Deciding to colour your hair can be both exciting and overwhelming. With so many shades and techniques available, it’s natural to wonder: Should I colour my hair?
Whether you’re looking to colour your hair for the first time, make a bold transformation, or simply enhance your natural hair colour, choosing the right approach is key to achieving stunning results while maintaining hair health. With the right techniques, products, and professional guidance, hair colouring is a safe process that won’t damage your hair—as long as it’s done by an experienced colourist and you follow proper aftercare recommendations.
Many people hesitate to colour their hair due to concerns about damaged hair or maintenance, but when done correctly, the process enhances your hair’s vibrancy, shine, and overall appearance. If you’re feeling adventurous, semi-permanent hair dye allows you to experiment with bold colours without a long-term commitment. If you prefer a more natural, low-maintenance look, techniques like balayage provide a seamless, sun-kissed effect that grows out beautifully without harsh lines.
The key to deciding whether colouring your hair is right for you lies in understanding your lifestyle, hair type, and desired maintenance level. In this guide, we’ll help you navigate the process with expert advice, essential tips, and everything you need to know to achieve your dream hair—safely and successfully.
What happens when I’m colouring my hair?
Depending on your hair goals, the process may take longer than you expect . You may need to attend multiple salon visits to achieve your perfect shade. Certain treatments require more maintenance and care than others. But, you don’t have to be afraid to take risks.
Aiming to feel secure in the process? Always listen to what your colourist has to say. They will be able to indicate what is best for your hair, current routine and features according to what you want.
Don’t be surprised if your colourist has a different definition of blonde hair than yours. Colours vary from person to person, you can’t expect the same result from colouring applied to a celebrity. Because each hair type processes colour differently.
Several factors influence the lightening process, including the current condition of your hair. It’s important to understand that achieving a significantly lighter shade, such as ice blonde, requires a bleaching process. This process strips the hair of its natural pigment, which can weaken the hair structure if not done carefully. If you have dark hair, reaching a very light blonde may take multiple appointments to maintain the health and integrity of your strands. Additionally, if your hair is already weak or dry, we recommend undergoing a restorative treatment before starting the colouring process to strengthen and prepare the hair. This guide will help you navigate the best approach to achieving your desired colour while keeping your hair healthy and vibrant.
Hair colour tip: There is an initial/result colour chart on the colour package that helps you get an idea of how the colour will look on your hair and the strand test is another important indicator.
So, should I colour my hair?
Colouring your hair is a great opportunity to boost your self-esteem and explore new versions of yourself. A makeover is a perfect way to express to the world how you feel.
No matter how discreet the change, you feel bold and refreshed.
What do I need to know before colouring my hair?
Before dyeing your hair, here are some key things to remember:
Keep references in mind but remain mindful that these are not copies to be reproduced.
Keep in mind your skin tone and natural colour palette.
The nature and type of your hair will guide you in the final decision.
Always be realistic. If you have a dark brown hair, don’t expect your hair stylist to turn you platinum blonde in one appointment!
The reason behind your decision to colour your hair.
Your stylist will also assess your hair with a strand test. This helps determine how your hair will react to bleach, colour, or other chemical treatments before your colour appointment. During your consultation, you can also discuss your desired look and get expert advice on what suits you and your lifestyle.
A patch test will also be required to check for any allergic reactions to PPD. There are different methods, including Colourstart, which we use at Izabella Bordignon to ensure a safe allergy test before your appointment.
Have you ever noticed how people have different perceptions of colours?
If you’ve ever had to attend an event or seen a few TV shows where there was a colour theme, you must have noticed how many different variations are presented.
Skin tone, natural hair colour and hair texture create a new effect and a different interpretation in your hair colour.
Warmer hair colours will suit people with more pigmented skin. Cool undertone look good on people with green and blue eyes. Think about highlighting your strengths and be mindful of the contrast between your hair colour and your eyebrows.
With the answer to this question, you will be able to find the best hair colour for you at this current moment.
You will know which shades to choose, which is the most appropriate application technique, and whether to use permanent or semi-permanent dyes, among other issues.
