Should you wash your hair before a colour? How often should you wash your hair? Answering some of the most commonly asked hair questions that we are asked in the salon.
Commonly asked hair question #1
I’m losing a lot of hair, am I thinning/going bald?
While it’s true that 40% of women experience visible hair loss by the age of 40, seeing more hair in your brush might not be as alarming as it seems. I never take this question lightly, and my first inquiry is: does your hair feel thinner? If you’re unsure, but have noticed more strands in the drain when you wash your hair, it could simply be a shift in your routine that’s making it appear as though you’re losing more hair than usual.
On average, we shed about 50 to 100 hairs a day; this is completely normal and part of the hair growth cycle known as the telogen phase. If you’ve been tying your hair back more frequently, those fallen strands have nowhere to go. So when you finally release your hair and brush it out, you may notice a larger amount coming out than expected. Normally, that hair would have been freely escaping throughout the day.
A similar situation occurs if you’re washing your hair less often. Those strands have detached from the follicle, but until you give your hair a thorough wash, they’re just lingering in your mane, waiting to escape into the drain.
Commonly asked hair question #2
How often should I get my hair cut?
When new guests ask me how often they should get a haircut, my honest response is that it really depends on a few factors. If you’ve just had a fresh cut that you absolutely love and want to maintain that length, the general recommendation is every 6-8 weeks. However, if you’re on a journey to grow your hair while still getting regular trims to keep it healthy, I’d suggest a cut every 3-4 months.
Now, why is that? On average, hair grows about 1 cm every 4 weeks. So, by the 6-8 week mark, your fabulous haircut has grown approximately 1.5-2 cm. While that may not seem like a lot, if you’re loving your current style, you’ll definitely notice that extra length. This is why I recommend waiting 3-4 months for those looking to grow their hair; a simple trim of about 1 cm after that time will leave you with 2-3 cm of growth since your last appointment.
Guests often wonder about this when they’ve recently changed their hairstyle. The key factor here is how well you manage the style at home. If your new cut feels perfect right from the first wash and doesn’t get any better in the following weeks, it’s time to book your next appointment in 6 weeks to maintain that fresh look. But if you find it takes you a week or two to really get the hang of styling it—what some might call it “settling”—then you can likely extend it to 8 weeks or even a bit longer.
Commonly asked hair question #3
Should I wash my hair before a colour service?
At The Hair Movement, we’ve always stressed the importance of using the right professional products at home. It’s something I discuss with every guest, and the difference these products make is truly noticeable. One area where professional products are absolutely essential is preparing your hair for colour services.
Days before your colour appointment, I always recommend using our Build-up Be Gone shampoo. This deep-cleansing formula is designed to remove product residue, environmental build-up, and any impurities. Why is this important? By thoroughly cleansing your hair before a colour service, you’re giving your stylist the best possible canvas to work with, ensuring your colour service performs optimally.
Debunking the Myth: Should You Wash Your Hair Before Colouring?
There’s a common internet myth that you should never wash your hair the day you’re having it coloured. Let’s break this one down. Yes, a little natural oil on your scalp can act as a protective barrier, but excessively greasy hair can actually slow down the colouring process.
To make sense of this, it’s important to understand the difference between two common processes: lightener (which many mistakenly refer to as bleach, though that’s something I reserve for toilets!) and tint. Lightener is used in the blonding process, either applied directly to your scalp or used in foils for highlights. Tint, on the other hand, is applied straight to the scalp to darken or cover grey hairs.
Let’s go through each process and discuss how to prepare.
On-Scalp Lightener
If you’re having lightener applied directly to your scalp, I recommend avoiding washing your hair for 48 hours before your appointment. Lightening is a harsh process, and your natural oils help protect your scalp from the burning sensation that often accompanies it. Also, avoid scratching, brushing, or irritating your scalp in the 24 hours leading up to your appointment, as this can increase the likelihood of discomfort.
Lightener in Foils
For those getting blonde highlights, the lightener is applied to your roots and wrapped in foils, meaning it doesn’t come into contact with your scalp. There’s no need for a protective layer of natural oils in this case. If you feel like washing your hair on the morning of your appointment, go ahead! Just be gentle—don’t scrub the scalp too hard, as you may still need a toner afterward, and your hair will get a thorough wash post-highlights anyway.
One thing to keep in mind: your stylist will be working on your hair for an extended period without gloves, and they need to weave and section your hair carefully. Please, don’t turn up with greasy hair for highlights—it’s unpleasant to work with and makes it harder to get those perfect weaves.
Tint on Scalp
When having a tint applied to your scalp, you can wash your hair up to 24 hours before your appointment. If you have a sensitive scalp, avoid scratching or brushing it, as these actions can cause mild irritation when the tint is applied. Your hair doesn’t need to be overly clean or dirty for this service, but please keep in mind that your hairdresser has to work closely with it. If you’ve had a sweaty gym session that morning, washing your hair won’t impact the colour, just make sure it’s dry before your visit and avoid scrubbing too aggressively.
The Bottom Line
At The Hair Movement, we believe that every hair journey deserves the best care, and that starts with using the right products at home. Whether you’re prepping for a colour service or maintaining your daily routine, professional products like Build-up Be Gone are designed to protect your hair and enhance your overall results. So next time you’re tempted by a supermarket shampoo or unsure about how to prepare for a colour appointment, remember: healthy, happy hair starts with the right steps.
Commonly asked hair question #4
How often should I wash my hair?
This depends on a multitude of factors, but the golden rule is that you should avoid washing your hair every day. There are a few reasons for this, mainly because you build up natural oils on your scalp, washing every day will continuously remove these and leave your hair dry and dull. You will also find it will cause your colour to fade a lot faster, and it leads to more heat damage as you are then presumably drying and styling it every day. It also means you’re getting out of bed earlier each morning, need I say more?
If you frequent the gym every day and feel you need to wash away the sweat, I would recommend giving your hair a good rinse and just applying conditioner to the ends. If you do it because it means you can dry and style more volume into your hair, try a dry shampoo every other day.
I personally feel that washing your hair 2-3 times a week is enough with a good deep cleansing shampoo. If necessary, washing your hair every other day is not a problem, but if you are blow drying it each time then use a form of heat protection to avoid damaging your ends.
That’s all for now
I hope that helps you in your quest to many happy hair days. If you have any more questions, contact us and we’ll be happy to answer them or add them to future posts.
