Everything you need to know

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How often do I need touch-ups?

Beamish recommends regrowth touch-ups every four to six weeks.

“If someone has coloured their hair a more natural colour for shine and enhancement, they could probably go every eight to 12 weeks,” she says. “But if you’ve got an all-over white-blonde bleach, you’ll probably find you need touch-ups every three or four weeks. It depends though – some people don’t mind a bit of regrowth.”

Grey hair tends to show more quickly than other colours, Fitzgerald adds, often due to the contrast between the grey and dye colour. Therefore, grey regrowth requires touch-ups every four weeks.

Vibrant colours such as red or purple fade quicker, she says. “Red dyes sit closer to the surface, as their molecules are larger. So, these colours will fade faster. Darker colours can penetrate deeper, so they’ll last longer.”

How do I take care of coloured hair?

Several things can cause coloured hair to fade quicker, Beamish says, including swimming, frequent washing and prolonged exposure to sunlight and heat tools. How porous your hair is will also determine how long colour lasts.

To ensure dye lasts as long as possible, Beamish suggests using colour protective and maintenance shampoos and conditioners recommended by certified hairdressers.

“Those products have ingredients like UV protectant. They have really gentle exfoliants, and they’re not going to strip the colour out … Generic soap will.”

While it’s fine to use heat tools on dyed hair, Beamish recommends only using quality instruments and always with a heat protectant.

Fitzgerald says bleaching hair can cause breakage over time. If this happens, she suggests using a hair mask containing filler to strengthen weak points. Usually, a combination of at-home and salon treatments can help restore hair.

Is it safe?

Colouring hair is largely safe, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

However, Beamish says it’s worthwhile checking with your GP and hairdresser beforehand since pregnancy can sometimes cause scalp irritation. In these cases, it could be worth doing a patch test first.

“The same goes if you’re on strong medications. Always advise your hairdresser.”

What about box dye?

For some, box dye is a more affordable alternative, particularly amid a cost-of-living crisis. But Fitzgerald notes that DIY dyes usually don’t contain conditioning agents. Most also contain metallic salts, which can damage hair.

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A professional hairdresser will analyse your hair to determine exactly what it needs, something a box dye cannot do. Therefore, it’s important to temper your expectations if colouring it yourself.

Can I turn back?

Colouring hair can become rather addictive, Beamish says. “It becomes part of your wardrobe. It’s enhancing. It can match your lifestyle, your identity.”

However, she says it’s possible to change your mind or return to your original colour. This could involve cutting the hair, growing it out, weaning off touch-ups or colouring with another dye.

There are also lower-maintenance and lower-commitment options.

“A balayage requires no root touch-ups, so you wouldn’t need to go to the salon as often,” Fitzgerald says. “Or you could get foils underneath the hair, so there’s no regrowth on top, but you still get that shimmer coming through.”

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