Can I Straighten My Hair After Dying It?
Yes, you can straighten your hair after dyeing it. However, you need to be very careful and considerate while doing so. As your tresses have already gone through a chemical process, a slight here and there can make them look brassy or damage them subsequently.
Even though dyeing and straightening is a risqué move to take, we understand your desire to get a new look. And hence, we have shared a whole lot of information, tips, and tricks so that you don’t go overboard and damage your beautiful manes.
Is Chemical Straightening Or Hot Tools Safe For Straightening My Hair After Dying It?
Both chemical straightening and straightening using hot tools are safe after you dye your hair. However, you need to give the freshly-colored tresses enough time to recover before you try any of these straightening processes.
For instance, if you want to chemically straighten your dyed manes, you must wait for at least 15 days for the safety of the strands. As this styling process changes the structure of hair, it might cause severe damage if you don’t give the tresses time to heal. Because both dyeing and straightening involve chemicals, you mustn’t hurry trying one after the other.
On the other hand, if you plan to use a flat iron after a hair dyeing session, wait for at least 72 hours before putting heat on the strands. Because your manes are in a sensitive state, the high heat can burn them easily if you don’t give them enough time to repair.
Things To Consider Before Straightening Your Hair After Dying It
It doesn’t matter whether you chemically rebond your colored hair or use a hot styling tool to straighten them, keep in mind a few things for a damage-free styling process.
1. Hair Condition
Because your strands are already chemically-treated [because of the dye], you need to analyze their damage level before straightening them for a newer style. This will make sure that you are not causing any additional damage to your precious manes.
To determine whether the manes are damaged or not, perform a test with a few strands. Overly damaged hair tends to be extremely dry and breakage-prone when dry. On the other hand, they look limp and lifeless when wet. If you notice such indications, refrain from straightening them anytime soon.
Check: How to Make Your Hair Stay Up All Day Long
2. Type Of Straightening You Want To Get
Also, before straightening the dyed hair, decide what type of process you want to use, a chemical rebond or using a flat iron. This will help you determine the waiting period, the variety of tools and products you should use, and how to prepare your manes. Because both these processes are different, the steps associated with them also vary.
3. The Products To Use
Because your tresses are already chemically-treated and sensitive, you must carefully choose the straightening products. It’s always best that you pick the ones that are specially made for sensitive strands. It will ensure that you don’t end up hurting your manes while styling them.
4. Heat Settings
Dyed hair is super delicate. And therefore, it can’t stand as much heat as your regular strands. Before straightening your manes, make sure that you use a lower temperature setting and ceramic-plated flat iron not to burn them down.
5. Hair Preparation
Even when your hair is in good shape, don’t forget to prepare it in the right way before the straightening process. Hair preparation is important because it protects the strands from damage and ensures that the styling is as gorgeous as ever. And for such reasons, you should never avoid getting your manes ready before straightening them.
How To Straighten Your Dyed Hair With A Straightener
Your dyed tresses are highly delicate and fragile. And therefore, you need to be extremely careful when straightening them with a straightener. Below we have discussed how to straighten your colored hair with a flat iron so that you never end up with “fried” strands.
Step 1: Prepare It Right
Never be reluctant to prepare your dyed tresses before straightening them. Start by applying a handsome amount of heat protectant on your manes and smear it evenly throughout. It will create a barrier between the strands and the heat applied and limit burns and damage.
Also, ensure that you start with completely dried hair rather than wet or damp ones. This is extremely important because the heat from the straightener can burn the wet strands in no time.
Step 2: Section Off
After you are done preparing the tresses, comb them with a gentle hand to remove any knots and tangles successfully. If you have knots, the straightener wouldn’t slide smoothly and will create breakage in no time.
Once you are done combing through, section off the manes into 6-8 different parts to make it easier for you to glide the flat iron.
Step 3: Straighten Your Hair
Now, take a section of hair and glide the flat iron through the strands to straighten them perfectly. Remember to keep the heat low to avoid any burn and breakage in the tresses.
Also, make sure that the straightener you are using has ceramic plates. Ceramic is less damaging to the hair and hence, less likely to burn your strands down.
Useful Tips And Tricks For Your Straightened Dyed Hair
Even though you can straighten your dyed tresses easily, you need to maintain them to a T for a flawless look all day every day.
Let’s share some useful tips and tricks for your convenience.
Moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize!
Because dyeing and straightening make the strands dry and brittle, perfect moisturization would keep them soft, smooth, and elastic. Include a deep conditioning treatment in your hair care routine to provide the right amount of hydration to your fragile manes.
Shampoo Less Often
When you dye and straighten your hair within a short span of time, remember to wash them fewer times than before. This will not only keep the color and style intact but also help you to avoid damage.
Sun Protection Is Necessary
Dyeing and straightening make your hair super sensitive and fragile. The harsh ray of the sun not only fades the beautiful color but also makes the strands super dry and brittle. This in return, causes severe breakage in your manes. And therefore, never hesitate to use a scarf or umbrella whenever you go out, especially in the blazing sun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Straighten My Hair After Bleaching?
No, you cannot straighten your hair right after a bleaching session. As bleaching involves using extremely harsh chemicals, applying heat or straightening creams can permanently damage the tresses.
Wait for at least 15 days before you straighten your hair after bleaching.
Can I Dye And Straighten My Hair On The Same Day?
No, you cannot dye and straighten your hair on the same day. It might end up damaging your delicate manes beyond repair.
You should wait at least 72 hours to style it with a flat iron. If you want to go through a permanent or semi-permanent straightening session, don’t try it unless it’s 15 days or more of coloring your hair.
Does Straightening Hair Fade Color??
Yes, straightening hair with a hair straightener can definitely fade the color. The heat from the tool reacts with the color pigments and affects their shine and luster. After excessive flat ironing, your dyed- tresses will never look the same.
Final Words
There is no doubt that you can straighten your hair after you have dyed it. However, remember that before doing so, you must consider all the risk factors. Because the tresses become too sensitive after coloring, you need to be precise and careful when styling them with pin-straight locks.
