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How Soon Can I Color Permed Hair? (2024)

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how soon after a perm can i color my hairLonging for a totally new look? Perming and coloring your hair can give you the transformation you’ve been dreaming of. But if you want to avoid damaging your hair, it’s important to know how soon after a perm can I color my hair.

In this article, we’ll explore everything from what happens during perming and why waiting is so important, to choosing the right color and caring for colored-permed locks afterwards.

During the process of perming or curling your locks with chemicals, cross-links between proteins within each strand are broken down then reorganized into new patterns in order to achieve permanent curls or waves.

Heat may be applied afterward as well using an electric rod or blow dryer in order for those newly formed links between protein compounds inside each strand remain intact.

Key Takeaways

  • Wait at least two weeks between perming and coloring for best results.
  • Choose a color that complements your skin tone.
  • Avoid ammonia, resorcinol, or PPD in hair color products.
  • Consult a professional stylist for safe timing and advice.

What Happens to the Hair During Perming?

What Happens to the Hair During Perming
You can feel the dramatic transformation happening as your perm sets: protein bonds breaking, waves forming, and locks curling like never before! The process of perming changes the structure of hair by breaking down these proteins with chemicals.

This reaction causes curl formation, which creates a new wave pattern in your hair.

To maintain this look, it’s important to remember that aftercare is essential. It helps prevent damage from occurring due to chemical reactions or other factors such as over-styling or heat.

When coloring permed hair, there should be at least two weeks between treatments for the best results. This also helps avoid further damage from additional chemicals being applied on top of each other.

Perms are a great way to achieve stunningly beautiful curls without permanently cutting your hairstyle.

How Long Should I Wait Before Coloring Permed Hair?

How Long Should I Wait Before Coloring Permed Hair
When it comes to perming and coloring your hair, timing is everything. Coloring too soon can cause damage and lead to long-term problems with the health of your hair.

  1. Wait 7-15 days after getting a perm before considering adding color or highlights to avoid overprocessing the strands.
  2. Select a color that complements both warm and cool tones in your skin complexion.
  3. Make sure any product used does not contain ammonia, resorcinol, or PPD, which can be harsh on treated tresses.
  4. If opting for home coloring kits, make sure to follow the directions carefully and do an allergy test first!
  5. Seek advice from professionals if you are unsure about anything when it comes to permed or colored hair care.

No matter what route you take when considering styling options such as perms and colors, remember that knowledge is power.

Why is It Important to Wait Before Coloring Permed Hair?

Why is It Important to Wait Before Coloring Permed Hair
Awaiting a few weeks after your perm before deciding to color is critical for maintaining healthy hair and keeping it full of life! Perming breaks protein bonds in the hair, which can take several weeks or months to recover from.

If you don’t wait long enough, coloring your processed hair could cause further damage and increase the risk of breakage.

Consider all factors when selecting a hue—such as skin tone, desired longevity (permanent vs temporary), etc.—and opt for ammonia-free products with added minerals like keratin or argan oil that nourish strands post-perm.

Additionally, look into Color Reviving Gloss treatments rather than permanent color changes if seeking an intense shine without altering texture permanently.

Finally, be sure to follow up with sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners designed specifically for colored/processed locks; these provide UV protection while taming frizziness & adding lustrousness over time!

Can I Color My Hair at Home After a Perm?

Can I Color My Hair at Home After a Perm
If you’re considering coloring your hair after a perm, it’s important to know that home coloring is an option. However, it requires taking extra precautions for safety and success. Before starting the process, complete an allergy test to ensure the product won’t cause any reactions on your skin or scalp.

It’s also crucial to pick a color selection based on your desired look and consider how long it will last. Keep in mind that permanent dyes are more long-lasting than semi-permanent ones.

Aftercare is essential too. Use sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for colored hair to avoid fading of the dye job over time.

With these DIY tips, you can achieve beautiful results with home hair coloring after perming!

How to Choose the Right Hair Color for Permed Hair?

How to Choose the Right Hair Color for Permed Hair
Choosing the right hair color for permed hair can be tricky. Not only do you need to consider your skin tone, but also wait a few weeks after getting a perm before coloring your hair again.

Hair color for permed hair:

Choosing the right hair color for permed hair is essential to ensure a stunning result; in fact, over 70% of people with relaxed or permed hair opt for permanent color treatments. Consider coloring techniques like highlights, lowlights, balayage, and ombre to add dimension and depth.

Matching your skin tone with one or more shades of the desired hue is also important. Home application may be possible, but take an allergy test first! Lastly, use conditioning products and avoid direct sun exposure when styling colored permed locks post-treatment.

Consider skin tone:

When picking a hair color for your permed locks, consider the tone of your skin – it can play a big part in determining which shade will look best on you. Take into account highlights and lowlights to achieve desired results, whether you opt for permanent or temporary dye.

Before coloring, perform an allergy test and use color protectant products afterwards. For stylish looks without over-processing or damage due to lightening, choose from trendy techniques like balayage, ombre, and sombre.

Maintain healthy hair with nutrient-packed products, but avoid frequent dyeing as it could lead to breakage and split ends.

Hair care tips

It’s essential to have a hair care routine for relaxed or permed hair. Use sulfate-free, color-protecting shampoo and conditioner with UV protection and long-lasting shine.

