When you are trying to dye your hair, it can seem like lots of questions pop up rather than which color to use. One of such questions is the “can you dye wet hair?”. It doesn’t hurt to want to try something different right?
With all the new hair hacks and trips, there are several ways to use the same methods and still get desired results.
And when it comes to dyeing your hair, wet or dry hair is an important detail to overlook. But the truth is, dyeing your hair when it’s wet, has some benefits.
So, if you want to find out if you can dye your hair when it’s wet, join me on this hair coloring adventure.
Can you dye wet hair?
Yes, In fact, you can, by all means, dye your hair when it’s wet. There are plenty of instances where you have colored your hair while it’s wet. Oftentimes, it is done to achieve subtle results or recommended for certain hair highlighting techniques.
Generally, your hair is at its most fragile state when it’s wet. So if the dyeing process is not done properly, it can result in breakage and damaged hair.
Most at-home hair dye kits aren’t supposed to be used on wet hair, hence it’s best to leave it to the professionals.
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What are the Benefits of Dyeing Your Hair While It’s Wet?
There are several benefits of dyeing your hair while it’s wet. Some of it includes;
#1. A little bit of dye can only go so far
The added water moisture helps the dye color to evenly distribute itself across your hair. Whereas, when applied to dry hair, you’d need to pay close attention to ensure you properly rub it across your hair.
#2. Manages your mess
If you’re being honest with yourself, you’d notice that it’s much easier to contain the mess of all these hair care products if it is applied to wet hair.
Applying hair color with a top bottle and mushing all your hair together until it lathers in the shower is a lot easier than using the brush and bowl application.
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What are the disadvantages of dyeing your hair while it’s wet?
Below are the disadvantages of dyeing your hair while it’s wet.
#1. Water can dilute your color
If your hair is extremely dry, then it is in search of moisture. In such a situation your hair may have absorbed so much of the water that there is little room for the dye to penetrate your hair.
Now, this doesn’t mean it wouldn’t work. It just means that the results may not be as vibrant or long-lasting as you may have imagined.
#2. Uneven application
While the added moisture can help get the dye even across your hair’s cortex, it could also result in less color application. That is, the color may not be as intense as you want it.
If you want a more intense color and long-lasting result, you may want to consider a detailed application on dry hair.
#3. Prone to more damage
Asides from heat, abrasive brushing, and towel drying are one of the few steps you can take to damage your wet hair. Remember when your hair is wet, it’s at its most fragile state.
READ MORE: What is Texturized Hair? How to Take Care of Texturized Hair.
Types of hair dye that is best on wet hair
Dyeing your wet hair doesn’t work on all hair colors. Permanent hair color jobs require dry hair application. If you’d like to lighten your hair, which is one with bleach, you’d need dry hair to do so.
Also if you’re using permanent color to darken your hair, dry hair is better off for such application, in order for it to seep into your hair strands and alter the change of your hair.
Having established that, here are color options that work well on wet hair.
#1. Semi-Permanent Color
Semi-permanent colors work the best on wet hair. They do not contain ammonia or peroxide developers in them and are made to just cover your cuticle.
Since their main job is to slightly alter the tone of your hair and cause a more subtle change that’d last for a short time, their formulations aren’t greatly affected by the presence of water.
More so, their colors work well on wet hair because they aren’t causing any permanent damage.
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#2. Demi-Permanent Color
The major difference between a semi- and demi-permanent color is that demi-permanent colors penetrate into your hair shaft on a deeper level than the simple coating of a semi-permanent.
With more absorption of color, a demi-permanent hair dye is going to last you longer than semi-permanent hair color.
Regardless of its Ammonia content, it’s still a temporary color, so applying it to wet hair isn’t going to greatly affect the results.
The downside to this is that your hair may most likely absorb more water and not enough hair dye.
#3. Other temporary hair dyes
They may not necessarily be regarded as semi or demi-permanent colors but those wild playful pops of bright pink and other highlighter and pastel-hued tones, as well as the toners used to neutralize highlights after shampoo, are classified as temporary dyes and are safe to use on wet hair.
READ MORE: Does Hair Dye Kill Head Lice?
Bottom Line
It’s safe to say that the answer to the question “can you dye wet hair?” has been answered in this article. More so, as long as it’s not a permanent color, it can be used on wet hair.
IF you have any questions, kindly let me know in the comments section.
