natural state faster.

The best thing you can do is to try to be patient and treat your hair gently.

woman holding hair with faded keratin ntreatment

What Options Do You Have Once Your Keratin Treatment Starts to Fade?

There are basically 3 options available:

  1. Re-Apply the keratin treatment.
  2. Speed up the fading process.
  3. Deep condition and use keratin-enriched products.

How Often Can You Do Keratin Treatment?

If you like the results provided by the keratin treatment service and looking forward to making the next appointment, you should be aware of potential side effects.

Keratin treatments are chemical-based, so most hair professionals recommend a maximum of three treatments per year. This means waiting for a minimum of 4 months between treatments. Some stylists advise waiting 6 months between treatments, especially if your hair has undergone a formaldehyde-based treatment. Those with damaged and fine hair should wait longer than those with thick hair.

The next keratin treatment will be applied to the entire hair strand, not just the regrown roots. Frequent applications can result in a flat look and brittle strands that break easily. More frequent keratin treatments can also increase the possibility of unwanted effects due to chemical exposure and damage from repeating passes of the hot flat iron.

I suggest building a good relationship with the stylist you can trust and letting him/her determine when it is the right time to re-apply the treatment.

How to Remove Keratin from Your Hair?

If you are not interested in reapplying keratin treatment and want your natural texture back as soon as possible, you can speed up the fading process to some extent. Just oppositely treat your hair as your aftercare instructions say. Use sulfate and salt-containing shampoos and wash your hair more frequently than usual. Also, use sea salt spray and clarify more often.

However, be aware that harsh shampoos can dry out your hair.  

woman holding hair with keratin treatment washed out

Give Your Hair Some TLC: Deep Condition and Use Keratin-Infused Hair Products

Deep Conditioning

To combat dryness and frizz before your next appointment, deep conditioning is the answer. Deep conditioning hydrates your hair and gives it all the necessary nutrients. Incorporating deep conditioning treatment into your weekly routine will temporarily fix problems with frizz and improve the overall look of your hair.

Keratin Shampoos and Conditioners

Keratin-infused shampoos and conditioners contain small particles of keratin that can adhere to your strands and stay there for 2-3 washes. These products create volume, reduce the appearance of frizz, and make hair look smoother. Check the label and look for ‘keratin amino acids’ or ‘hydrolyzed keratin’ on the ingredient list.

Keratin Enriched Leave-in Conditioners and Serums

Unlike shampoo and conditioner, which are meant to be rinsed after a short application, some products infused with keratin are formulated to stay in your hair. Keratin leave-in conditioners and serums have more potent reparative properties to temporarily restore damaged strands and tame frizzy and flyaway hair.

In Conclusion

If you have fine and thin hair, you are probably not an ideal candidate for receiving keratin treatment. If you do apply keratin treatment, make sure to wait 4-6 months to redo the treatment. If your hair is thick, coarse, and unmanageable, you may see noticeable benefits from receiving a keratin straightening or smoothing service. I suggest opting for formaldehyde- and aldehyde-free formulas that will combat frizz and increase manageability. You also will be able to re-apply formaldehyde-free formulas more often than formaldehyde-based formulas because there are fewer harsh chemicals.

young woman with beauty long keratin-treated hair

How Often to Touch up Gray Roots and what Volume Developer to Use

Gray Hair is the decorative tinsel you wish you could put on your Christmas tree and get off your head. Instead, these dust-colored strands make sure to shine right in the most obvious places, like your part line and hairline perimeter.

In the early stages, you may have resorted to plucking each newcomer. That was short-lived. It only seemed to drive their growth in droves. This is when you realized these aren’t shreds of demur, pretty tinsel trying to enhance your shine, nay-nay, these are well-organized multipliers ready to take over your entire head’s color palette, one strand at a time.

So, What Can You Do?

a woman with red hair showing her gray roots

For starters, get educated on how to address your spreading grey color using the right color, developer level, and techniques. There are a variety of dying methods that can keep your brunette rich and fresh looking. Or maybe you’re a solid natural blonde and you want to stay that way; Natural redheads are left in a vulnerable place when attempting to keep their rare color from fading out due to grey.

Let’s take a look at your options no matter what color your hair is.

How Often to Recolor/Touch-Up Gray Hair?

Since the rate of hair growth differs from to person, some people need more frequent rout touch-ups than others. When your natural roots become longer than an inch it is hard to ignore them.

If you have a few gray hairs, then the best option would be to use temporary root color products to mask grays between color touch-ups. This way you can reduce the use of chemicals in your hair care. If you have more salt than pepper, it would be best to opt for permanent root coverage.