Limit heat tool usage with protective products like styling cream for heat protection and smooth styling, as well as a tame product for frizz elimination and added shine.

Get regular trims to maintain healthy waves. Use nutrient-packed products to keep your hair looking gorgeous!

To prevent breakage before coloring, wait 7-15 days after perming – you can even do same-day color if necessary!

Don’t forget about moisture; replenish what is lost during the relaxing process to avoid dryness that could lead to further damage of your locks.

What Damage Can Occur if I Color My Hair Too Soon After a Perm?

What Damage Can Occur if I Color My Hair Too Soon After a Perm
It’s important to time your coloring and perming treatments correctly, as hair can easily be damaged if you color too soon after a perm. The chemical reaction of the perm solution can weaken protein bonds in the hair cuticle, which may cause breakage when adding additional chemicals or heat styling tools for coloring.

If you wait at least two weeks between treatments, your scalp and follicles will have enough time to recover from any potential damage caused by the initial process. It is also recommended that you avoid using products with ammonia or other harsh ingredients during this period.

Instead, opt for natural alternatives like argan oil or shea butter-based shampoos.

Additionally, an experienced stylist can offer tailored advice on how long it’s safe to wait before attempting another treatment like colored highlights or lowlights on permed curls without risking further harm.

What Type of Hair Color is Best for Permed Hair?

What Type of Hair Color is Best for Permed Hair
For the perfect color on permed hair, choose a permanent or temporary hair color based on your preference and consider your skin tone when selecting shades. Blondes should avoid bleaching as this can be especially damaging to already fragile locks.

Highlights, lowlights, balayage, ombre – there are so many options available that you’ll find something for every style! Hair dyeing at home is possible, but it’s important to follow instructions carefully and do an allergy test beforehand.

In addition to choosing a good quality product without ammonia or parabens in it, using hot oil treatments instead of frequent coloring sessions will protect from damage even further.

How to Care for Permed Hair After Coloring?

How to Care for Permed Hair After Coloring
Now that you’ve colored your permed hair, it’s time to take care of it! To ensure the longevity of your look and keep your hair healthy, follow these steps for optimal coloring maintenance:

  1. Use color protectant shampoos and conditioners that provide UV protection and long-lasting shine.
  2. Avoid frequent heat styling by using a protective product before blow drying or curling with hot tools.
  3. Regularly trim split ends to maintain healthy permed waves while avoiding scalp irritation from chemical treatments like relaxers or dyes.

Additionally, remember that when deciding between perm then color or vice versa, always do the perm first followed by shampooing prior to coloring for best results. This will help avoid over processing and damaging strands due to double process treatments like lightening after already having chemically treated tresses through a permanent wave solution.

Finally, don’t forget about post-color conditioning treatments such as glosses, which add shine without further altering the state of each strand.

Which Haircare Products and Treatments Should I Avoid With Permed Hair?

Which Haircare Products and Treatments Should I Avoid With Permed Hair
To keep your permed hair looking its best, it’s important to avoid certain haircare products and treatments.

It’s essential to go for sulfate-free color protectant shampoo and conditioner that provide UV protection, long-lasting shine, and frizz control.

Additionally, limit heat tool usage such as blow drying or curling ironing the same day as chemical treatment or coloring of the hair.

Using hot oil treatments are an excellent way to restore moisture in damaged locks instead of overprocessing with heated tools frequently which can further damage relaxed or permed hair strands.

Furthermore, use nutrient-packed oils like shea butter or argan oil on a regular basis for healthy gorgeous curls without making them dry out too much from frequent styling routines.

Lastly, find natural ingredient shampoos that suit your skin tone in order to prevent any discoloration due to wrong product usage when caring for colored perm hairstyles.

Can I Bleach My Hair After Getting a Perm?

Can I Bleach My Hair After Getting a Perm
Bleaching your hair after a perm is not recommended due to the potential for over-processing and damage. Relaxers and perms break protein bonds, altering the properties of your hair for up to several months.

Following such treatments, it’s best to wait at least two weeks before coloring or bleaching again.

Additionally, it is important to avoid over-lightening your hair to protect it from further damage caused by heat styling tools or dyes with harsh chemicals like ammonia, resorcinol, phthalates, parabens, PPDs, and gluten.

Hair color without these ingredients may still be compatible with previously processed locks. Consider using keratin-infused colors that have argan oil or ginseng root extract added for their moisturizing benefits.

When mixing perming/relaxing services along with coloring, it is crucial to be mindful of timing. It is recommended to consult a professional stylist who can advise you on how soon after a perm you should bleach your hair.

Conclusion

Perming your hair can be a great way to get a new look and style. However, it’s important to wait the right amount of time before you color your hair.

The best thing to do is wait at least 7-15 days after a perm before coloring your hair. Additionally, it’s important to choose the right type of hair color for permed hair. Make sure to pick hair color without ammonia, resorcinol, PPD, phthalates, parabens, or gluten.

Finally, you should also use sulfate-free, color-protecting shampoo and conditioner specifically for permed hair. With all of these tips in mind, you can safely color your permed hair and keep it looking vibrant and beautiful for years to come.

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Mutasim Sweileh

Mutasim is a published author and software engineer and beard care expert from the US. To date, he has helped thousands of men make their beards look better and get fatter. His work has been mentioned in countless notable publications on men's care and style and has been cited in Seeker, Wikihow, GQ, TED, and Buzzfeed.