6 Things to Do Before and After Hair Color

Taking care of your tresses before (and after) you color your hair is important as this will affect the look and longevity of the color. Whether you're going for balayage, ombre, highlights, or some other hair color technique, here are a few things to do before hair color:

Know When to Wash Your Hair

Hair has mineral deposits from water and products that can cause hair dye to develop too soon and come out uneven. They can also prevent color from being fully absorbed into the hair, causing the color to fade quicker.

One of the basic hair color tipsis to wash your hair with a detoxifying or clarifying shampoo to remove product build-up and to ensure your strands are clean. This will achieve a more even result. However, avoid washing your hair on the day–or the day before–you get your color done as this will strip away the natural oils that protect your scalp.

Condition Your Hair

Having healthy hair means you get a more vibrant color. Get a hot oil hair treatment or use Pantene's *Hair Fall Control 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner at least three days before you color to restore moisture, strengthen, and nourish your hair strands.

Doing deep conditioning can prevent your hair from getting dry and dull after it's exposed to chemicals in hair dye. It’s also advisable to get a trim a few weeks before to get rid of split ends.

Do a Strand Test and Bring a Color Peg

Before you go all in, it’s a good idea to do a strand test first to make sure you don’t have allergic reactions to the chemicals in the dye. Doing this will also give you a sample of how your chosen color would look on you. It’s also a good idea to show your colorist a photo inspiration of the exact color you’d like so everyone’s on the same page on the look you’re going for.

It is also important to know how to take care of colored hair by following your colorist's dyed hair tips. Here are a few things to do after hair color to keep it looking great:

Protect Your Hair

What to do after coloring hair? Wash your hair after at least 48 hours. Protect your color from sea or pool water by wetting your hair thoroughly with regular tap water before swimming or applying conditioner over it to keep salt and chlorine from entering your hair shaft. When outside, wear protective gear like a hat or a head scarf, or use an umbrella. Avoid using excessive heat when styling with blowdryers, curling irons, or hair straighteners.

Use the Right Products

To take care of colored hair, use shampoo and conditioners specific for color-treated hair to help retain its shade and repair chemical damage. Pantene's Color & Perm Shampoo contains keratin damage blockers technology and helps repair chemically-damaged hair. Used regularly before and after hair color, this product makes your perm and color last longer. It's also advisable to choose hair products with added sunscreen and UV filters to protect your color from fading and your scalp from sun damage.

Have Touchups

Prolong the gorgeous color of your hair with follow-up visits to your colorist. Visible roots as your hair grows do not look flattering so you may have to get touchups regularly. If you prefer lower maintenance colors, go for highlights that are more subtle when grown out. The healthier your hair, the better your color will look. Follow these dyed hair tips on what to do before and after hair color to help ensure great results on your #hairgoals.