If you are one of those who wonder, ‘Can I dye my hair after bleaching if it’s still wet?‘, we understand you’re in a hurry to achieve the hair color of your dreams. However, getting a gorgeous hair color takes a lot of time, so you need to be patient with the process.
Having said that, we’ll share the answer to your intriguing question in this article, so don’t dye your wet bleached hair without reading this first!
Can I Dye My Wet Hair After Bleaching?
No, you can’t dye your wet bleached hair because the hair is at its most fragile state when it’s wet, so the risk of damage is higher.
That’s not all. Your hair will absorb the water molecules first, leaving no room inside the hair shaft for the dye to be properly absorbed. As a result, the pigments will just sit on the surface of your hair which will lead to:
- Uneven distribution of color,
- Lightened or more subtle shade,
- and bleeding or fading.
But wait, there’s more. Since both dyeing and bleaching are harsh chemical processes, subjecting your hair to both procedures in just one day may cause significant damage.
If you need to undergo bleaching and dyeing to get your target shade, you should allow your hair to rest between the coloring processes. This is to give your hair a chance to recover its lost moisture and protein from bleaching and prevent further damage during the dyeing procedure.
How Long Should I Wait To Apply Dye After Bleaching?
You need to wait for at least 3 to 14 days before dyeing your bleached hair. The waiting time will depend on the current condition of your hair.
Wait for up to 14 days if your hair exhibits any of these signs of bleach damage:
- Brittle hair strands,
- Hair breakage,
- Split ends,
- Flyaways,
- Dry and rough texture,
- And excess tangling.
On the other hand, you can wait for only three days if your hair still looks healthy and strong after bleaching.
Ideally, you should only proceed with dyeing your bleached hair when it passes the water test. Here are the steps on how to do it:
Step 1. Take a strand of your hair.
Step 2. Add a drop of water to it.
Step 3. Check to see how fast the strand absorbs the water.
If it takes less than 10 seconds, it means that your hair is still dehydrated and damaged. If this is the case, you should wait for a few more days before performing this test again. Then, only proceed with the bleaching procedure when the strand passes the test.
What Happens If I Dye Wet Hair After Bleaching?
Here are the things you can expect when you dye your bleached hair while it’s still wet:
- Less vibrant hair color,
- Hair color that fades fast,
- Uneven appearance,
- Dry and Frizzy Hair,
- Breakage and split ends,
- Rough texture,
- and brittle hair strands.
As mentioned, the water on the surface of the hair strands prevents the dye pigments from penetrating the hair shaft properly, which can affect the final result and appearance of the hair color.
On the other hand, your hair health will take its toll when you subject your hair to two harsh chemical processes (dyeing and bleaching) in one day.
So, Can You Dye Wet Hair After Bleaching?
No, it’s never a good idea to dye your hair wet after bleaching. Doing so can lead to bad hair color or, worse, dry and damaged hair.
If you want to ensure that you’ll achieve the hair color of your dreams and keep your hair healthy and strong, it’s best to wait for 3 to 14 days or when your hair has already passed the water test.
