How Long Should You Wait Before Coloring Your Hair Again?
So you’ve just had your hair colored professionally. You got the gorgeous shade you were looking for or you didn’t. The first thing that runs through your mind, maybe even while you’re still in the chair, is ‘how long before I can come back?’. The truth is, there is not one right answer to that question. How long you wait depends on what you’ve just had done, if you got your desired end result, or not, and how much maintenance you’re looking for.
Did you get what you wanted?
Keeping a beautiful platinum hair color will probably require the standard 4-6 weeks between each appointment.
The Perfect Hair Color:
You and your stylist were in perfect sync and your locks are gorgeous and need to stay that way. Standard time in between appointments is 4-6 weeks, since your hair grows on average 1/2” a month. Of course you can stretch this out to 6-8 weeks if you don’t mind the roots. Being able to stretch it out usually depends on what your natural hair color looks like compared to your artificially “sweetened” hair color. For example, if you’re naturally a medium ash brown and you’re addicted to platinum blonde, you’ll probably need to go closer to 4-6 weeks since the roots will have a lot more contrast when they start to show up. If you’re a medium ash brown and your hooked on a warm, chestnut brown you can likely go a little longer in between since the roots won’t be as noticeable.
Do not be afraid to tell a stylist that you were expecting something different.
The Wrong Hair Color:
Sound the alarm!! If you and your stylist weren’t on the same page and your locks are left a different shade than expected you have to ask yourself a couple questions.
#1: “is what I wanted achievable in 1 appointment?” Remember, we are stylists, not magicians, and thus are restricted by the laws of color & what color can do. Please be patient. Your stylist should always let you know if your desired end result will require multiple appointments prior to applying ANY color to ensure you’re comfortable with this schedule. Your stylist will let you know before you leave when he/she would like you back for round 2. Sometimes multiple appointments are also best to maintain the health of your hair. Major color changes can be very damaging, so it’s best to go slooooow!
#2: “I didn’t get what I wanted, and I don’t think my stylist understood what I wanted”. This is when it may be necessary to call the salon and ask for your stylist to take another look at it. If it is close, but not quite there, it may be something simple and the salon may have a policy to correct it complimentary within 24 hours. Any good stylist will have your satisfaction in mind, and will communicate with you openly on how to get a smile on your face. If you are totally uncomfortable with the stylist, request an alternate stylist at the salon you went to…they should have a policy on this as well but it’s best to ask before going back. I can say from my own experience I have had clients tell me they didn’t love what we did, and I offer to try again and it is always free. This not only kept my client happy, but she still comes to me to this day!! It happens more than you think, don’t be afraid to speak up!
Low or High Color Maintenance
Highlights or Lowlights are easy to maintain because they don’t show regrowth as well as a full head of color, keeping your maintenance down.
You’re Low Maintenance:
Not a fan of spending 2 hours in a salon once a month? No problem!! Let your stylist know during the consultation so they can use the correct type of hair color on you. If you don’t have a lot of grey, see if it’s possible to use a Semi or Demi Permanent color instead of a Permanent color. This will keep your hair in amazing condition, and your outgrowth will be less noticeable. If you have a lot of grey, you may require Permanent hair color, so your maintenance will depend on how long you can handle the silver pieces re-appearing.
Red hair color can be truly striking but red is the color molecule that fades the fastest, so you’ll need regular color appointments to keep it vibrant.
You’re High Maintenance:
You like to pamper yourself, or your hair color forces you to, every month. **OR you’re a red head (sorry, this automatically applies to all shades of Red) 4-6 weeks is standard time in between color appointments. Re-dye often, but not too often. Your hair shaft is delicate, and should only be dyed once a month or so. Any sooner than that and it will be prone to breaking, splitting, tangles and straw-like texture. Deep conditioning treatments used in conjunction with any color service are always recommended. The more often you color your hair red, the longer it will last, but red loves to fade so keep that in mind!
Have you been considering a career in beauty, or perhaps taking your hair styling skills to the next level? Empire Beauty School offers several Beauty Programs, including our Cosmetology Program which will train you in all sorts of hair styling expertise, including coloring, cutting, texturing, and more. Schedule a tour today and meet with a Career Planning Specialist to see if Empire is the perfect fit for you. Visit us at http://www.empire.edu or call 1-800-964-3635.
10 Comments
I had been dying my hair red for 2 years, generally would dye it every 3 months, they would dye my dark roots then just quickly touch up the ends with a different mixture and it was gorgeous every time.
Recently I decided to go back to brown. They dyed it a daaarrrk brown, within 5 months it was faded to a weird light reddish brown.
I dyed it myself with a box and went black. (I am told now I left the box on to long, as since my hair had so much dye build up I didn’t need the full 25 minutes)
I had it stripped a few weeks later then tinted brown. It again went way to dark.
I have been washing it every other day for 2 months now and it is going a dark auburn .. ugh.. I just want a nice brown brown!!
You’re a man hunny
I have not dyed my hair in almost 2 years, all color cut out, and last week had a wild hair up my butt to go red. It’s a dark blonde naturally. Basically brown. I have colored my hair numerous times in the past, never had a problem. I got advice form a hairdresser at the Sally store and bought dark red brown and 10 volume developer. She told me to start at roots and do shafts and ends last. I followed directions to a T. Mainly just my roots took color. The rest just seems like highlights which wouldn’t be bad if my roots weren’t completely red. It wouldn’t be bad if it was all over red but it didn’t take on most of my hair. Still has red tint on shaft and ends but very red in roots. Should I just dye it all over dark brown and move on? Is it too early to do that?
Wonted to no how long do i have to wait to get my hair died again after the first time it didnt wk i came here to empire i think a mth in a half ago
So I just bleach the under layer of my hair and I am really upset of the results and the top layer is black.. I’m wanting to dye it all black but I’m scared if I do the under layer will start to fade faster since I bleached it… u need some advise so anyone please message me on my email address nicole.h.shorty@gmail.com and give me some advise on what I should do and in what about of time??
I got my hair dyed yesterday platinum blonde, I’m not liking it. When I plave another color over it… Like a light brown… Please help
I colored my hair yesterday, and its kinda long and i didnt know that it would require 2 boxes of hair color. And i only bought 1. So some parts of my hair is not the same shade as the others. Can i recolor it today using the same color?
I dyed my hair platinum blonde and it’s horrible! There’s no color my head is almost white I want to box dye it dark blonde how long should I wait to do thst? This was the first time dying my hair and it’s naturally a 7 blonde
I dyed my hair today from a box and I did not expect it to be this red how long do I have to wait to change to a chestnut brown
I have been in transition to red/burgundy from dark brown and I went to my stylist yesterday and she put in an hd burgundy color. I love my stylist and she did exactly what I told her to, but now I’m wishing I did more of a straight red instead of burgundy. Should I wait 4-6 weeks before going back or would it be okay to schedule an appointment in the next week?