Find the best shades that would suit your skin tone:
Warm undertone
Golden blonde, honey blonde or strawberry blonde
Warm chocolate brown, caramel brown or chestnut brown
Copper, golden red or warm auburn
Cool undertone
Ash blonde or platinum blonde
Cool chocolate brown or ash brown
Cool red – such as burgundy or cherry cola
Neutral undertone
Bronde – A mix of brown and blonde hair colour
Medium chocolate brown
Neutral black
Sandy blonde/beige blonde
Soft Auburn / Light Copper
The reasons for colouring your hair can be varied. Some people like to play around with different shades for each season; others like to keep their hair tone closer to their natural shade and emphasising a healthy appearance. Some want to radically change their hair, while others just touch up the roots and keep a more classic hair colour.
Did you find your first grey hair, but love your hair colour?
A professional hair colourist will know how to find the colour that suits you best and is most complementary to your natural hair tones, while still making an impact. The hair dye formula will be different for each shade.
If you want a change without losing the natural look, you can still explore other shades and types of application. Maybe opt for balayage or an ombré to add a flow of colour throughout your hair.
Root touch-ups are typically needed every 4-6 weeks, especially for covering grey hairs. This timeframe is based on the natural hair growth cycle, as hair grows approximately 1 to 1.5 cm per month, gradually revealing the regrowth at the roots.
However, the frequency of touch-ups can vary depending on several factors, including hair colour, dye type, and maintenance routine. If you’ve chosen a lighter shade than your natural hair, regrowth may become visible sooner, requiring more frequent maintenance. On the other hand, techniques like balayage or root smudging create a softer transition, allowing for longer intervals between salon visits.
To keep your colour fresh for longer and reduce the need for frequent touch-ups, adopting a proper hair care routine is key. Learn more about how to extend the life of your hair colour in our guide: How Do I Make My Hair Colour Last Longer?
What to say to your stylist to get the colour you want
1. Do your research and show pictures to your colourist
Seek different types of inspiration for the desired colour, so that the colourist understands what you want and can match your expectations. Also, be open to a different direction if they point out that the colour isn’t compatible with your specific features (skin tone and eye colour, etc).
Never compare yourself to the models, you are your own blueprint so it’s important to keep the focus on the best look that can be created for you. The photos serve only as a source of inspiration and reference.
Take the opportunity to use photos from within the colourist’s Instagram during your consultation, this way, your vision can be easily understood.
Also, bring pictures of what you don’t want
The language of colours can translate in entirely different ways from one hair stylist to another so, by having pictures on hand, you reduce the risk of undesirable results.
2. Choose something that coincides with your style
When you choose a photo, look for someone with a style and hair texture close to yours. The hair colour will look different on straight hair and curly hair.
The reference is important for the colourist to understand more about what you want, but the end result will be defined by your style and characteristics.
We recommend that you also take a photo of how you usually wear your hair.
3. Be sure about what you really want
Some procedures like dyeing and bleaching can change the texture and volume of your hair. Therefore, a consultation with your colourist is vital in order to align expectations.
Dark hair, for example, will require several sessions to achieve a lighter blonde shade. This process will allow your colourist to work through all of the hair’s underlying tones until it reaches the desired level without compromising its integrity.
Hair needs time to prepare, so you can’t make a sudden change from dark brown to blonde overnight.
After defining the desired look understand:
How many applications will be needed to achieve your specific goal;
How many times you will need to go to the salon;
What the hair care routine will be to maintain the colour.
As stated earlier, it is very important to discuss your lifestyle with your colourist. There’s no use choosing a tone that needs to be renewed in 3 to 4 weeks, if you don’t have that availability to go to the hair salon.
Regularity in colour maintenance has more advantages than waiting for the colour to wear fully and booking a touch-up.
Unfortunately, hair cannot always be intact, beautiful and healthy without maintenance. The ends of the hair are the first to age and the roots show signs of renewal. Include regular cuts and treatments within your hair care routine.
How to take care of coloured hair
Before dyeing your hair, you should prepare your “arsenal” to keep it well hydrated, voluminous, shiny and maintain the intensity of the chosen colour.
A very common post-colouring concern is the appearance of unwanted undertones. If you’ve lightened your hair or opted for a darker shade, you don’t want to find some reddish or coppery strands. So, you should make use of the most suitable shampoos for your hair tone.
The ideal shampoo for hair with light or blonde tones is silver and purple. They neutralise orange tones and maintain the perfect tone.
Purple shampoos are miracle products, they are great for blondes or brunettes with highlights.
You can alternate use with a daily shampoo for colour-treated hair if you don’t want it to look “over-toned” or “smoky”.
