Dyeing your hair can make you look younger or help you reinvent your look, but it can also cause damage. It is important to understand how and why damage occurs and what you can do to prevent it.
Hair is made up of keratin protein with a soft inner structure and an outer layer of cuticles. When hair is dyed, the outer scales flare outward so the chemicals can penetrate the inner core. Lightening hair removes pigment from the inner strands, while dyeing hair darker adds pigment.
Overuse or misuse of chemicals to dye hair can weaken the strands and cause permanent damage, making hair dry and frizzy. This can happen if the concentration of chemicals is too high, if the dye is left on too long, or if too much bleach or dye is used. Heating, hair products, ultraviolet light, and pollution can cause further damage and result in split ends and breakage.
There are several ways to prevent damage when coloring your hair:
Consider using organic dye. It is less likely to cause damage and will provide longer-lasting color.
Choose a color within three shades of your natural color. Going darker is less likely to damage your hair than bleaching it.
Semi-permanent dye is less likely to cause damage than permanent hair color. If you need to use permanent dye, only have it applied to your roots, not the entire length of your hair.
Keep track of how long the dye is in your hair. Make sure the colorist stays nearby and let him or her know if the dye causes burning or itching.
Increase the amount of time between colorings. You shouldn’t need to dye your hair more than every six to eight weeks.
Use shampoo and conditioner made for color-treated hair. You should also use a deep conditioning treatment once a week.