Do I need to wash my hair before highlighting and why?
![Do I need to wash my hair before highlighting and why?](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/croppedtop/450-255/2019/01/nuzhno-li-myt-golovu-pered-melirovaniem-i-pochemu.jpg)
Every woman who wants to quickly change her image signs up for a procedure such as highlighting. This is a popular and quite affordable way for all those who do not want to change drastically, but want to add some "flavor" to their usual style. Before the procedure, many ask the question: is highlighting done on dirty or clean hair? Let's understand this issue together.
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Peculiarities
Most women are sure that it is not worth washing curls before such a procedure as highlighting. Others, on the other hand, believe otherwise and believe that for best results it will be better if the hair is clean.
Hairdressing experts, who have been helping women create new hairstyles and looks for several years, recommend not washing the curls right before the procedure itself. The fact is that many girls are simply uncomfortable coming to a beauty salon with dirty hair, so they thoroughly wash their curls before going to a specialist. But it is categorically impossible to do this, because this way you can cause significant damage to your hair.
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The scalp produces oil that makes curls oily and unattractive. But in fact, it has a protective effect during such procedures. Dirt and sebum protect the structure of the hair during treatments such as highlighting, preventing it from drying out. Thanks to this, after the end of the procedure, the curls will not be brittle.
If you wash your hair using shampoo just before highlighting, it will lose its natural protection and, as a result, will become more fragile, dry and lose its healthy shine. Aggressive components contained in special bleaching products can disrupt the structure of curls so much that they lose their ability to retain moisture. Moreover, the structure of the hair becomes looser, loses its elasticity, after which it can begin to tear during normal brushing.
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Ideally, you do not need to wash your hair 4-5 days before starting the procedure. If you are the owner of oily hair, then 2-3 days will be enough. In any case, a professional hair stylist must assess the condition of your hair himself so as not to harm it. Therefore, be sure to listen to the advice of a professional and take into account all the above recommendations if you are doing the procedure at home.
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Separately, it is worth mentioning that in the case of dark highlights, it is recommended to wash your hair the day before the procedure. Thanks to this, they will acquire a richer and deeper color.
If you plan to use a tint balm or toner for lightening, then you can carry out the procedure on clean hair. The fact is that such products do not contain aggressive components that can harm the structure of the curls. Before using this or that product, be sure to read the instructions..
In addition, you can do highlighting on clean hair if you use professional bleaching products that do not contain ammonia. They help to achieve a good effect on both dirty and clean hair.
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Preparing for the procedure
In order for the result of the procedure to please you for a long time and the curls do not lose their healthy shine, you need to carefully prepare for highlighting. To prevent the procedure from harming your luxurious hair, you should start using special products a month before it, which will help to strengthen the health of the curls.
At least two weeks before highlighting, start using balms and hair masks to help strengthen hair structure. Thanks to this, aggressive substances that will be used during highlighting will not spoil the hair. Use protective and nourishing products 2-3 times a week.
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Do not use special styling products before the procedure. If you apply mousse or gel to the curls, then the result of highlighting will upset you. Due to the various styling products, it will not be possible to achieve a good result, since the curls may be colored unevenly.
In addition, if you have recently dyed your curls with the usual hair dye, then it is better to postpone the procedure. After staining, at least ten days should pass, and only then can highlighting be carried out. In the event that you used henna or basma for dyeing your hair, this will negatively affect the quality of highlighting. After the procedure, an unpleasant purple or even greenish tint may appear on the hair. Therefore, you need to wait until the henna is completely removed from the hair, otherwise the result can be completely unpredictable.
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Also, you can not carry out the procedure if you have recently done a perm. After such procedures, the hair loses its strength, becomes more weakened and highlighting will only aggravate the situation. In the event that there are small scratches, inflammations or wounds on the scalp, highlighting should also be postponed.
After the procedure itself, in order not to spoil and consolidate the result, it is not recommended to wash your hair for the next two days.
In order for the result of the procedure performed not to disappoint you, you should contact the professionals in their field. The specialist will be able to select the right ingredients and determine the optimal time to achieve the desired result. The number of required components is calculated individually for each.
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Care Tips
Since a procedure such as highlighting is a serious stress for healthy and beautiful curls, after it you must definitely take care of them according to all the rules. Do not wash your curls with too hot water. The water should be a little warm, then the healthy shine will not disappear anywhere. It is also recommended to use a contrast rinse.
It is impossible to comb the curls while wet, as this will lead to their fragility. For combing, it is best to use special combs made from natural materials. For example, a wooden comb with coarse teeth.
Try to use a hair dryer, curling iron, or iron less often. Regular hot styling can cause curls to become brittle and dry. Do not bring the hairdryer too close to your hair while drying or styling. And use light styling products such as mousse to set the look.
After highlighting, you should protect the curls from the hot sun with a headgear. If you are going to the pool or going to the sea, then do not forget about the special swimming cap.
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In order for the effect of the procedure to please you for a long time, and the hair does not lose its healthy shine and beauty, be sure to use balms and nourishing masks. It is best to choose those products that contain natural oils and vitamins. Also, look for sulfate-free shampoos. This product will help maintain the health and beauty of your hair.
Choose shampoos, balms and masks from the same series. Be sure to consult with the master. He will help you find the right product that is perfect for your hair type.
For information on whether you need to wash your hair before dyeing your hair, see the next video.