How Often Can You Dye Your Hair?

That’s a question you might be asking if you’re ready to change up your look with a brand-new hair colour. Maybe you want to experiment with the latest Korean trends, or match the look of your favourite celebrity. 

Whatever might be fuelling your desire to embrace a new hair colour, the question you should be asking isn’t how often you can dye your hair, but how long you need to wait between dye jobs to avoid causing damage to your hair. 

After all, there’s nothing stopping you from dying your hair every other week. However, doing so boosts your chances of causing irreversible damage to your hair. That’s particularly true if you’re using harsh chemical dyes or bleach on a regular basis, and you’re not taking any steps to protect your hair – like getting regular Olaplex treatments.

If you want to keep your hair looking and feeling beautiful, you need to have a little patience. But how long you should actually wait between dye sessions depends on a few key factors. 

Here’s everything you need to know about how often you should dye your hair.

How Often Can You Dye Your Hair: Things To Keep In Mind

As a general rule of thumb, most salon stylists recommend waiting at least 4-8 weeks between each colour treatment. Less is often more when it comes to hair dye, particularly if you want to preserve your hair’s health. 

Every time you dye your hair, whether you’re getting a full-head of colour or a specialist treatment like balayage or highlights, you’re exposing it to chemicals. Some colour treatments can cause more significant damage than others. For instance, a full-head of bleach comes with more risks than a simple set of babylights. 

However, all colour treatments will cause some damage to your hair. That’s why it’s so important to give your hair time to recover in between colouring sessions.

Exactly how long you should wait between colour treatments varies depending on a few factors. The main things you’ll need to consider include:

• The type of dye you use
• The colour treatment
• Your hair’s health and condition

The Dye Factor

First, the type of dye you’re using on your hair will play a big role in determining how long your colour lasts, and how quickly you can return to the salon. Temporary dye, for instance, doesn’t penetrate deep into the strands of your hair, which means the color rinses away much faster. 

Typically, this means you can dye your hair again a lot faster if you’re using a temporary dye (within 1-2 weeks), but it’s best to seek personalized advice from your stylist. 

Beyond temporary dyes, there are three common options you can explore that last a little longer:

• Semi-permanent dyes: Semi-permanent dyes don’t contain developers like peroxide and ammonia. This means the colour typically sits on top of your hair cuticles, although it can sometimes last a little longer (up to around 6 washes). You can use these colors every couple of weeks, without causing too much damage to your hair.
• Demi-permanent dyes: Demi-permanent dyes do contain low-concentration developers, so they sink deeper into the hair shaft. This is why they last a little longer than most semi-permanent dyes (up to 24 washes). Because these dyes expose your hair to more chemicals, it’s usually a good idea to wait at least 4 weeks before adding a new colour.
• Permanent hair dyes: Permanent dyes are the longest-lasting dyes. They penetrate deep into the hair strands to alter your hair colour for up to 8 weeks. Because they expose your hair to the most potential damage, they also require a longer wait between colouring sessions. Most stylists recommend waiting around 8 weeks before applying a new colour.

The Colour Treatment: From Bleach to Highlights

Alongside the type of hair dye, the colour treatment you choose will also influence the answer to the question “how often can you dye your hair?” First, if you’re getting a full-head colour, it’s usually a good idea to wait longer between treatments. That’s because you’re exposing all of your hair to damaging chemicals with every colour. 

Alternatively, if you’re getting a balayage or ombre treatment, your stylist might offer to “top up” your hair colour more frequently, focusing on particular areas where the color might fade, or touching up your roots. 

In all instances, if your hair colour involves the use of bleach, then it’s better to wait longer between treatments. Bleach strips your hair of its colour pigments, meaning it’s much harsher on your hair than any other type of dye. 

If you use bleach to lighten your hair, you’ll generally need to wait until your new hair has completely grown out before you bleach again. This usually means waiting around 8-10 weeks. In some cases, if you’re using bleach to go multiple shades lighter (which means using a higher volume solution), your stylist might recommend waiting even longer before another treatment.

