Can I Dye My Hair After Bleaching? Important Facts

Can you dye your hair after bleaching and can you do it on the same day? In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.

The quick answer to ‘Can I Dye My Hair After Bleaching’

Technically yes, you can bleach and dye your hair on the same day, but doing so can cause significant damage to your hair. It’s always best to give your hair a break after bleaching so that it can heal and regain its shine.

We would never encourage you to bleach and dye your hair on the same day, as it’s so tough on the hair, but if you absolutely must, read on to find out more about the risks, so you can make an informed choice.

how long Should I wait to dye hair after bleaching?

You should ideally wait at least a few days between bleaching your hair and coloring it. This is because bleach contains hydrogen peroxide which enters the hair shaft and removes the pigmentation.

This can be very damaging to hair and any further chemical treatments could worsen the condition of your hair.

Some people may even have to wait several weeks before their hair is ready for the dyeing process.

However, with that said, if your hair is in good condition and the bleaching process has not done too much havoc on your strands, then you may be able to dye your hair much sooner.

can i dye my hair after bleaching it the same day?

Although we do not recommend that you bleach and dye your hair on the same day, it is possible.

You have to remember that both bleach and hair dye contains harsh chemical and your hair needs time to recover between each process.

However, if you absolutely must bleach and dye your hair on the same day, these tips should help you determine whether it is safe to do so:

Determine The Health Of Your Hair

First, you need to determine whether your hair is healthy enough to bleach. Is it very fine? Dry? Prone to breakage?

Your hair may not be in good enough condition to bleach and could end up becoming severely damaged or broken.

When Did You Last Dye Your Hair

Another question you should ask yourself is whether you have recently colored or bleached your hair.

If so, it’s best to wait a few weeks before bleaching again, as you will only be adding damage upon damage.

Professionals recommend leaving hair for six to eight weeks before bleaching again.

If your hair seems damaged, it may be worth doing a keratin treatment before bleaching or dyeing your hair again.

This helps to strengthen the hair so that it can better handle a new round of chemicals. You should then look into buying hair dye suitable for keratin-treated hair.

Go See A Professional

If you’re in any way unsure, it’s best to leave it to a professional.

It might cost more to get your hair bleached in a salon but at least you can be reassured you’ll get the best possible results with the least damage done to your hair.

Finally, we should mention that mixing bleach and hair dye is a very bad idea.

Each person needs their own developers and processing time and you’ll end up with a very thick paste that will damage your hair.

Bleach removes pigments from the hair, so mixing it with hair dye is also a waste of time since the bleach will cancel out the color of the dye.

Risks Of Bleaching And Dyeing Hair on The Same Day

Bleaching your hair puts your strands under a great deal of strain, even if they’re already pretty healthy and you’re bleaching virgin hair.

This is because bleaching opens up the cuticles of the hair, which can leave hair dry, frizzy, and prone to breakage.

It also leaves hair open to heat styling and environmental stress.

Coloring your hair with a permanent dye does the exact same thing – it raises the cuticle and you’re putting more drying chemicals on your head.

Just like it’s never recommended to leave hair dye in longer than instructed, you shouldn’t be doing two chemical processes in one day.

This is simply too much for your hair to deal with, and depending on your hair’s overall condition, texture and porosity, it could lead to dry, rough hair and breakage that could result in hair loss.

And you may think you can combat the damage by diluting hair dye with conditioner, but unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that.

One thing to bear in mind is after bleaching, your hair cuticles are raised, and your hair will have higher porosity.

Because your cuticles are open, hair color will penetrate easily, but it will fade just as easily too. It’s always best to give your hair some recovery time first.

Many people wait about two weeks to a month after bleaching to color their hair. It depends on the condition of your hair, but the longer you can wait the better.

You may not even have to dye your hair. It could be the case that a toner will help you get the desired shade, without having to resort to dye.

How To Bleach Your Hair At Home

If you do want to bleach and dye your hair on the same day, you should always do a patch test first.

This is to avoid any risk of an allergic reaction.

To do a patch test, dab a small amount of product on your inner elbow and leave it to dry. Follow the instructions on the packet.

If you develop any irritation or feel unwell, you should not use the dye.

Step 1. Get Set Up

Make sure you have everything you need to hand. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

Your hair should be clean, dry, and free of dry shampoo and styling products. Bleaching damp hair could cause color irregularities and wet hair tends to be more sensitive than dry hair.

However, it’s a good idea to go without washing for longer than you normally do as it will help protect the scalp if your roots are a little oily.

Step 2. Section Up Your Hair

Clip your hair into four sections to help you apply the bleach as neatly as possible.

