A keratin treatment can do wonders for your hair, but you might want to think twice before dyeing your hair straight after. We reveal the best hair dyes for keratin-treated hair and give you some handy tips along the way!
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Best Hair Dyes For Keratin Treated Hair
1. Clairol Natural Instincts No Ammonia Hair Dye
This vegan and ammonia-free hair dye will boost your hair color and shine naturally thanks to the coconut oil and aloe vera. Ingredients are 80% natural and the formula is gentle, but don’t forget to patch test.
The formula is also no-drip, which is great for when you’re doing it at home, and there’s no harsh scent either which we like. The color should last for up to 28 washes, and there are plenty of options to choose from.
Plus, the dye actually feels like a conditioner on your hair, which is lovely, and it’s suitable for all hair types and textures. This is therefore a great hair dye for keratin-treated hair.
2. L’Oreal Casting Créme Gloss
Another conditioning color, the L’Oreal Casting Créme Gloss hair dye also doesn’t have ammonia in it, so it won’t make your whole house smell.
The formula is no-drip and includes ingredients like honey and hazelnut for natural moisture and nourishment.
Don’t forget to patch test before use.
We like this because you’ll get results in 20 minutes, which is much faster than most hair dyes, and it leaves hair very glossy.
3. Naturtint Permanent Hair Color
The Naturtint Permanent Hair Color is plant enriched and will leave hair with radiant color and nourishing protection.
It’s a US company, and the dye contains no parabens, ammonia, silicone, paraffin, or sulfates.
The dye includes a variety of different natural ingredients – quinoa for adding color retention and shine, baobab proteins that work to rebuild the natural keratin in hair, shea butter for nourishment, and milk thistle which helps hair manage shine and silkiness.
The dye comes in a number of different colors, too, so there should be something for everyone.
4. Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Color
As with all others in this list, there’s no ammonia in this Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Color. The dye offers intense conditioning and 100% coverage.
Plus, it’s powered by 60% natural flower oil-based ingredients. It’s no-drip for easy application and there are over 30 shades available to suit all requirements.
5. Herb Speedy Color Cream
There’s neither ammonia nor PPD in this hair dye, so it’s suitable for even those with the most sensitive scalp. It’s made in Korea too, which is leading the way for dynamic skincare and haircare. Within 20 minutes, your hair will be newly colored, and there are a variety of shades from which you can select your preference.
6. Umberto Giannini Flowerology Permanent Hair Colors
This hair dye from Umberto Gianinni is vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. It also contains no ammonia, silicones, or sulfates.
Organic, botanical ingredients nourish and strengthen hair – expect to find vitamins including C and E, chamomile flower, and orange peel extract. The dyes are 95% natural and 75% organic and should offer full coverage.
7. Clairol Nice’n Easy Crème Permanent Hair Dye
This oil-infused dye is gentle on the hair and scalp but will still offer full coverage within 25 minutes of application. The dye smells delicately floral, so you won’t be overwhelmed by a powerful chemical stink, and the product should last for many washes. Follow the instructions for the best results.
Why Do A Keratin Treatment?
A keratin treatment is also known as a blow-dry or a Brazilian blow dry. It’s an effective way to ensure that your hair is as sleek and silky as possible, as it boosts shine and makes hair more manageable.
Keratin is the main protein in our skin, hair and nails. Our hair needs it to stay healthy, so if your locks are looking particularly frazzled or dehydrated, you may want to consider getting a keratin treatment in order to help manage frizz and repair damaged hair.
Keratin treatments work by forming a coating over your hair, giving it smoothness and shine.
Don’t be fooled by the rumors that keratin is best for people with straight hair – it’s just as important as a treatment for wavy or curly hair too, as it helps hair look its best and minimizes frizz and split ends.
The first three to four day development period is the most critical.
From then, you want to be taking care of your newly keratin-treated hair. Minimize the time you spend in the sun and swimming in either saltwater or the pool, as this can reduce the length of time your treatment will last.
Be sure not to use hair products, no spray, gel, or mousses during that first three to four-day period.
Avoid products that contain alcohol and sulfates, as these will only strip the keratin from your hair. If you look after your hair following your treatment, you can benefit from the effects from anywhere up to six months.
