1. After applying fresh color, wait at least 72 hours before shampooing.
Should I shampoo the hair before or after I apply a semi-permanent color? Since a semi-permanent color washes out of hair quicker, it is recommended to shampoo and towel dry the hair before the color application.
Wash Hair With Cold Water
To keep your new hair color vivid and bright, we advise that you wash your hair with cold water (as cold as is bearable). Cold water keeps the hair cuticles closed and therefore stops the color running out and fading too soon.
Apply the mask to damp or dry hair, leave it on for about 10 minutes (longer for more vibrant color), and then rinse with cool water.
Shampooing the day after you dye your hair.
"After having your hair colored, wait a full 72 hours before shampooing," says Eva Scrivo, a hairstylist in New York City. "It takes up to three days for the cuticle layer to fully close, which traps the color molecule, allowing for longer lasting hair color."
You generally shouldn't shampoo immediately before coloring, because this will remove the natural oils that help protect your scalp during the coloring process. It's best to shampoo 12 - 24 hours before coloring when using semi-permanent or demi-permanent hair color. Shampoo 24 hours before using permanent color.
Leave the dye to sit for about 15 to 30 minutes, and then rinse out and style as usual. No matter which type of semi-permanent hair dye you use, make sure to carefully follow all directions.
Wash your hair.
Shampoo your hair with a clarifying shampoo 12 to 24 hours before doing the color rinse. This will remove any build-up from styling products and allow for a nice even color.
Use cool water for rinsing your hair
Hot water causes the hair cuticle to open, allowing color molecules to escape, while cold water helps close and seal the cuticles.
Since semi-permanent hair dye isn't formulated with peroxide or ammonia, it can be beneficial to use it on wet hair. This will open up the cuticles of the hair shaft and allow the color to absorb better into wet strands.
With moderate to low use of shampoo, as well as limited exposure to the sun and swimming pools (due to the chlorine), semi-permanent hair color should last around six weeks (eight washes).
Don't condition your hair until after the dye has been applied and rinsed out. Protect your skin and clothes. While semi-permanent dyes eventually wash out of hair, they can be fairly difficult to remove from other materials like most fabrics.
In general, the recommended time frame is at least 6 to 8 weeks for dye upkeep if you're using demi-permanent and permanent hair dyes.
Washing your hair too soon may lead to your colour getting washed down the drain as the cuticle layer may still be open. It takes approximately three days for the cuticle layer to go back to its original form. Therefore, it is advised to wait for 72 hours before shampooing your tresses after colouring.
You must wait at least four days to try and re-color it with permanent hair color. Before actually re-coloring your hair you can try using a color shampoo or color mouse. Or, you can try a temporary repair with half-permanent hair color. You can stain your hair again within a day with semi-permanent color.
Does Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Damage Hair? Since semi-permanent hair color just coats the outside of the hair, it generally does not cause any damage to the hair structure itself. Semi-permanent hair color does not penetrate the cortex of the hair, so it does not permanently alter your natural hair color or melanin.
In short, semi-permanent hair dye will fade on anyway, but on blondes, they'll leave a stain in their wake. That means you can be stuck with a tinge of darkness in your hair, in the shade of whatever color you had dyed. And this goes for all temporary hair colors, not just semi-permanent dye.
Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner
Try using a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair color from fading.
Leo Izquierdo, a colorist at New York's IGK Salon, agrees, adding that hot water will lift the outer layer of hair color and cause the color to fade. “Instead, rinse with cold or lukewarm water, as it will help seal up the cuticle and lock in your fresh color,” says Cleveland.
"After you dye your hair, don't wash it for at least two days because the hair is still sensitive and therefore will be more like to fade faster," says Sergio Pattirane, a hairstylist at Rob Peetoom in New York City. "We recommend waiting to wash it so that the color stay fresh and longer."
So, you've just dyed your hair and are wondering if dry shampoo will work? Rest assured that yes! It can be used on freshly coloured locks. Some people find that washing their hair too much can damage the integrity of the hair colour.
We all ask ourselves the same question a day or two after our color appointment: “How long do I have to wait before washing my hair?” Celebrity colorist Aura Friedman makes it simple: “Wait at least three days before shampooing your hair after color,” she says.
"The darker the temporary color and the lighter the hair, the longer it will take the color to wash out," warns O'Connor. It won't necessarily ruin your natural hair color, but it may alter it for a bit longer than you hoped for.