Hair Health and History 

Before your stylist performs any treatment that involves exposing your hair to chemicals, they should assess your hair’s condition first. If your hair is already dry or damaged, then colouring it could be risky. Exposing damaged hair to more chemicals can lead to breakage and hair loss. 

That’s why most stylists will recommend giving your hair some major TLC, with specialist treatments such as Olaplex, before you consider a colour or another treatment like a perm.

Another factor your stylist will need to take into account is your hair history. If you dye your hair regularly, or you get regular perms, then your hair may be more vulnerable to damage from dyes. 

In fact, most stylists will refuse to dye your hair too quickly after a perm, as this can cause serious damage to you hair. Alternatively, if you’ve never dyed your hair before, then you might be able to colour it more regularly without worrying about long-term damage. 

Finally, your stylist will need to assess the “porosity” of your hair. This basically means how well your hair holds on to colour. If your hair has low porosity, your colour will usually need to stay on for a little longer, and your stylist might have to use developers to better penetrate the cuticle. This also makes it more risky to dye your hair.

Alternatively, if your hair has high porosity, you won’t need to keep the colour on for as long – which reduces the risk of damage. On the other hand, your hair might lose its colour faster, requiring you to dye your hair more often.  

How Often Can You Dye Your Hair? Tips to Extend Colour Life

As you can see, there’s no single answer to the question “how often can you dye your hair?” How frequently you should book a colour service will depend on a number of factors. However, in most cases, the best option will always be to practice moderation.

Rather than dying your hair every couple of weeks and risking long-term damage, look for ways to make your style last as long as possible. For instance, you can:

• Use colour-safe products: Invest in colour-safe shampoos and conditioners that are free from parabens and sulphates that strip away colour and cause dryness. Pick a moisturizing, nourishing product that’s designed to support your hair colour. There are even colour-specific options, like violet and purple shampoos, that can help keep blonde hair looking fresh.
• Prioritize conditioners: Conditioners are crucial to your haircare routine after a colour. They help to improve the health of the hair cuticle, minimize frizz, and defend against further damage. Leave-in conditioners and moisturizing sprays can be particularly beneficial if you’ve exposed your hair to harsher products, such as permanent dye or bleach.
• Protect against heat: Since colour-treated hair is usually quite fragile, it’s a good idea to stay away from heat-styling tools. Air-dry your hair instead of using hair dryers, and make sure you use heat protection serums and sprays when using straighteners and curling irons. This should help to minimize the risk of future damage.

How Often Can You Dye Your Hair? The Verdict

It’s tempting to book an appointment with your favorite salon every time you see a new hair trend or style when scrolling through TikTok or your Instagram feed. However, even if you have the budget to pay for unlimited colour appointments, it’s a good idea to show restraint. 

Ultimately, the more you dye your hair, the more you expose it to damaging chemicals which can cause dryness, breakage, and future hair loss. On average, it’s best to wait at least 4-8 weeks between every colour treatment. However, the ideal frequency for you will depend on the type of hair dye used, the type of colouring service, and your hair’s condition. 

If you’re still uncertain about how frequently you should be dying your hair, the best option is to speak to a salon expert. Your hairstylist will be able to give you personalized advice based on your hair goals and current hair health. Contact PERFECT X HAIR today to learn more about our colour services, and get the best advice on when and how often you can colour your hair.

FAQs

Can I colour my hair every 2 weeks?

Generally, the answer is “no” unless you’re using temporary hair dyes that don’t actually penetrate the hair shaft and cuticle. In most cases, it’s recommended to wait at least 4 weeks before you apply a new colour to your hair to avoid causing long-lasting damage. 

What happens if you dye your hair too much?

Over time, repeated colouring sessions without the right care and maintenance can cause damage to the structure of your hair. This could mean that your hair becomes weaker and more prone to breakage. Additionally, you may find that your colour doesn’t last as long in future, because your hair is too damaged to hold pigment.

How often can I dye my roots?

Dying your roots can be a little safer than regularly dying all of your hair, provided that colours are applied carefully. However, it’s generally a good idea to still give your hair plenty of time to grow out and repair itself between root touch-ups. Speak to your stylist for personalized advice on how often you should get a touch-up.