Highlighting secrets. What is the best way to do it – on clean or dirty hair?

A popular technique for giving your hair dimension and brightness is highlighting. The outcome can change the way you look, whether you’re going for bold, dramatic contrasts or delicate, natural tones. Many people are curious about the best method for getting their hair ready for the procedure, though.

Whether it’s better to highlight dirty or clean hair is one frequently asked question. Although it may seem like a minor detail, this choice can have a big impact on how your hair holds up during the treatment and how well the color takes.

We’ll go over the benefits and drawbacks of each method in this post to help you make the best choice for your hair before your next highlighting appointment.

Is it necessary or not to wash your hair before the procedure?

Without natural lubrication to preserve the curl structure, the highlighting process damages freshly washed hair. The truth is that dye has a more detrimental effect on the state of hair when there is no fat layer present.

It is widely acknowledged that the sebum layer shields the skin and hair from damage during coloring to some extent. This natural shield that surrounds the scalp in the form of fat is removed during washing, leaving the hair vulnerable to bleaching. Thus, damaging substances enter the hair structure during highlighting.

If your skin is sensitive, you run the risk of experiencing redness and peeling after coloring clean hair.

Washing your hair before receiving salon or at-home highlighting is not advised. The expert colorist will probably advise delaying the procedure for a few days if the client arrives with clean hair.

In rare circumstances, you may wash your hair before the procedure:

• If styling products were used the day before. Leaving such chemicals on your hair before highlighting, there is a risk that the dye will not take properly or the dyeing will be simply pointless.
• Before dark highlighting, you can lightly wash your hair. This will ensure the richness and depth of the chosen tone.

Is it possible to bleach dirty locks?

To minimize the damaging effects of the lightening composition, it is best to bleach hair, which is required for highlighting. However, the dye might not take at all if the hair has an excessive amount of sebum and dirt on it.

Rationale for not washing your hair prior to the procedure:

• Unwashed hair retains a layer of sebum, which slightly neutralizes the harm from the effects of the dye.
• When washing with shampoo, an alkaline solution is used, which is its basis. It slows down the reaction during highlighting. If the shampoo is poorly washed off, then when it interacts with the dye, the pigment will not penetrate the hair structure, therefore, the coloring will be useless.

It is important to remember that dirty hair cannot shield you from the mistakes made by the expert.

How dirty should they be?

In any event, you shouldn’t wait for a thick layer of fat with embedded dirt to form and go from one extreme to the other. It might provide some defense against the negative effects of substances, but the dye won’t penetrate that kind of barrier.

How dyes can harm?

Professional lightening solutions typically have a high ammonia content. Take an oxidizing emulsion of 3% or 6% to lessen the trauma of lightening for hair. The amount of hair destruction increases with the oxidizer percentage.

The smooth, healthy surface of the hair becomes looser and more akin to an open pine cone with repeated application.

You must read the product’s instructions before dying! Good products always have comprehensive instructions, including how to use it after getting a permanent hairstyle and other small details.

Before using which dyes is cleansing allowed?

• Tonics, tint shampoos and natural dyes. Usually they do not contain aggressive components. The procedure is performed on clean hair, and the instructions for each product indicate whether it is necessary to wash it immediately before dyeing or not.
• Professional products. Dyeing components when using professional ammonia-free compositions will provide the same effect on both clean and dirty hair, since new products are not too aggressive in composition.
• Permanent dyes. When highlighting in dark shades, more gentle, but a wide variety of compositions are used and it is better to study the recommendations of each manufacturer. Some masters claim that these dyes do not have any effect on the hair shell. Therefore, for a high-quality result, it is better to carry out dyeing on a clean head.

How to properly prepare curls and skin?

The harmful effects of the compositions dictate the following preparation:

1. Do not use fixing tools for laying before staining. Mousse, foam, gel and others can negatively affect the quality of highlighting.
2. Before the procedure, do not wash your hair for at least a day, at least a couple of days for oily scalp, and 3 days for dry skin.
3. A month before the planned highlighting, it is recommended to carry out nourishing care using strengthening balms and masks. They should have nourishing and moisturizing properties. Such care somewhat neutralizes the subsequent aggressive action of peroxide, which is a component of lightening agents.
4. Previously dyed hair should be highlighted at least a week later. It is also better to postpone the procedure for a while if there are various damages and inflammations on the scalp.

When to wash your hair and whether to use a special shampoo?

It’s crucial to take your hair type into account because the length of time you should go without washing it depends on how quickly sebum is produced.

Washing the hair every two days in accordance with the highlighting procedure is sufficient to shield the hairstyle from damaging effects. If a person has scalp conditions or extreme sensitivity, they should take the same safety measures.

You can use a shampoo for skin cleansing or a peeling with abrasive particles to treat oily scalps, but only if they are used in small amounts and no more than once a week. For some people, this can serve as a preventive "big wash."

Which shampoo is better to choose?

For those who are appropriate for shampoos labeled "for normal hair," it’s also advisable to select gentler items. Shampoos that are nourishing and moisturizing will get the hair ready for the impending procedure.

Experts suggest that for quickly greasy roots, transparent shampoos should be preferred.

It’s important to think about the kind of outcome you want when choosing whether to highlight your hair on clean or dirty strands. When applied to slightly dirty hair, highlights can help shield your scalp and supply some natural oils, which may make the process more comfortable.

On the other hand, clean hair can allow for more precise application of the highlighting solution, ensuring even coverage. Your stylist’s preference and the condition of your hair should guide the choice.

In the end, having clean hair as well as slightly dirty hair has benefits. You can achieve the best results for your hair type and needs by talking with your stylist.

Clean hair usually yields the best results when it comes to highlighting because it allows for more even color absorption and better stylist visibility. On the other hand, a little bit of dirt on the hair can protect the scalp from chemicals during processing and lessen irritation. In the end, the decision is based on your hair type and sensitivity, but highlights that are more vibrant and precise tend to come from clean hair.

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