If your hair grows at the average speed, the amount of time between dye sessions will hinge on the percentage of grey you have in your hair. If you’re 20-40% grey, you’ll be re-dying the grey every 8 weeks. If you’re 50% or more grey, it will be closer to every 6 weeks. And if you’re 70-100% grey it may be closer to every 4 weeks.

DIY Grey Coverage and Developer Level for Brunettes

If it’s just your root growth that needs to be dyed with a single color, you can go to any Sally’s Store or local beauty store and pick up quality permanent dye that matches your natural color. Try to avoid drugstore hair dye. It contains metallic salts, which yield unpredictable results.

There’s the most important piece of advice I want to share with you: always read and perform the color instructions on the packaging exactly. Taking matters into your own hands and changing the amounts of either the dye or the developer can result in unfortunate colors you did not expect. Then correcting the mistake can add up to hundreds of dollars. 

Typically, you’ll mix your color according to the ratio on the packaging. 20 Volume developer is standard for good grey coverage, but again make sure to follow the instructions.

Anything less than a 20-volume developer won’t yield quality results for your grey hair, which is more difficult to penetrate than non-grey hair.

redheared woman showing her gray roots

If you’re around 20% grey (See Pinterest for how to know what percentage grey color you are), you can apply the color near your roots first, let it process for 30 minutes, then drag the color down and cover the rest of the hair if the grey shows up below the roots. Process for another 15 minutes. If it’s only showing at the root, just do that area. 45 minutes is the standard processing time for most grey coverage. 

Grey Hair Coverage and Developer Level for Solid Blondes and Natural Redheads

Color matching gets more specific and intricate for medium blondes and redheads. The levels tend to hover between 6 and 9 (depending on if there are additional highlights), where exact matching can be more difficult. It can be a good idea to get help with color-matching.

Madison Reed Color Bar can be a great tool for people who want to do their own color but need help with the formula.

You’ll start by taking a simple quiz about your hair. It asks what you’re looking to cover, what the texture of your hair is, if there are any additional color goals, whether your hair already has dye on it or not, if you do it yourself and how often, the color of your eyes, skin tone, and what your comfort level is doing this yourself, and how grey you are. It’s a pretty thorough quiz to get you started on the right track.

Based on your quiz results, there is a how-to guide for color application. It targets the roots if there’s grey hair color, but it also addresses the shine level of the rest of the hair if you’re looking to boost shine and the overall health of all your hair with a lovely gloss. 

Grey Hair Coverage with a Colorist

The most surefire way to enjoy your hair dye and the right developer volume is to leave it in the hands of color experts. Hair and the process of covering grey are intricate and very difficult, even if at first glance it seems easy.

Covering grey hair with dye has certain nuances that only education and experience can tackle. In addition to this, each person’s hair is different so there are tricks of the trade a knowledgeable colorist can use if you’re having difficulty covering the grey.

Seeing a colorist also prevents common mistakes like regular overlapping which can cause banding and color buildup. Waiting too long for root touch-up and then doing it on your own can result in color banding. If you apply the color over the gray and it overlaps the darker natural color below it, over time this can create an unwanted color band that’s darker than the rest of your hair. These are difficult to fix and will stay as your hair continues to grow.

Some undertones need to be considered and without expert knowledge on the subject, this can get tricky. For example, if your brunette color has too much ash in it, over time your hair may begin to take on a green hue. This can take time, and a lot of money to correct.

By finding a knowledgeable colorist, you greatly decrease the risk of needing to get a future color correction service. Anyone who has been through this knows the dread. 

Enjoy the beautiful results only an expert colorist can give. They can also add in extra fun details like highlights that complement the overall color you’re trying to achieve. 

a woman with red hair after having root touch-up

 

Best Hair Rollers for Volume: Products and Tips for Using

Can You Create Voluminous Curls Without the Heat?

People with fine and/or thin hair, or those dealing with thinning hair, constantly seek ways to make their hair appear fuller. People who have straight hair that simply hangs want to find ways to rejuvenate their locks. Some people experiment with volumizing haircuts, some try various styling tricks, and still, others use volumizing products to create the illusion of fuller hair.

Over the last few decades, electric-powered styling tools have inundated the market with damaging effects from the heat. The tools allow customers to achieve their desired results at home, but it comes with a cost.

Although seemingly old-fashioned, hair rollers are a great way to create curls and add volume to fine and flat hair. Recently, women are starting to return to hair curlers as a healthier alternative to curling irons and wands. This heatless styling method can add natural-looking volume to hair with less damage than electric hot tools.

woman with fine brown hair curled with velcro rollers

What Are the Best Curlers for Volume?

