How Long Should I Wait to Wash My Hair After Coloring It?

Picture the scene... You're heading out for the night, you want that freshly washed, just-blow-dried look and feel, but there's one thing standing in your way: the fact you just got your hair colored. And you're not wrong to pause; it's true that shampooing too soon may affect how long your hair color lasts. So, how long should you wait before washing your hair? Here's the truth from salon pros...

How Soon Can I Wash My Hair After Coloring?

As a general rule, we recommend you wait a minimum of 48 hours before washing your hair, so the cuticle has time to close and lock in color molecules. Keep in mind that the more often you wash your hair, the faster your shade will fade, so stretching out the gap between wash days will help your color stay vibrant for longer.

How Long Does Hair Color Take to Develop?

It depends on the formula your colorist uses. If you're having a flash glaze with SHINEFINITY, the veil of translucent color will give you up to 50% shinier hair in just five minutes. Meanwhile, if you're using a high-lift color (lightener and toner in one), like Koleston Perfect Special Blonde, it may take up to 60 minutes for your blonde shade to develop. It all comes down to your hair's starting point, and the type of color you're hoping to reach.

Once you've secured your desired tone, and your colorist has rinsed out the product, it's 'set'. They may take extra steps to seal your color in, like using a post-service treatment to restore your hair's pH level.

Why Do Salons Wash Your Hair After Coloring?

Hair color residue needs to be removed after your shade has developed, so a coloring session will always be followed with shampoo and, if needed, a conditioner or treatment. That salon wash means you can hold off for longer before washing your hair at home. If you have specific hair concerns you want to target, make sure you voice them to your colorist, so they can select a shampoo that suits your needs.

Should You Wash Hair Before Coloring?

Every colorist has their own take on this. Some prefer hair that hasn’t been freshly washed, as natural oils can offer a little protection during coloring. Others like clean hair because it’s easier to work with and apply color evenly. The key is balance: hair doesn’t need to be squeaky clean, but it shouldn’t be overly oily either.

If you’re wondering whether to wash your hair before your salon appointment, only do so if your roots feel oily. 'Day two hair' often provides the perfect canvas for flawless, long-lasting color.

What’s the Best Shampoo for Colored Hair?

When the time comes to wash your colored hair, not just any shampoo will do. Here are three benefits to look for in the ultimate color-kind formula:

1. It Promises to keep your Color Vibrancy

First, make sure your shampoo specifically states it keeps your color vibrancy. This is important, as such products are specially formulated to slow down or prevent your hair color vibrancy to go away. ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo is our new go-to for shielding your shade, giving you up to 10 weeks of color vibrancy* and an instantly revitalized look from the first wash.

2. It's Sulfate-Free

Sulfates – the chemicals responsible for the way your shampoo lathers – have a reputation for fading your hair color by swelling up the hair cuticle, so dye molecules can escape. This is why using a sulfate-free shampoo is so vital in the months after your salon appointment. ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo lets you skip the sulfates, while still lathering into a rich, luxurious foam that gently cleanses.

3. It Purifies Fading Metals

Metals in the hair are a key culprit for shade fading – and they’re more present than you think. In fact, even the water you wash hair with can be packed with metals, such as copper from the plumbing pipes. That’s why we’ve included Metal Purifier in ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo. It neutralizes these harmful metals to maintain health, shine and vibrancy from one wash to the next.

So, How Do I Wash My Hair After Coloring?

1. Wait for at Least 48 Hours

To avoid washing too soon after a hair coloring session, wait at least 48 hours before you reach for your shampoo. Any sooner, and the hair cuticle may not yet have fully closed, meaning color molecules may escape, resulting in fast-tracked fading.

2. Turn Down the Water Temperature

Washing with too-hot water can open up the hair cuticle, allowing the pigment inside to escape and causing your color to fade faster. Meanwhile, hot water can dry out strands, leaving hair dull and more prone to damage. That’s why you should turn the water temperature down when you wash, so you're lathering up with lukewarm water only.

3. Use a Shower Filter

If you live in an area with hard water (meaning it's extra polluted), you may want to fit a filter to your shower head – a step that complements the Metal Purifier in ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo. This will give your hair even more protection against the dulling and damaging effects of metals in your hair, helping to prevent discoloration and maintain smooth, soft strands.

4. Massage ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo into Wet Hair

Sulfate-free and silky-smooth, ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo is the ultimate color-safe shampoo, designed to gently cleanse while soothing the scalp and minimizing color fade**. One wash with this vitamin B5-powered, moisture-rich shampoo will instantly revitalize your hair, while keeping shade-distorting metals at bay. Massage it into wet hair, then rinse to reveal the results.

5. Reduce Your Rinsing Steps

The more your hair is exposed to water, the quicker your shade will fade, so reach for color-safe products that allow you to reduce your rinsing steps. ULTIMATE COLOR Miracle Leave-In Mask is an intensive treatment that comes after you step out the shower, boosting radiance, strength and moisture with a blend of glycine and vitamin B5. Dry strands will love the nourishment, your shade will shimmer and shine, and using it with ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo and the full regimen from salon to home will give you up to 10 weeks of color vibrancy*.

Can I Use a Clarifying Shampoo on Colored Hair?

Yes, you can use a clarifying shampoo on color-treated hair, but how you use it is important if you want to make sure hair strands are protected. First of all, use it only when you need to; clarifying shampoo is a once-in-a-while treatment that will remove product build-up as part of a deeper clean. The rest of the time, use a color-safe shampoo.

Then, secondly, focus it at the roots of your hair, so you're targeting the scalp. When the lather runs through the lengths, it will give a gentler cleanse that avoids stripping your color or drying out the lengths. Follow up with a nourishing conditioner, like ULTIMATE COLOR Conditioner, to restore moisture, smooth the cuticle, and keep color-treated hair looking vibrant and healthy.

Looking for more ways to care for your hair? Discover our complete collection of Hair Care Guides, featuring tips for every hair type and concern.

* With regular use of Ultimate Color regimen from salon to home.

** Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.