It’s time to change your regular shampoo and conditioner
Coloured hair requires differentiated care, due to the effects of chemical change, longevity of the colour and the risk of hair damage.
After any colouring procedure, the hair will become more porous and dry. The hair cuticle, when opened, is exposed to chemicals and depending on its composition, its structure may change.
Shampoos packed with hair-building proteins such as keratin and conditioners packed with ultra-nourishing oils will be great allies to maintain hair colour and shine.
Always protect your hair
After colouring, it is recommended to avoid heated styling tools, however, if you need to use a hairdryer, flat iron or Babyliss, don’t forget to apply a heat protectant if you really want to preserve your new tone.
Deep Conditioning treatment before every colour session are a great preventative measure to build up the strength of your hair, consider those with nourishing ingredients such as marula and argan oil.
Adding treatments to your colour service such as bond repair treatment will repair and protect the hair from bleach and colour and maintain healthy, strong and glossy hair.
What do I need to know before colouring my hair?
Before colouring you hair, you must complete an allergy test. Here at Izabella Bordignon, we use Colourstart. This patch test that takes 4-5 days to complete and is applied to the outside on the forearm to check for any allergic reactions, ensuring the product is safe to use without causing irritation during or after colouring.
In addition to this test, you will need to do a strand test. Your hair colourist will then be able to check if the hair will resist colouring and have a preview of how the colour will look.
This test is essential for people with other chemicals in their hair because it will present any issues and assess the state of the hair before processing.
Top tip: Invest in a hair schedule to strengthen strands before colouring
A capillary schedule is a specific hair care routine that ensures nutrition and resistance to the thread, this routine combines hydration, nutrition and reconstruction for four weeks. It’s a great investment to keep your hair healthy and vibrant for longer.
When hair is prepared in this way, it remains healthy and produces more beautiful results. It doesn’t suffer as much from chemistry. This technique also brings incredible results when repeated in post-colouring, with a focus on reconstruction, it is possible to restore the proteins and mass of the hair fibre.
Is your scalp sensitive? So before dyeing your hair you should take some precautions. Here are some recommendations for sensitive skin:
Add argan oil to the colour. Colourists mix a bespoke oil in with tints to prevent irritation or discomfort. Also, coconut oil on your scalp the night before helps nourish your skin and is ideal for anyone who is going to bleach their hair.
You can also opt for an ammonia-free formula hair colour, highlights or lowlights. These options require less maintenance and the dyes don’t even touch the scalp.
Should I wash my hair before dyeing it?
It’s best not to wash your hair on the day of your colouring appointment, as a freshly washed scalp can become more sensitive to the chemicals used in the dyeing process. However, arriving with excessively dirty or oily hair can also interfere with how well the colour adheres, as product buildup and excess oil can create a barrier that affects the final result.
For the best outcome, we recommend coming to your appointment with clean, dry hair that has been washed 24 to 48 hours prior. This allows your scalp’s natural oils to provide a protective layer while ensuring the hair is free of buildup, allowing the colour to develop properly.
How to keep the vibrant colour hair
Wait 48 hours after colouring to wash your hair.
Avoid washing your hair daily and use cold water when possible.
Do not swim in chlorinated pool water – opt for swimming pools with water treated with salts and protect your hair.
Do not use shampoo with sulfate, alcohol and detergents.
Protect your hair from the heat of the sun with a hat and products with UV.
Explore what are the best options for YOU.
If you follow these steps you can feel more certain that problems will be avoided.
Trusting your colourist is the key throughout the process, because it’s not just about applying any shade to your hair.
The right technique, care in preparation, and post-staining are integral. The right shade is the one that suits you, your features, your eye colour, your skin tone and your lifestyle.
Permanent hair colour, semi permanent hair dyes and Ammonia free hair dye all have their own benefits and characteristics, educate yourself to be sure you’re using the right products for your hair.
When consulting your hairdresser, you should ask how many sessions will be needed, if your hair is able to take on that colour, how you can avoid possible problems and what care you should take in your routine.
Be honest
Be honest about what you want and what you don’t want, assume your reality and understand when you have a different direction than you expected. A colour can be beautiful on a model, but it can cause a huge disaster on their hair.
The amount of time will vary, an ombré or balayage can take months before you need a touch up. A dark-to-light transformation may require you to go back after two to four weeks. It all depends on how you want the colour to be.
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