8 Hair-Dying Myths and Truths About Them

Your hair colorist is a godsend, but sometimes you wonder about the effects of a life spent maintaining highlights and troubleshooting grays. Sure, dyeing your strands isn’t the best thing you can do for your hair, but is it really the worst? Let’s see.

Myth: You Shouldn’t Dye Your Hair While Pregnant

Truth: Actually most doctors will tell you the opposite–there’s really no scientific proof that the chemicals in hair dye are responsible for causing birth defects or other pregnancy problems. However, just to be safe, you may want to wait until your second or third trimester to hit the salon. Another option? Just highlights. That way, color is applied to the hair versus the scalp, minimizing the risk that chemicals could be absorbed.

Myth: You Should Dye Your Eyebrows To Match Your Hair

Truth: Not necessarily. A slight contrast between your hair and your brows can be nice. A rule of thumb: If your hair is light, go one shade darker with your brows. If it’s dark, go one shade lighter.

Myth: It’s Ok To Wash Your Hair Right After A Color Treament

Truth: You should wait at least 24 hours before washing your hair after getting it colored. And the pool is especially a no-go for at least two weeks–as the chlorine will strip the hair cuticle, allowing minerals to get into the shaft and alter your hue.

Myth: Summer Sunshine Can Cause Color To Fade

Truth: Year-round sunshine can cause color to fade. If you know you’re going to be outside in the rays for hours on end, wear a hat or do your best to score a shady spot.

Myth: Coloring Hair Strips Away Volume

Truth: Quite the contrary–applying color can actually make individual strands appear thicker, not just because the dye adds dimension, but the color deposit actually increases the density and weight. (The only exception: When you bleach your hair.)

Myth: It’s A Terrible Idea To Use At-home Hair Color

Truth: Nowadays, the high-quality options are pretty endless for at-home hair color. Just be sure to carefully follow the instructions–and always (always) wear protective gloves.

Myth: Fancy Shampoo For Color-treated Hair Is Overrated

Truth: Investing in products that are specially designed for color-treated hair is worth it and can actually save you more money in the long run. Here’s why: Not only is it specially designed to prevent color from fading fast (something that limits the number of trips back to the salon), it will help restore shine and moisture (both qualities that can be stripped away after a color job).

Myth: Coloring Hair Damages It Forever

Truth: When you dye your hair, you’re opening up the cuticle so that color can be deposited and yes, this causes damage. But with the right post-color hair regimen (for example, applying a weekly deep conditioning mask), you reverse the damage, even if you can’t restore hair to it’s “virgin” state.

8 Hair-Dying Myths and Truths About Them