What You Need to Know Before Coloring Your Curly Hair

Have you been playing around with the idea of coloring your curly hair? You want that instagram look but don’t want to fry your hair. Or you’ve probably had a bad color experience a few years back that you still can’t shake it.

Well rest assured that just because you have textured curly or coily hair doesn’t mean you can’t rock the latest hair color trends and still maintain healthy curls. 

With the proper knowledge and the right stylist by your side you will see just how versatile your curls can be.

Check out the tips below for best practices for color treated hair. 

The Consultation 

If you’re looking to color your hair, I STRONGLY advise you seek a professional hair stylist. The box dyes sold at your locally pharmacy gives you exactly what you pay for. Cheap color and brittle hair. Don’t even get me started on the horrible and toxic ingredients in some of these color brands.

A hair colorist will set you up with a consultation to discuss your hair history, expectations and maintenance even before any color is applied to your head. A professional will help you address any of your concerns and help you build the proper regimen to maintain the  health of your hair. If you’re still unsure you can even ask for a strand test to see if your hair is strong enough for color. 

Be sure to be honest with your stylist of any previous color or treatments you may have done in the past. Hair color you’ve done 3 years ago may affect the color you want to achieve today. So let your stylist know up front. 

The Color 

If you want color it is best to understand the 3 types of hair color products: temporary, semi or Demi permanent, and permanent. 

Temporary hair color is the least damaging as it only coats the hair on top with a layer of color. These services are usually called glosses, glazes, rinses or toners and will fade after several shampoos. Semi or demi permanent color will last about up to 8 weeks, but will fade the more you wash it. 

Permanent hair color lasts the longest by lifting your cuticles to insert color molecules. You will have to grow this color out, cut it  or lift it out with a lightening service. 

If you’re looking to go blonde or put fashion colors in your hair like pastel or hot pink then you will need to have your hair lifted with bleach to achieve the desired color. If not, your color will come out dull and muddy. 

If you’re new to bleach, then I would suggest you start out with highlights as it’s healthier for your hair. Highlights are also lower maintenance than all over color. 

Beware of Over Processing 

Bleach can definitely change the texture of your hair if over processed, which is why it’s always good to seek a professional colorist for these services. Bleach removes the melanin and proteins that provide strength from your hair leaving it feeling drier. Consider getting a haircut before your color service to get rid of dead and weak ends that may be vulnerable to over processing.  

If you’re considering lightening your hair with bleach, it’s best to go a few months between services to give your hair a break. This helps avoid over processing and maintains the health of your hair. Once the color fades you can change it to another fun color until you’re ready to touch up your roots. 

Here are a few indicators you may be dealing with damaged hair from bleach and/or color:

If you start experiencing breakage when you comb or brush your hair, it can be a sign of chemical damage. If your breakage is towards the ends of your hair then you may need a moisture treatment or a trim. However if you notice breakage from further up the hair shaft towards your roots, you may be experiencing damage from over processing.

If your hair feels like cotton candy when wet, this means you have lost a lot of protein and strength from your hair. Also, If you stretch your hair when its wet and it doesn’t spring back into it’s curl, then you have loss elasticity from chemical damage. 

Chemical damage from color is irreversible. You can use protein treatments and bonding building masks to try to strengthen the weak strands, but the hair will remain damaged until it is cut off. 

How to Take Care of Color Treated Hair 

Once you’ve colored your curls, you have to take care of them to make sure your hair stays at it’s best. Hair color is drying to already dry curls so you would want to up your moisture game in between color appointments.

Deep conditioning is a must for color treated hair. Give yourself a deep conditioner after every shampoo. Put on a plastic cap and let it sit for about 30 minutes or longer before rinsing it out. 

Shampooing once a week is more than enough. If you shampoo any more than that you may risk drying out your hair and fading your color too quickly. Try co-washing in between shampoos if your hair needs a refresh.   

Don’t forget to get your quarterly trims if you are going to be coloring your hair. If avoided it may lead to split ends and breakage down the line. 

At night always wear your satin bonnet or scarf to protect your hair from friction against your pillow or sheets which can need to moisture loss and breakage. Try applying a leave in conditioner and an oil before bed to give you hair nourishment and help keep frizz at bay. 

Conclusion

Color treated hair can be fun and give you a new look but it doesn’t have to compromise the health of your hair. If you take the proper steps to finding the right colorist and take care of your hair in between your color services, you will be able to maintain and grow your curls without dealing with damage. If you’re already taking good care of your hair and you’ve been considering color, just go for it!