Hair curlers come in a variety of sizes and diameters. Not every size will help create voluminous hairstyles. To boost fullness, a wider diameter is best. Anything beyond 1.5 inches isn’t the perfect size for creating volume.

Large curlers also make hair look freshly blown out without using a blow-dryer, regardless of the texture and type of your hair. The curlers lift the roots from the scalp, so your hair won’t look heavy or lifeless.

In addition to the volumizing effect, large curlers can make curly hair look straighter, reducing the need for using a flat iron. If you don’t want curls but want your hair to appear fuller and bouncier, large hair curlers are the way to go. The versatility of curlers provides a nice break from hot tools that damage all hair types.

The quality of rollers is crucial, especially for people with fine or thinning hair. The installation and removals must be both simple and secure. Flimsy rollers can tangle hair and pull it out. Fine hair is delicate and susceptible to breakage as it is, so using appropriate curlers is vital to the health of your hair.

a girl with velcro rollers in her hair

Best Velcro Rollers for Fine Hair

Suggested product: Drybar High Tops Self-Grip Rollers

This pack of 6 velcro rollers includes two sizes: 3 very large rollers and 3 medium (still large) rollers. This set works best for very long straight hair. Larger rollers are huge enough to handle very long hair, but you will need two sets.

They are nicely vented, which helps speed up the drying process.

The good thing is that these rollers give the appearance of fullness to fine hair and can make it look like you have just got a blowout. They are perfect for getting the volume in the crown.

The less good news is that although described as “self-grip” they won’t grab hair tightly, so you have to clip them.

It would be best to put these rollers after rough drying hair. Then finish blow-drying and let them sit on your hair for 15 minutes.

Volume without Heat: Foam Rollers

Related product: Conair Jumbo Self-Fastening Foam Rollers

You get 9 jumbo foam rollers in a clear zippered carrying case. For longer or thicker hair, you will need 2 packs.

These rollers work best for boosting volume in fine hair and for adding lift to flat straight hair. The size is ideal for adding volume and creating voluminous retro curls. You can also use them to smooth curly hair and give it a rest from hot tools.

If you are looking for voluminous rollers that are comfortable to sleep in, this may be a good choice.

The biggest con is that they like many sponge rollers leave dents in the hair.

If you are going to use them overnight, make sure that your hair is mostly dry, especially if you have thick hair that needs more time to dry.

Magnetic Rollers for Long Hair

Diane Magnetic Rollers – Pack of 6 Hair Rollers

You get 6 large curlers. If your hair is of medium length and density, you will need 2 packs. These curlers are intended to increase the volume of long hair or to create loose waves. Short hair may be hard to curl around. Good ventilation helps to dry hair faster.

For those who want curls, these curlers are not the best choice. These jumbo curlers will get straighter hair with slightly curled ends. They can give a nice volume and help you to get the most out of your blowout. This can save you money and reduce the use of harsh styling tools.

Although they are called “magnetic” you will need long metal pins to secure them.

Use them after towel-drying and dividing the hair into sections. Roll up a section of hair around working from the ends to the roots. Then use pins to secure them. Allow your hair to air dry or speed up the process with your dryer if you are short of time.

happy cute girl with curlers

Pro Tips for Using Hair Rollers on Fine and Thin Hair

  1. If you have fine or thinning hair, you might want to put curlers on damp hair. Because fine and thin hair dries faster than thick hair, you won’t have to wait long to get the desired effect.
  2. If you have thick and dense hair (and looking for a bit of lift), it is better not to put curlers on wet hair because it will take longer for your hair to dry. If you’re short on time, this may be inconvenient, so it may be appropriate to put the rollers on almost dry hair.
  3. Try to fix the curlers using pins to prevent them from moving in the hair, which can result in tangles.
  4. To prevent hair from coming out of the curler, use a texturizing spray or dry shampoo. Texturizing products will also make volume and waves last longer.
  5. Make sure to properly remove the hair rollers. Experiment to find the gentlest way to slide them down so you don’t break your hair or ruin the effect you are trying to achieve.
  6. After curling, use a little spray to make the results last longer. If you want a wavier look, apply the spray before curling so the waves will not fall out.

Final Words

If you have long hair, make sure to use rollers with a large diameter (above 1.5”) that have the potential to create volume. If you have short hair, look for a smaller diameter, so that your hair can wrap around.

Don’t just look for the cheapest curlers, nothing can fix broken strands. Read product reviews and scrap any that mention tangled or pulled hair.

young woman with fine hair after using hair rollers

What Hair Masks You Can Leave Overnight?

