Is It Safe to Color Relaxed or Permed Hair?

Chemical treatments are used to alter the properties of your hair to create a completely new look for your hair. Normal at-home heat styling like blow drying or using a curling iron offers a temporary change in your hair that lasts between shampoos. Chemical treatments take the same idea and make it last much longer, for periods of weeks or months.

Perms (short for permanent) are used to curl or straighten your hair. The perm technique involves breaking the protein bonds within your hair and forcing them into a new shape that will last for up to six months. A relaxer also uses a formula to break the protein bonds within your hair to make it straighter, and often also changes the texture. Depending on hair length, the effect of these chemical treatments will last anywhere from six to twelve weeks.

Your hair goes through a lot with a perm or a relaxer—the internal protein structure of your hair is broken down to make it more reactive. Coloring your hair right after this type of treatment can easily over process, over lighten, or make your hair more susceptible to damage. We recommend waiting two weeks between your chemical treatment and coloring your hair. If you have concerns or questions about how fragile your hair may be, please contact the Color Crew.

Because so much change happens within your hair during a chemical treatment, we recommend using hair color that respects your hair, and that does not contain ammonia and resorcinol. Our Radiant Cream Color skips those ingredients, along with PPD, phthalates, parabens and gluten. Our hair color also includes nutrient-rich ingredients keratin, argan oil, and ginseng root extract, which will help nourish hair before or after a chemical perm or relaxer.

If you’re looking to boost your color but don’t need a permanent solution for your hair, our Color Reviving Gloss is a great option to add shine and refresh tone. The semi-permanent gloss absorbs into the cortex without putting hair through a chemical change, which is a good option if you are afraid your hair has been weakened by chemical treatments.

After getting a chemical treatment or coloring your hair, it’s important to maintain a routine to keep your hair looking and feeling its best. We recommend using a sulfate-free, color-protecting shampoo and conditioner, which not only helps your color last longer, but also provides UV protection and creates long-lasting shine. Limit the amount of time you spend with your blow dryer and other heat tools, and when you do style, be sure to protect your hair with products first. When styling your hair, opt for products that help protect from heat damage or environmental stressors. Our Style cream offers lightweight styling that will smooth hair while shielding it from color fading, and our Tame product eliminates frizz while adding shine.

Whether you’re looking to add some major curl to your coif or straighten your strands, chemical treatments are a great way to get you the style you want. Be sure when re-introducing color that you give your hair a couple of weeks to adjust, and always use products that pack nutrients to keep your hair looking healthy and feeling gorgeous.

Related: How to Fix a Bad Perm.