Can you dye your hair after a perm?
That’s a question our stylists here at PERFECT X HAIR hear pretty frequently – and we understand why. Sometimes, when you really want to revitalize your look or try something completely new, you won’t want to stick to just one treatment.
You might want to create beautiful, bouncy curls with a cold perm, then add a bright new colour on top. Alternatively, you might want to create natural-looking waves and curls with a digital perm, and add some extra depth to your hair with highlights or a balayage treatment.
Sometimes, the desire to colour your hair after a perm might be based on your standard hair maintenance routine. For instance, you might want to touch up your roots or eliminate some extra greys after you get the perm of your dreams.
However, perming and dying your hair in quick succession can be risky. After all, both colouring and perming your hair means exposing it to harsh chemicals.
Here’s everything you need to know about dying your hair after a perm, before a perm, and even at the same time as you get your perm treatment.
Can You Dye Your Hair After a Perm?
Let’s start by answering the initial question we mentioned above: “Can you dye your hair after a perm?” Technically, the answer is yes – but not straight away. Getting a perm doesn’t mean you necessarily have to wait until your perm fades until you apply a colour.
That would be pretty frustrating for people who get Korean perms, which can last anywhere up to 12 months. However, you shouldn’t be dying your hair immediately after a perm. A perm breaks down the protein bonds in your hair, so your stylist can restructure the hair into a new shape (waves, curls, or even straight).
This means that perms do cause some damage to your hair – even if they’re applied with care and precision. The important thing to remember is that this damage doesn’t have to be significant or permanent, as long as you choose the right hairstylist and care for your hair correctly.
However, in the initial period (a couple of weeks) after you get your perm, your hair will be weaker, more brittle, and more prone to damage. If you immediately apply new chemicals to your hair in the form of bleach or hair dye, then you risk causing breakage or hair loss.
How Long Should You Wait?
Most salon experts will recommend waiting at least 2 weeks after you get your perm before you apply any colour. But there are exceptions to this rule.
For instance, if your hair is extremely healthy and strong, you may be able to apply very gentle semi-permanent dyes at the same time as you perm your hair. This really depends on the health of your hair and is safer for people with virgin hair.
For the most part, however, it’s best to wait 2 weeks between perming and colouring your hair. You can always seek personalized advice from your stylist if you’re not sure.
Keep in mind that if your hair is already damaged or weakened, then your stylist might even recommend waiting longer than the standard two weeks before applying a colour.
Even if you do wait as long as your stylist advises before applying a colour, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re taking extra precautions to protect your hair. Consider using specialized hair treatments to restore the health of your hair (like the Olaplex treatment) as well as conditioning balms and gentle colouring options.
What Happens if You Dye Your Hair After a Perm?
So, what happens if you ignore this advice and apply a colour directly after a perm? That depends. If you were to try and apply a colour to your hair on the same day you got your perm, this could cause your hair to break or lead to over processing and over lightening.
Additionally, because you’ll be getting your hair wet to colour it, there’s a good chance your perm results will be compromised. It’s always important to keep your perm dry for at least 48 hours after the treatment if you want it to last.
If you don’t dye your hair within 48 hours, but you still don’t wait as long as recommended (usually about two weeks), the results can vary. Your colour might just fade faster, as the dye won’t be able to penetrate the hair follicle as well as it should. On the other hand, you might end up with dry, brittle hair and significant damage you need to repair.
Can You Dye Your Hair Before a Perm?
So, if dying your hair immediately after a perm is not recommended, is it okay to apply a colour before you get your perm? Again, the answer is technically yes, but you shouldn’t dye your hair then get a perm immediately after.
Even if you’re just getting a simple bangs perm or a root perm, dying your hair and then getting a perm right after will mean you’re exposing weakened hair to harsh chemicals. This increases your chances of ending up with damaged, frizzy hair after a perm.
On the plus side, if you’re eager to combine a colour and a perm, colouring your hair in advance means you won’t have to wait as long to get a perm as you would if you went in the other direction. Most stylists recommend waiting 1 week after a colour before getting a perm (rather than 2 weeks). However, again, how long you’ll need to wait will depend on a range of factors, like the type of colour you used, the type of perm, and the overall health of your hair.
Notably, even if perming your hair is safe after a week when you get a professional colour job, getting a perm can damage the results of the colour. Perming your hair immediately after you dye it will likely cause the colour to fade a lot faster.
Remember that perming solutions break down bonds in your hair, which may mean your hair follicles release more of the pigment that’s keeping your hair a certain colour. You may even find that the perm doesn’t take as well as it would have on non-coloured hair. That’s why most stylists recommend getting a perm, waiting at least two weeks, and then applying a colour.
Can You Perm and Dye Your Hair at the Same Time?
Since you shouldn’t colour your hair immediately before or after a perm, if you want to keep it healthy, and achieve the ideal look, it probably goes without saying that you shouldn’t try to book both treatments at the same time.
Perming and colouring your hair are two major treatments that expose your hair to various types of stress. It’s best to choose one or the other to prioritize, and then come back for another treatment later. There are rare situations where stylists will consider colouring and perming your hair at the same time, for example, if you have virgin hair. However, this is very uncommon and still risky.
Your hair would need to be in pristine condition, thick, and healthy to be able to survive a perm and a colour at the same time with minimal damage. Even if you have extremely healthy hair, most stylists won’t recommend choosing anything other than a semi-permanent dye for colour, just in case.
Our advice is to decide on the treatments you want, then speak to your stylist about the best way to get both done as close together as possible. They’ll be able to assess your hair health and suggest whether you should get a colour first, then come back a week later for a perm, or get your perm first and revisit the salon in a couple of weeks for a colour.
Combining Perms and Colours: The Verdict
So, can you dye your hair and get a perm at the same time? No – or at least you shouldn’t if you want to keep your hair healthy. However, you don’t necessarily have to wait too long between perming and dying your hair. You can get a perm, wait around 2 weeks, and then apply a colour. You might even be able to colour your hair faster if you use a semi-permanent dye.
Alternatively, you can colour your hair, and come back for a perm later, when your hair has had chance to recover. However, keep in mind that colouring your hair can affect the outcome of your perm, and you might end up with a colour that fades faster.
If you’re not sure how to plan your hair transformation, the best strategy is to turn to the experts. Contact the team at PERFECT X HAIR and discuss your goals with a specialist, and they’ll be able to guide you towards the right strategy.
FAQs
Should I dye my hair first or perm it?
Generally, it’s a good idea to perm your hair first, to ensure the perming process will work effectively, and won’t interfere with your newly applied colour. However, it’s important to wait at least 2 weeks after getting a perm before you try to apply any colours.
How soon after I dye my hair can I perm it?
This all depends on your hair’s health and the type of dye you use. It can also vary depending on the style of perm you want to get. Some stylists recommend waiting just 1 week after a colour to get a perm, while others suggest waiting between 2 to 3 weeks.
Can I dye and perm my hair on the same day?
Some stylists might allow this, especially if you have virgin hair, but it’s generally not a good idea. Your hair would need to be extremely healthy to survive a perm and a colour without significant damage, and there’s a good chance you won’t end up with the results you want.
