So you’ve decided to dye your curls and spot a new look. We love that you’re ready to have fun with your hair– the thrill and excitement you’re feeling right now must be through the roof. But, before you grab your box dye or head to your salon appointment, we need to let you in on a few curly hair colouring secrets.
You see, curly hair is very unique and comes with its own special needs so dyeing it can result in a few pretty significant changes. If done improperly, dyeing your curls can even cause damage. So, to ensure your hair stays healthy and flourishes after your new colour, in this article, we’ll discuss some key things you need to know before colouring your curly natural hair.
1. Your Need To Start With Healthy Curls
Dyeing your hair is a pretty significant chemical change that requires your colour treatment to interact with the innermost layer of your hair strands. If your hair is already weak or unhealthy, this can easily result in damage and even hair loss. So, it is extremely important to make sure your hair is in its healthiest state before you dye it.
If your hair is not doing too great right now, spend a month or two focusing on keeping it healthy by consistently cleansing, conditioning, and moisturising it with our Manuka Honey Shampoo, Moisture Rich Conditioner, and Manuka Honey Leave-in Conditioner. Then, once your hair is feeling and looking healthy, you can dye it.
2. The Lighter You Go, The Higher Your Risk Of Damage
If your hair colour is dark, trying to switch to a very bright shade like blonde or blue will require your hair to be bleached first before your desired colour can be achieved. The bleaching process is used to remove the melanin pigment in your hair and oftentimes you lose the natural lipids and proteins that protect and strengthen your hair in the process. So, after bleaching, your hair will become significantly weaker and more prone to damage. This is why we would recommend going for darker-toned colours like brown or burgundy that don't require bleach.
3. Your Curl Pattern May Change After Colouring
Hair dyes that are extremely harsh or involve the use of bleach can weaken the bonds holding up the structure and elasticity of your hair. This can result in a slight change to your curl pattern and cause them to be noticeably looser and less defined. This may not happen to everyone but it is most common in those with already weak or fine hair strands.
4. You Will Need To Deep Condition More Frequently
Dyeing your hair lifts your cuticles and makes it slightly harder for your hair to retain moisture. This can cause your hair to be more dry and brittle so deep conditioning frequently is very important. A nourishing deep conditioner like our Manuka Honey Deep Conditioning Mask will infuse your hair with moisture and strengthen your strands, minimizing any risk of damage from the colouring process. You do not have to deep condition every time you wash your hair but try to do it at least 2-3 times a month.
5. You Will Need To Take A Break From Heat Styling
Although it may not look like it, dyed hair by definition is already slightly weak and not in its healthiest state so you need to focus on maintaining its health as much as you can. This means you can not expose your hair to excessive heat as it can cause another form of damage. After dyeing your hair, it is best to avoid heat styling completely. However, if you can not completely cut off heat, then try using it only once every few months to keep your hair from falling off.
6. Your Shampoo Needs To Be Hydrating
Moisture is the name of the game when it comes to maintaining your coloured hair. Harsh shampoos that completely strip the hair can leave your curls feeling extremely dry and brittle so it is very crucial to use a hydrating shampoo like our Manuka Honey Hydration Shampoo.
7. Your Hair Can Become More Porous
As we mentioned earlier, most hair dyes swell and lift your cuticles to allow the colour pigment to penetrate your strands. This leaves your cuticle lifted and more open for a considerable amount of time, resulting in your hair becoming more high in porosity. Now, having porosity hair means your hair can absorb moisture and soak up products much faster, but one of the major downsides is that it will not be able to retain moisture and will often feel very dry and frizzy.
8. You Need Pre-color A Strand Test
A strand test is extremely important and needs to be done before you colour your hair. It gives you prior information about how your hair will react to the dye or colour treatment you are using before you apply it to your entire head. This way, you can minimise any risk of damage or irritation and be sure the dye will produce your desired outcome.
9. Your Hair Will To Layer Your Hair Products
Dyeing your hair makes it more high in porosity and causes moisture to evaporate out of your strands really fast, so you can no longer just use one moisturiser and call it a day. To combat frizz and dryness, you need to layer your products using the LOC (liquid-oil-cream) method. This means you need to first apply a moisturiser like our Manuka Honey Leave-in Conditioner, then follow up with our Curling Creme or Curl Activating Smoothie before finishing up with the Hair & Scalp Oil to lock in the moisture.
10. You Have Different Hair Dye Options
Although semi-permanent and permanent dyes are the most common options people go for, there are actually several other non-permanent dye options like colour waxes that do not require you to make such a drastic change to your strands. So, if you only want to wear your desired colour for a short time and are not ready for the full commitment or risks of potential hair damage, take your time to explore all the dye options out there and make your choice based on your specific needs and concerns.
Dyeing your curly hair can be a little exciting and scary at the same time, especially if you don’t know what to expect. But it doesn't have to be. With the tips and tricks we’ve highlighted in this article, you will navigate your post-colouring hair routine like a pro while keeping your curls in perfect condition.