You’ll also want to part each section into smaller segments as you’re applying to ensure the hair is fully saturated.

Step 3. Mix Your Ingredients

Mix your developer and bleaching powder according to pack instructions. Make sure the developer isn’t unopened or has expired.

Put on your protective gloves to protect your skin. Also, take care to protect surfaces so that you don’t stain carpets with hair dye.

Step 4. Start Applying Bleach

Use a mixing bowl and brush for the most professional results. Start applying bleach 1 inch away from the scalp and down the hair section.

This is because the heat from the scalp causes bleach to process quicker at the roots, meaning your roots will look lighter if you start there.

Once you’ve done the rest of the hair, go back to the roots.

Step 5. Let The Bleach Process

Depending on your hair type and condition, bleach takes up to 30 minutes to process. Follow the pack instructions.

Do not leave the bleach on your hair for longer than 30 minutes as it can damage your hair.

Step 6. Wash Hair Thoroughly

When your timer goes off, shampoo and rinse thoroughly to remove the bleach from your hair.

If you’re planning to use a toner right away, use it after washing and patting hair dry with a towel.

Apply to hair while it is damp, following the pack instructions.

Step 7. Use A Hydrating Hair Mask

A lot of at-home kits come with these. Make sure you use it! Bleaching is very tough on the hair and you need to start the recovery process right away.

Especially if you’re planning to bleach and dye your hair on the same day.

Step 8. Dry Your Hair

This is important if you’re planning to dye your hair the same day as dye needs to be applied to dry hair.

How To Dye Your Hair At Home

Just as with bleach, always do a patch test first. It’s also a good idea to do a strand test, to see how your chosen color will react to your hair.

To do a strand test, simply mix a teaspoon of the developer crème with a teaspoon of the color.

Apply to a strand from the underside of your hair that is usually not visible. Leave to develop for 30 minutes, rinse and dry. If you like the color you see, go right ahead and dye your whole head.

It may also be worth giving your hair a color pre-treatment using coconut oil.

Coconut oil has great moisturizing abilities and can help prevent split ends and further damage caused by hair dyeing.

Step 1. Get Set Up

It’s always a good idea to make sure you have everything you need to hand.

Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

Step 2. Section Your Hair

Comb your hair to make sure it’s free of tangles and then divide your hair into four sections. This will make the application of the color easier.

Step 3. Apply Your Color

Use your mixing bowl and brush to apply the color to your hair as per pack instructions.

Step 4. Leave To Process

Leave to process according to pack instructions. Most hair dyes take between 20-45 minutes to develop.

Step 5. Rinse Color Out

Don’t shampoo immediately after dyeing but just rinse the color out with water instead.

Use conditioner to improve the condition of your hair and then rinse out with cool water to help seal the cuticle.

What About Toner Instead Of Bleach Or Hair Dye?

Toner may be all you need to get your hair the specific shade you desire – it may not be necessary to dye at all.

If you’re going to use toner straight after bleaching, use it after shampooing the bleach from your hair and patting your hair dry with a towel.

Toner should be applied to damp hair, following pack instructions.

Bear in mind that applying toner is still a chemical process, and you may want to think twice if you’re planning to bleach and dye your hair in the same day.

It’s best to give your hair a break and let it restore some strength and moisture first.

Caring For Your Bleached or Dyed Hair

Try not to wash your hair too often as this will encourage color to fade faster. When you do wash, use sulfate-free shampoos, co-wash, or conditioner to wash your hair.

It is also worth looking for products specially designed for colored hair. Using cool water is best, as hot water will open up your hair cuticles and make the color fade faster.

Use a weekly hair mask to keep your hair at optimum moisture levels, as dyeing can be drying for the hair.

Bleaching and Hair Dyeing Aftercare

Bleach takes a lot out of your hair so you need to focus on hydration.

Use a deep conditioning mask immediately after bleaching and regularly afterward.

A weekly treatment with a mask like Olaplex 3 will really help to repair damaged hair. Coconut oil can also do wonders for bleached hair.

Try to keep your hair out of the sun as it can make your color fade faster or even alter your color. Wear a hat on hot days or on holiday, or use an SPF designed for the hair.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

So, Can You Dye Your Hair After Bleaching?

Remember, you can dye your hair after bleaching on the same day but be careful as this can cause your hair to become dry and brittle.

It is best to wait until your bleached hair feels strong enough to take on another round of chemicals.

We hope this article has helped you better understand the pros and cons of bleaching and dyeing hair at the same time.

It is important to keep in mind how damaging these processes can be if they are rushed or not done correctly.

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