How to Prepare for Your Salon Color or Highlight

Did you know that 75% of American women color their hair? And out of those women, they go to the salon every 4-6 weeks to have their color done by their stylist? We are often unprepared and just show up for our appointments. Today I am going to show you how to prepare for your salon color or highlight.

I used to go to the salon every 4-6 weeks but since I have been taking better care of my hair, I go every 8 weeks. We spend a lot of time and money on our hair at the salon and a lot of people end up neglecting it once they go home. I did a blog post, How to Prepare for Your Next Salon Visit. You can read that here. You might find it helpful to read. It has lots of tips to help navigate your entire visit.

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Before Your Color or Highlight Appointment

Coloring or highlighting our hair can be dehydrating to our hair. Especially if you are going lighter. When you lighten your hair, you are taking pigmentation out. This can have a very drying effect. It is important that you replenish and maintain lost hydration in your hair.

• Masques or oil treatments – Are you regularly using a masque or oil treatment? If not, I highly recommend that you work it into your haircare routine. I typically recommend doing oil treatments once a week before you go to bed and sleeping with it in your hair. I use Rejuveniqe Oil because it is a dry oil. Masques are usually used once a week while in the shower as a final step. I would recommend doing a masque about 3 days prior to going to salon for your color. My favorite is Replenish Masque.
• Shampoo your hair – It is important that you go to the salon with clean hair if you are getting your hair colored. It needs to be free from build-up and product residue. A clean palette will lead to the best color results. Using a mild clarifying shampoo or a vinegar shampoo would work well to remove any build-up that you have. Be careful not to scrub your scalp, you don’t want to irritate it prior to going to have your color done. Gently wash your scalp.
  • I did a blog post; Do You Need to Wash Your Hair Before Going to the Salon? You can read that here. It will guide you on when you should or shouldn’t wash your hair before going to the salon.

After Your Color or Highlight Appointment

So, you survived your color or highlight at the salon now what? Be kind to your hair for a few days!

• Wait to shampoo – Try to wait a few days to shampoo. This is especially important if you had color done at the salon. Most stylists want you to wait 72 hours so the cuticle closes, and the color is fully locked in. This will help with color fading.
• Replenish Moisture – Just like you did before going to the salon you will want to resume your masque and/or oil treatments. You can also add a little leave-in conditioner before bed on the days that you aren’t shampooing so that you are getting a little extra moisture.
• Use color-safe products – Products do matter! Make sure that you are using products that are color safe and won’t fade your color. If you get highlights making sure you use products that replace lost moisture is important.

I hope these tips helped and that you can use them for your next trip to the salon. Please share below in the comments any tips that help you prepare for the salon.