How To: Hair Dye for Coily Hair

If you’ve been thinking about dyeing your coily hair but are afraid of causing damage, then this is the guide for you. We all know the maintenance that curls and coils need, particularly when it comes to keeping strands healthy and moisturized.

By choosing the right Clairol hair dye for curly hair alongside a method that protects your coils before, during and after coloring, your hair should stay as healthy as ever. Whether your curl type is 3a or 4c, read on for guidance on turning your hair color up a notch.

Before you Dye Coily Hair

Before coloring your hair, it’s important to have a good understanding of a few things: the current health of your coils and scalp, what method is needed to achieve your desired shade and how to keep healthy hair and preserve the color.¹

Curly, textured hair needs a lot of moisture to stay healthy as it can dry out very easily so, before you dye it, it’s important that you have kept up with a good hair regime including the use of moisturizing and strengthening products. We recommend using deep conditioners and protein treatments to ensure your hair is as healthy as possible before dyeing.¹ If your hair isn’t in the best state and has been breaking or feeling very dry, it’s best to not color it until it’s back to optimum health.² A lot of hair dyes are designed to work better on hair that hasn’t been freshly washed.¹ We’d recommend waiting at least 24 hours after washing before reaching for the dye. This allows natural oils to build up, forming a protective barrier between the scalp and dye.

How to Dye Textured Hair

All of our Textures & Tones hair dyes are made with textured hair in mind. Each of our dyes come with step-by-step instructions for how to dye natural hair. Follow these steps to achieve beautifully colored curly hair but, make sure to read the full instructions for more detail:

• Firstly, part your hair into a few sections, similarly to how you would when washing. This ensures that your hair doesn’t tangle, and every section is covered from root to tip. ⁵,⁶
• Gently massage the color into your hair and let it sit for as long as the instructions state. You might want to set a timer so that you don’t forget!
• After the timer stops, rinse the color out of your hair and condition using our Intensive Moisturizing Mask, which comes included with the hair color kit.
• Style as desired, making sure to avoid heat to give your hair a break after dyeing. ⁶,¹

How to Choose a Color for your Hair

Whether you're looking to make a bold statement or to simply enhance your natural color, we have some great options. Clairol offer permanent demi-permanent and temporary colors from classic blondes and brunettes to more daring red and violet tones made specially for textured hair.

If you are opting for an extreme color change, be mindful that you may need to bleach your hair to reach the desired color. To do this successfully, it’s important to apply the bleach evenly and make sure not to leave it on for too long.

Once you’ve chosen the color you want, it’s important to do a strand test and allergy test at least 48 hours before you dye. Whenever you’re applying chemicals to your hair such as when dyeing or bleaching, strand tests are a good way to see how your hair will react. Doing so will help you avoid things such as patchy hair color or hair breakage.⁷

Still unsure? Leave it to us. We have a handy guide that breaks down how to choose the right hair color to match your skin tone.

Caring for your Hair after Dyeing

Preserving the color of your freshly dyed hair can be a challenge however, there are ways that you can keep the color looking new for longer.

1. Stay clear of hot water on your hair as this can be too harsh on hair that has been color-treated. Hot water causes hair to dry out and the color to fade. You could also rinse out your conditioner with cold water to keep moisture in and seal the cuticle.¹
2. Using a color-preserving shampoo is a great choice to protect your hair after dyeing. A sulfate-free shampoo is your best bet for slowing the rate of your hair color fading.⁹
3. After dyeing your hair, add some much-needed hydration to it from root to end with a deep conditioner or opt for our Intensive Moisturizing Mask which promotes shiny glossy hair. Do this at least once a week alongside your favourite hair oil. Why not take this a step further with a hot oil treatment? Apply your treatment then wrap your hair in a shower cap or plastic wrap and shampoo in the morning.¹
4. When washing your hair, let it air dry to avoid damage. However, if you do choose to use heat styling tools such as blow dryers or straighteners then make sure to use a heat protecting spray or treatment beforehand and add a diffuser attachment to your hair dryer to limit the amount of direct heat on your hair.⁸

By following these tips and techniques, you can color your hair at home with confidence, achieving vibrant, long-lasting color without compromising its health and integrity.

Sources:

¹. Kelle Salle ‘How to Dye Natural Hair Without Destroying Your Curl Pattern’ (01/24/23) https://www.byrdie.com/dyeing-natural-hair-5083090

². Amel Mukhtar ‘5 Rules to Know Before Dyeing Afro Hair’(02/16/22) https://www.vouge.co.uk/beauty/article/dyed-afro-hair

³. Theresa Holland ‘11 Best Ammonia-Free Hair Dyes’ (11/22/23) https://www.byrdie.com/best-ammonia-free-professional-hair-color-348330

⁴. Jacqueline Samaroo ‘Why Black Hair Needs Hair Oil and 7 of the Best Ones to Use’ (04/2021) https://www.curlynikki.com/2021/04/why-black-hair-needs-hair-oil-and-7-of-the-best-ones-to-use-with-product-examples.html

⁵. Melanie Rud ‘I Tried Split Hair Washing and My Hair Has Never Felt Cleaner or Smoother’ (10/28/22) https://www.wellandgood.com/split-hair-washing/

⁶. ‘How to Get Curly Blonde Hair At-Home Without the Damage’ (21/13/23) https://www.carolsdaughter.com/blog/hair/hair-care-tips/curly-blonde-hair-tutorial.html

⁷. ‘Should You Strand Test Your Client’s Hair? The Full Guide’ (03/25/23) https://www.salonsdirect.com/blog/strand-test-importance-in-hairdressing/

⁸. Jacquelyn Cafasso ‘Caring for Curly Hair: Tips and Tricks’ (11/17/2020) https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-take-care-of-curly-hair

⁹. Angie Ringler ‘Do Sulfate Shampoos Really Strip Color from Hair?’ (07/06/21) https://wastefreeproducts.com/do-sulfate-shampoos-really-strip-color-from-hair/