Can You Leave a Hair Mask Overnight?

In short, you shouldn’t leave every hair mask overnight. Har products, including hair masks, come with directions on how to use them correctly. Most hair masks are generally meant to stay in your hair for 5-15 minutes, although there are some exceptions.

One reason for a specific amount of time is that prolonged use won’t enhance the effects of the product. After a while, hair becomes saturated and unable to absorb more treatment. There can also be adverse reactions to some ingredients in hair treatments if left on the hair for too long. To stay on the safe side, make sure to rinse the product from the hair according to the included directions.

a woman with long hair applying overnight hair mask

Why Do Some People Leave Hair Masks Overnight?

Bleaching, daily styling, and UV damage can leave your strands depleted of moisture and damaged. You might think an overnight treatment will give extra hydration and nourishment to your thirsty locks, but it’s important to give your hair what it needs without any adverse effects. This means you must use the right product, one that is formulated for long-time application. So, read the directions carefully and leave the product in your hair overnight only if the manufacturer states that the product is safe for overnight use.

While some busy people prefer overnight treatments, some others find that overnight hair masks can negatively affect sleep quality. If you are not comfortable with nighttime treatments, try to apply a hair mask when you have a day at home. Put a shower cap over your head after application, leave the treatment on for several hours (or as directed by the manufacturer), then shampoo your hair as usual.

What Hair Masks You Shouldn’t Leave Overnight?

a woman in bed with a shower cap and hair mask in her hair

Hair treatments that contain synthetic chemicals shouldn’t stay in contact with your skin overnight. These chemicals can be absorbed into your skin and do more harm than good, and no one wants that!

Hair masks that have a strong smell may irritate your nose and lower your sleep quality, and fragrances may contain unknown chemicals you don’t want to sleep with.

Protein-rich masks can overload the hair with proteins, making it too heavy and prone to breakage.

Some homemade hair masks use fresh products (such as eggs) that may go bad after a few hours and smell bad.

A hair mask with apple cider vinegar can disturb the pH balance of hair and harm color treatments if left on too long.

A blonde woman combing the hair with the mask in

Best Ready-Made Hair Masks You Can Leave Overnight

When purchasing an overnight mask, you want it to be as natural and gentle as possible. Review the ingredients before purchasing to ensure you aren’t getting something that has harsh chemicals.

We went ahead and created a small list of overnight hair treatments that are natural, color-safe, and made by companies that don’t test on animals. This is a great starting point for figuring out what will work best for your hair type and needs.

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1. Bumble and Bumble While You Sleep Damage Repair Masque

Bumble and Bumble While You Sleep Damage Repair Masque works best for color-treated, dry, and damaged hair. This overnight hair mask makes detangling easy, boosts elasticity, restores softness, and keeps fragile hair looking healthy. However, it may not be suitable for people who are sensitive to strong scents.

The thick cream can be a little hard to spread over dry hair, so make sure to focus on the ends and other most damaged areas. Even if you don’t want to sleep with a mask in your hair, you can obtain most of the benefits if you apply it for 20 minutes and then wash your hair as you normally do.

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2. The Mane Choice Prickly Pear Paradise Overnight Mask

This nighttime mask is formulated with vitamins and essential nutrients with minimal use of synthetic ingredients. The treatment works best for curly and coarse hair that is prone to tangles. It adds slip for easier detangling, improves hair strength, and restores softness and shine. The consistency is creamy and easy to spread, so you don’t need to use a lot.

You can use this overnight hair mask as often as needed. Apply the product to unwashed hair and leave it on for up to 12 hours.

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3. Paul Mitchell Neuro Restore HeatCTRL Overnight Repair Leave-In Treatment

This leave-in treatment is designed with damaged and fragile hair in mind. It makes dry hair softer and more manageable and protects it from future damage.

You are supposed to apply the mask to the midshaft and ends of your clean dump hair before bedtime. What makes this treatment special is that you don’t have to rinse it until you plan to shampoo your hair. The exception is fine hair that may feel heavy with the treatment in it.

You can also use this mask as a leave-in conditioner and heat protectant prior to styling.

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4. Budget-Friendly Mask: TWIST Sunday Feels Deeply Hydrating Hair Mask

This hair mask by Ouidad is formulated with coconut oil, jojoba oil, Shea butter, and grapeseed oil to replenish essential moisture in curly hair. It revitalizes damaged strands and improves the natural curl pattern. You can leave it for 3-5 minutes to add moisture to your hair or use it as a deeper restorative overnight treatment. The product is color-safe, free of nasty chemicals, and free of cruelty.

