Should You Wash Your Hair Before Dyeing It?

You may be under the impression that it’s best to go a day or two between washes before dyeing your hair, but according to Moore, you should usually wash your hair before coloring it. “There was a time when hair color was very harsh and you needed a barrier between it and your skin,” she says. That’s not the case anymore: Today, hairstylists generally prefer the hair to be clean before dyeing it.

“Hair color these days is different from when your mother and grandmother got their hair done,” Moore explains. “It used to be recommended that you come with dirty hair, but now that hair color has changed to more gentle formulas, it needs as little barrier as possible to effectively color your hair.” In fact, she says, today’s hair color doesn’t adhere as well if the hair is dirty.

Note that while you can wash your hair the same day you dye it, you don’t have to lather up immediately prior to hitting the salon. “A shampoo the night before is totally fine,” Moore says. There are exceptions, of course. If you’re sweaty or just hit the gym, wash your hair before heading to the salon. Just be sure to dry it thoroughly (or have your colorist dry it). While you can dye wet hair, doing so requires a different technique than coloring dry strands.