The Ultimate Cheat Sheet For Coloring Curly Hair

As it is, curly hair is already so much more fun and versatile than straight hair. However, there are still times when you get bored with your locks and want to try and give them a new look. The solution? Dye it another color! 

The thing is, coloring your curls can damage them. Using a formula that’s too strong can affect the elasticity of your hair and, in turn, alter your curl pattern altogether. Does this mean, then, that you should just stick to your natural hair color despite the fact that you’re kinda tired of it? Not really. 

You can still color your curls and avoid damage with these tips. 

1. Make sure your hair is healthy -thinking of coloring your hair soon? Before you do, make sure your curls are in the best shape possible. Coloring weak, damaged curls can damage it even further and may lead to breakage. Deep condition it a week or two beforehand and make sure you follow your haircare routine to a T. If you’ve just had your hair treated chemically, wait a few months before you color it just to be on the safe side. 
2. Color it dirty - you might think washing your hair before coloring it is a great way to ensure that the color sticks better to your curls but it’s really not. In fact, it does the opposite. So, skip wash day before coloring your hair and color it dirty instead! A day or two after the last wash should be good enough. 
3. Choose a gentle hair dye - a lot of people think that because their curls are textured, they need a stronger product to really get the color to stick. However, when you have curly hair, you’re actually going to want to go for a gentler hair coloring product so it doesn’t cause as much damage to your hair. Your best bet would be a semi-permanent hair dye that’s ammonia-free and made with gentle ingredients. 
4. Do a strand test - not sure how strong or how gentle your hair dye is? Before dumping the contents out of the tube and coloring your whole head, try to do a strand test on a small section of your hair first. This will show you what you need to know about your hair and how it will react to the hair dye you just bought. 
5. Lighten gradually - ideally, you should only color your hair a shade or two lighter than your natural hair color (if you want to go light, that is). At least that is if you want to do it yourself at home. If you’re thinking of going a few more shades lighter, you should seek the help of a professional who can do it for you safely. 

Next time you think about dyeing your curls, make sure to keep these tips in mind and do them before you start coloring your hair to minimize, if not prevent, damage to your hair.