Happy nourishing!

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charming attractive girl brush comb her hair

8 Effective Ways to Remove Brassy Tones from Brunette Hair

The effect of fresh hair color is a lot like fresh flowers: you glow the first day you get it. But what happens when those coppery, unwanted tones start to crop up? While it takes just a minute to toss out the flowers, getting rid of brassy tones isn’t so simple.

There you are in front of the mirror wondering how this happened. You went from blonde to blorange in just a matter of weeks. It doesn’t take much time, does it? Yet it happens so slowly that you don’t even notice before that important business meeting. You find yourself standing in the mirror wondering how did my color turn to orange-red overnight.

This process of “blonde” highlights fading to copper is normal, especially for brunettes. And here’s why.

a girl with brassy brown hair

Why Does Highlighted Brunette Hair Fade to Copper?

To understand why it fades, we have to look at what brunette hair is. Imagine there are 10 levels of color in each dark hair strand with a range from 1-10. Level 1 looks black. Level 10 looks like white blonde or “platinum” blonde.

But what are the ranges in between?  If you have dark brown almost black hair, you’re sitting at a 2 or 3. If you have dark brown to medium brown hair, you’re at a 4 or 5. If you have very light brown hair almost blonde, you’re considered a level 6. Numbers 7-10 are considered blonde.

Let’s say a level 4 brunette (very dark brown) wants to be highlighted to a level 7 blonde. For that brown color to look blonde, it has to pass from level 4 to 5 to 6 then finally to 7. It cannot skip a level. Why is that difficult? It’s because the pigments that secretly live beneath the brown color are reds and oranges. So when the hair is lifting from 4 to 5, red is exposed. And when the hair is lifting from 5 to 6, reddish-orange is exposed. And when you go from 6-7, it’s more warm orange-gold.

It’s those “secret” tones that live underneath the “brown” color that are the “brassy” culprits. Toner can mask these brassy hues, but unless they are bleached, they show up once the toner starts to fade.  It’s sort of this inevitable part of the process, but it doesn’t have to be startling. Let’s see what you’re up against, so we can figure out what to do.

slim young brunette woman with brassy hair

How to Get Rid of Brassy Brown Hair?

There are many great ways to minimize, halt, dimmish, transform, and stay on top of unwanted brass in highlighted brunette hair. Let’s look at the top 8 methods for keeping your color the tone you want it.

  1. Schedule regular appointments and follow them consistently. There’s nothing that impacts unwanted brassy hair like getting your color done regularly. This might not be an option you expected but hear me out. When highlighting brunette hair, especially the darker levels, your hair has to get trained. The more you stick to a consistent balayage schedule, the better your blonde tones will appear. Not only that, but they will last longer between toning sessions the more consistent you are.
  2. Keep your porosity healthy. Often with highlighting, your hair can experience high porosity. This means dryness, frizz, lack of moisture, inability to hold moisture, and consequent inability to hold color molecules in. Your hair fades fast and is more easily affected by adverse conditions when your porosity is high. One of the best methods to fill in those “holes” in your hair, is to get an Express Keratin by Keratin Complex. These treatments work wonders on all hair types and create healthy, manageable textures.
  3. Use blue shampoo. But why use blue shampoo and not purple? It has to do with Color Theory. But all you need to know is blue is the color that fights orange (brass). Be sure to use it according to the instructions or according to your hair colorist’s recommendations.
  4. Get regular toners spaced 6-8 weeks apart. Also great training for your hair. It’s like you teach it what to do with consistency. Toners are so good at depositing the right molecules to keep your color the tone you want it.
  5. Use a quality heat protectant every time you heat style. The results of applying heat and color fading are linked. Being proactive with protecting your color means putting on that cream-based heat protectant every single time you use a hot tool or just after you shower. Olaplex did a visual test on a piece of white paper. They applied their heat protectant to one piece and not to the other, then use a flat iron on it. The paper without a heat protectant turned brown. 
  6. Use sunscreen specifically designed for hair. Sunscreen designed for hair is amazing. It blocks those UV rays that can cause the color to fade quickly, making brassiness more visible.
  7. Apply hair gloss. In addition to shine-enhancing benefits, glossing treatments can keep brassiness at bay and refresh your current color.
  8. Install a shower head filter. Washing your hair with hard water can discolor hair and cause it to turn brassy. A shower filter can help reduce minerals and chlorine in your tap water saving your hair from the unwanted effects of hard water.
Gorgeous brunette woman with brass-free hair