Curious about when to wash hair after coloring? Experts break down how long to wait before you shampoo, and if you should wash your hair before dyeing it.
Experimenting with your hair color can be a fun way to change up your look or get through a stifled style period. (Finding the specific shade you want can also be a source of stress, but once you land on a decision you’re happy with, it’s pretty close to the best feeling.) While it’s often much cheaper than shelling out for a new wardrobe, coloring your hair is still an investment, and you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible, which means knowing when to wash your hair after coloring, and if you should wash your hair before dyeing it.
Proper maintenance is the number one way to ensure your color stays looking fresh, so it’s important to know which color-safe products to buy, how often to go in for touch-ups, and the rules of washing your hair to prevent fading. That’s right, washing your hair is often framed as a key cause of fading color, but as it turns out, the answer to your burning question, “When can I wash my hair after dyeing it?” is less about when and more about how.
To help explain, we asked a colorist for everything you need to know.
Sydney Palmer is a hair-color specialist at Estetica Salon & Spa in St. Paul, MN.
Jade Kromer is a hair-color specialist at Juut Salon Spa in Minneapolis.
“Lots of people believe that the color needs to set in your hair for a few days after coloring — that’s actually just a myth”, hair-color specialist Sydney Palmer tells PS. “The hair color doesn’t set in any more than it already has if you wait to wash it.”
So if you’ve ever wondered, “Can I wash my hair 24 hours after dyeing it?” you have your answer, once and for all. Hair-color specialist Jade Kromer adds that you can wash your hair as soon as you need to (although you likely won’t need to that day if you’re coming fresh from the salon). “Washing your hair right after you color it really isn’t the problem”, she says. “Focus more on what products you’re using rather than time in between shampoos.