There are many benefits to having a keratin treatment on your hair:
- It makes hair more manageable. The keratin in your hair smooths down the cells of each of your hair’s strands. That’s why it’s so fantastic for minimizing the look of frizz. If you use heat products regularly, keratin treatments can also help hair stay stronger and healthier for longer, as it minimizes heat damage from the tools
- It’s long-lasting. If you take the right steps, your keratin treatment can last for up to six months. That’s a serious amount of time for your hair to be looking its best, and means the treatments are often fairly cost-effective.
Also Read: Does keratin remove hair color?
Can You Dye Your Hair After A Keratin Treatment?
So, now you know what a keratin treatment is and why it’s such a great idea for your hair. However, it’s also possible that you’re wondering how keratin treatment and hair dye might react with each other, and whether it’s possible to use hair dye after a keratin treatment. It’s best to keep to the following rules if you regularly use both hair color and keratin:
- If your hair has only been highlighted, you should be fine to receive a keratin treatment.
- If you color your hair, you need to be waiting at least two weeks before you have a keratin treatment.
In order to understand why, it’s important to know how a keratin treatment works.
Remember how we said keratin is a protein? Well, the keratin treatment will basically infuse keratin into your hair’s follicle. The keratin needs time to permeate into and bind with your hair’s pre-existing protein. That’s why you need to give the treatment three to four days to really work.
If you don’t allow the keratin to work during this period, you might end up with the following:
- Uneven color. We detail more on why this is below, but if you dye your hair too soon after a keratin treatment, the color won’t last and will be unevenly distributed over your hair.
- Frizz. You undergo a keratin treatment to reduce frizz, so why would you want to spend all that money on a treatment only to end up with the same problem?
- Keratin washout. If you don’t allow the keratin to truly penetrate into your hair strands, then it will wash out. The treatment will therefore last for a significantly shorter length of time.
If you want to dye your hair after a keratin treatment, you need to wait even longer – at least two weeks.
There is no point in dyeing your hair prior to this two-week period is over. The keratin will block the active ingredients (the hydrogen peroxide and ammonia) in the dye from working, which means the color won’t penetrate into your hair.
You’d be lucky if your hair color lasted even a couple of days if you dye it too quickly after a keratin treatment. This is even the case with long-lasting hair dye.
Can You Dye Your Hair Before A Keratin Treatment?
By now, you should understand why dyeing your hair straight after a keratin treatment won’t work.
But, if you do want to color your hair, having a keratin treatment afterward can be a way of repairing any damage caused during the dyeing process.
During the hair color treatment, the ammonia in the dye opens up the hair’s cuticle so that the color molecules can be injected into the hair’s cortex.
In so doing, however, it also activates an oxidation process. This elevates your hair’s pH level to 10, which can result in very weak, dry, easily breakable hair.
Using a keratin treatment directly after dyeing your hair can actually help repair this damage.
It will restore hair’s structure and normalize its pH levels, as well as smooth and close over the cuticles.
What’s more, the keratin also works to lock in the hair color, meaning it will last longer and is protected from damage from sources like the sun.
So, remember, if you’re a fan of both hair dye and keratin treatments – always use a keratin treatment after you dye your hair, never before.
The Best Way To Dye Hair If You Have Keratin Treatments
Follow these steps in order to ensure your hair gets the best from both the hair dye and keratin treatment.
- Remember to use a clarifying shampoo before you put the color in. This will remove any build up and is especially important for people with oily scalps.
- Apply your hair dye, wrapping it in foil and leaving for around 30 minutes.
- Wash your hair as normal and then apply the keratin treatment. Leave for 40 minutes.
- Blow dry your hair once again. If you really want to boost your hair’s moisture, add a leave-in conditioner to the mix. You can alternatively use a serum.
- Remember your keratin treatment needs around three or four days to really permeate your hair and have the longest staying time.
- Another top tip for maintaining both your newly dyed hair and keratin treatment is to shampoo your hair only once or twice a week. Co-washing – washing your hair with only conditioner – is also a great idea. Do not use any salt-based products, as this will react badly with the keratin.
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