How long after a perm can you color your hair?

So how long do I need to wait?

Once you are firmly adjusted to permanent color, you will need to wait sometime resting on your hands. You will need to wait a minimum of seven days and apply shampoo for at a minimum once, although your stylist may suggest that you should wait for a minimum of two weeks prior to applying dye. However, if your hair has responded badly to blended perming or relaxing and dyeing treatments before, you should definitely be careful not to be rushed – actually, you should delay for even longer between permanent wave and coloring, as this will improve the overall health of your hair.

Why wait so long?

No matter if you color your hair in the salon or at home, you risk damaging your hair. Permitted salts and permanent hair coloring chemicals together create an extremely harsh environment for your hair – some people may just experience frizzy and dull, dried-out hair, but others may experience breakage, excessive hair loss, and even scalp irritation. You won’t get the color you want either, because, with same day perming or relaxers and permanent color gradients, colors will appear a shade lighter than intended.

How soon can you dye your hair after a perm?

Spiral perms use upright perms sticks to form cascading locks at medium to long hair. The locks last through rinsing and styling till the hair returns to its original condition. Because permanent waves use a chemical solvent to create long-lasting locks, be careful when dyeing permed hair using synthetic colorants.

Standard rules and regulations

Keep your hair permanently wavy before dyeing it. Never get a perm in two to three weeks after dyeing your hair. Newly dyed hair may interfere with the permanent-wave process, making your perm hiss or frizz. Avoid handling very fragile, damaged, or falling hair with any chemical treatment (coloring or permanent wave). Don’t color or perm your hair when your scalp is itchy or irritated because color and perm solution might be more irritating.

So when is it a good time to dye after a permanent wave or a relaxing treatment?

Having a perm or a relaxing treatment means your hair experiences a whole load – the internal protein layer of your hair is destroyed to increase its responsiveness. Dyeing your hair directly after this kind of treatment may easily cause it to become over colored, brightened, or more prone to breakage. We suggest that you wait two weeks after the chemical procedure until your hair is dyed.

Is it better to perm or color first?

Dyeing hair and perming harm the hair to a considerable point. Both of them lead to dehydration and in some cases even to the breaking of the hair. Therefore, you have to be extremely careful to ensure the good condition of your hair when you treat it. By maintaining your hair in good condition and well moisturized, you can have nice dyed hair with a permanent wave.

When scheduling a number of chemical services – particularly permanent wave and color services – make sure that the dye is done at the end. And generally, you will need a brief interval between treatments to let your hair “settle down” after your final procedure.

This is because most perms work with hydrogen peroxide as a neutralizer. As you probably realize, hydrogen peroxide has also been added as a developing agent in the majority of hair color formulations, as well as the hydrogen peroxide in the perm neutralizer can lighten – or in some other way modify – the appearance of your dye results.

Once you have completed your perming service, make sure that you get the desired color effects when you are ready.

Perm or color first

Permanent wave and coloring simultaneously are allowed when you are in a rush and are only possible on 100% properly maintained dense (ish) hair.
With a perm, strong chemicals must be applied to the curls to achieve the desired effect, a process that can damage the hair if you are not careful and do not care for it properly. Just like the perm, dyeing your hair can cause some damage to your hair. Chemicals used for both perming and dyeing can cause both drying and sometimes even splitting of the strands.
If you treat your hair with different types of chemicals, you must be very careful when caring for a well-groomed mane! If you follow a routine that promotes healthy hair and use a shampoo for fermented hair that moisturizes the hair well, the beautiful perm can look good even when colored.

Which comes first, the color or the perm?

Most hairstylists would recommend getting the perm first, before coloring the hair to ensure that the perming process does not conflict with the newly applied color. Chemicals in the perm neutralizing solution can react with hair colorants and cause the hair to become lighter.

In addition, the perm opens the hair follicles, which can absorb more color, and you may not need such strong coloring chemicals or even use semi-permanent dyes that are much gentler on the hair.

Before dyeing or perming your hair, it is important that you attempt to restore it to a perfect state. Trimming affected hair and moisturizing can greatly enhance your overall hair condition. A consultation with a qualified hairstylist can assist in identifying whether your hair is affected, and examining hair ends for fractures could be an indicator of dry hair or broken strands.

When your hair is extremely dry, a deep treatment with a conditioner used at least weekly may aid in holding moisture. Keep in mind that chemicals from perms or dyes can remove natural oils from your hair and leave strands dry and fragile, therefore it is preferable to prepare in advance.

What you should consider for the best shampoos for permed and colored hair

Most shampoos formulated for color-treated hair can also be useful for permed hair and vice versa. Shampoos are designed to repair hair damage and add moisture that may have been removed by the various chemicals. Wherever possible, try to avoid shampoos that use sulfates or parabens, which can cause further drying of the hair and possible irritation of the follicles and scalp.

We know that we always talk about moisture, but moisturizing or hydrating the hair is the key to healthy, shiny curls and vibrant color. Many shampoos have added color-enhancing or firming ingredients that help protect the color from fading while repairing the damage done to the hair by excessive coloring. Inadequate moisture caused by the chemicals used in perming or dyeing can lead to hair ends with cracks, scalp irritation, and in extreme cases, hair thinning or hair loss.

Both the perming and dyeing processes use harsh chemicals that remove natural oil and break down the hair’s proteins. A shampoo that contains more natural botanicals and fewer chemical ingredients has less chance of reacting with chemicals that may have remained in the follicle while gently cleansing the hair. After colorations or perming treatments, it is advisable not to wash the hair daily and to give the scalp time to re-introduce its natural oils into the hair. A dry shampoo between washes can make your hair look shiny and smooth and give volume and bounce to curls.

Our selection

Coloring your hair after perming is one thing you need to be extremely cautious about. We always recommend getting the opinion of a qualified person before beginning any chemical procedures for your hair. However, with a bit of regular TLC and using a shampoo that softly purifies your hair and cares for it simultaneously, you may still be able to get the color shine that complements your curly locks.
Because of its smooth, completely organic formulation, its deeply moisturizing and conditioning qualities, and its high-performance split-end replenishing formula, we consider Vitruvian Beauty Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo to be the finest shampoo for permed and colored hair. Treat yourself, and your hair would love you for it!