Highlights - washed vs unwashed hair beforehand?

miss choc

Quick question for all those hairdressers out there I'm getting my hair highlighted next week and wondering is it better to colour your hair on freshly washed hair or washed the night before. I always see different views on websites one is that it should be clean another you should let the natural oils in your hair develop beforehand.

AlmostCared

I'm not a hairdresser but leave it unwashed. On any home dying kits they always tell you to have unwashed hair so the pigment can colour your hair better giving you a nicer looking and more even tone. Hope this helped.

AlmostCared

I'm not a hairdresser but leave it unwashed. On any home dying kits they always tell you to have unwashed hair so the pigment can colour your hair better giving you a nicer looking and more even tone. Hope this helped.

aristocat

I believe it should not be freshly washed. I have been having my hair coloured and highlighted for some time now and the message has always been not to wash the day before. Don't know the science behind it but hey, when you are paying for expertise, best to heed the advice!;)

miss choc

Ta for that I was gonna go to the gym beforehand but would be washing the hair before the appt, think I will go to gym day before now

Sarah Bear

yes please do wash your hair beforehand! as a hairdresser it is a lot easier to highlight clean hair, as the meche packets/foils etc do not stick to the hair if its greasy. also we do not like having to touch greasy smelly hair :P

Dee5

Sorry Sarah, gonna play your devil' advocate here. I'm a hairdresser too, and prefer not to be freshly washed, however don't want manky hair either. I'd say 2 days before hand max for highlights.
However with a tint, I like to have the oils built up to form a barrier for me so at least 3 days before a full tint.

miss choc

Will be washing it night before for a midday appt next day so wont be manky. from researching on other sites/forums got more people saying to have it not washed cos of the natural oils ta for replies

Sarah Bear

its different for a tint.
for highlights hair should be clean. this is so the meche packets can adhere to the hair, hair doesnt need natural oils for the colour to take.
The reason people recommend not to wash hair before a tint is because after washing hair your pores may be open causing the scalp to be more sensitive. so some people may experience tingling or itching after the tint is applied.
im not saying you must wash your hair the morning of the appointment, but it does make it easier for the colourist to work if the hair is not greasy