As always, the answers varied in a group discussion. Some said it works well, others advised to wash your hair the day before. And some others just went about random hair lecture. Very typical.
But if you're trying to get some real applicable answer, that can be really frustrating. Which advice are you going to follow now?
Truth is, knowing why you have to do something helps you decide if it is worth the effort.
So, why or why not use oil on your hair before dyeing it?
Why you should apply oil on your hair before dyeing it
Some people believe that the oil helps to protect your hair especially if you have dry ends. This is especially important because some dyes have bleaching effects.
Overall, if you have to oil your hair, use coconut oil or argan oil or a mixture of both oils.
Coconut oil reduces the loss of protein from the hair, speeds up the bleaching process and helps to prevent itching and burning.
How to use coconut oil before dyeing your hair
You have to apply the coconut oil a day before you dye your hair. This gives your hair ample time to absorb the oil and helps your scalp build up natural oils needed to protect it from likely damages caused by bleaches.
- Your hair should be clean. Wash your hair to remove dirt or any other chemical build ups from other hair products
- Add coconut oil to a bowl and melt it completely
- Add the liquified oil to your hair. Ensure it gets to every part from your root to ends
- Wear a plastic or shower cap through the night. This will help keep the oil in, allowing your hair and scalp to thoroughly absorb the oil. It'll also protect your pillow from soiling.
- The next day, dye your hair using the right procedure without washing off the oil
- After dyeing, wash your hair as you should. Condition and style to your taste.
Why you should not apply oil on your hair before dying it
Henna for hair says "dirt, oil, and mineral build-up all create barriers that prevent the dye from bonding properly to the hair strand."
Apparently, this is necessary for plant-based dye mixtures. You need to wash off the dirt, oil, and moisturizers from your hair before using dye on it.
Some users have said that they found their hair drips color when they put oil in their hair before dying.
You may want to drape a towel around your neck when you dye your hair.
How to prepare your hair for dyeing with oiling
The age-long advice has been to rid your hair of oil completely before dyeing it but a lot of people today found that using oil works better for them.
You should treat your hair with hot oil at least 3 days before dyeing it. This prepares your hair strands to meet with the ingredients in the dye.
Wash your hair the night before the dyeing day and avoid all contact with oils.
Your scalp has natural oils that will help protect your scalp.
One tip to observe before dyeing your hair is to line your ear and hairline with vaseline in order to prevent stains on your skin.
Why you should use coconut oil on your dyed hair
Coconut oil should take a constant place in your cosmetics drawer because of its many benefits for your hair (well, and skin).
Whether you've used oil before dyeing your hair or not, you need to maintain a shiny and smooth hair.
You don't want your hair fading a few days after you dyed it or your ends appearing weak and brittle.
Here are some benefits of using coconut oil on your dyed hair.
- Coconut does not contain any form of acid or element that removes hair color.
- Coconut oil minimizes the rate of protein loss from the hair thus protecting the hair from damage
- Coconut helps to lock down hair cuticle thereby keeping in hair color
- It is also a moisturizer. It helps to keep your hair shiny, soft and healthy
- It is also believed that when it gets into the hair follicle, it activates hair growth
- It curbs the negative effects of chemicals from the dye, providing a cushion for the layers of your hair shaft.
Some precautions to take with coconut oil
- Your hair quality will determine the relationship between your hair with coconut oil. If your hair is protein sensitive, then it will react to the presence of coconut oil
- Applying a lot of coconut oil on your hair will cause your hair to become greasy and cause the residual color to drip
Use a minimal quantity of oil on your hair
- Avoid using heat on your oiled hair as this could cause your hair to cook
Have you ever used coconut oil when dyeing your hair or after?
If you've ever used coconut oil for your dyed hair, what was your experience like?
Some people shared their personal experiences with coconut oil on dyed hair and these are some of the things they said.
- For someone who described her hair as "looking dead", she said her hair still looked healthy several days after dyeing it
- A lady who always had to retouch her hair frequently after dyeing it said she didn't have to visit the salon often anymore because her color stayed on much longer
- "My hair's been pretty much easier to comb," says a blonde. According to her, using coconut oil made her hair softer and as such, easier to comb. Now she doesn't have to suffer pains when she combs her hair.
- The pretty lady says dyeing her hair after applying coconut oil helped to protect her scalp and her dry roots. Her secret is to apply little oil to her hair.
Finally,
As with all hair products, your hair may react differently when you add oil to it before dyeing. You may even discover that your hair works better with argan (or any other) oil than with coconut oil.
The base idea is that applying oil to your hair before dyeing it may help you maintain healthy hair while retaining your favorite look.