Hair colour is one of the most powerful forms of self-expression. Whether you’re experimenting with a soft caramel balayage, covering greys, or going bold with vibrant hues, colouring your hair can make you feel refreshed and confident. But there’s a common concern that stops many people from taking the plunge: “Will colouring my hair damage it?”

The truth is, traditional colouring methods can cause dryness, breakage, and dullness, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right knowledge, products, and care routine, it’s absolutely possible to colour your hair safely while keeping it healthy, strong, and glossy. Let’s break down how...

Understanding What Happens When You Dye Your Hair

To understand how to protect your hair, you first need to know what happens during the colouring process. Most permanent dyes work by opening the hair’s cuticle (the protective outer layer) so colour pigments can penetrate the cortex (the inner structure that gives hair its strength and elasticity). This process often involves ammonia or peroxide, which can strip away natural oils and moisture.

When this barrier is compromised repeatedly, for example, with frequent bleaching or colouring, the hair becomes porous, dry, and fragile. That’s when you start noticing split ends, frizz, and dullness.

But newer, science-backed formulations have transformed the game. Many modern hair colours and treatments now use bond-building technology and gentler pH-balanced formulas that protect and even strengthen the hair during colouring.

How To Avoid Hair Damage When Colouring Your Hair

Step 1: Choose a Gentle Colour Formula

If you’re colouring your hair at home or at a salon, start by choosing or requesting the right formula. Look for options that are:

○ Ammonia-free or low-ammonia – these open the cuticle less aggressively
○ PPD-Free (p-phenylenediamine free) – a common irritant that’s often found in darker dyes
○ Offer Nourishing Ingredients - Such as Argan, Coconut, or Jojoba oils.
○ Contain Bond-Protecting Ingredients - such as bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (the same ingredient found in Olaplex) or Peptides.

Step 2: Prep Your Hair Before Colouring

Healthy hair is more resilient to chemical processes. Before colouring, it’s important to build on your base and invest time in strengthening your hair’s structure.
1. Hydrate – Use a moisture-rich mask, like the UKHAIR Repair Mask, twice a week leading up to your appointment.
2. Clarify – Use a gentle clarifying shampoo, such as the UKHAIR Shampoo, to remove product build-up a few days before colouring.
3. Avoid Hair Washing On Dye Day – Natural oils on the scalp act as a protective barrier against irritation, so avoid washing your hair on the day of hair colouring.

Step 3: Use a Bond-Building Formula

I know I mentioned how important it is to keep hair hydrated, but I really want to emphasise that doing that with a bond-building formula really takes things to the next level. These products help rebuild the disulfide bonds inside the hair that are broken during chemical processes.

The UKHAIR Repair Mask is carefully formulated to restore and rebuild the Keratin content in the hair, helping your hair to be as strong as can be when going through the hair colouring process. It’s packed with nourishing ingredients such as Argan Oil, Avocado Oil and Coconut Extract, to strengthen and nourish those strands as much as possible.

Step 4: Post-Colour Care Is Everything

Once your hair is coloured, your routine will determine how long both your shade and your shine last. Treat your coloured hair as delicate fabric - it needs gentle, consistent care. Here’s some top tips to help your hair colour last as long as possible:
○ Use Hydrating, Gentle Hair Care Products - Such as the UKHAIR Shampoo & Conditioner
○ Use Lukewarm Water When Hair Washing - Hot water opens the cuticle, leading to colour fade and dryness.
○ Hydrate Weekly - Use the UKHAIR Repair Mask to rebuild the Keratin content in your hair, to keep it feeling healthy and strong
○ Protect From Heat - Always apply a thermal protectant before blow-drying or styling and opt for heat-free styles that prevent breakage where possible

Step 5: Feed Your Hair From the Inside Out

Healthy hair starts at the follicle. Diet, stress, and lifestyle all play major roles in how well your hair can withstand colouring.

To strengthen hair from within:
⇨ Focus on a Whole Food Diet - Prioritise protein (after all, this makes up the majority of our hair content) and omega-3 fatty acids in our diet. Also look for Vitamins C and A and Biotin, all of which can be found in the UKHAIR Hair Vitamins if you cant feature them naturally in your diet.
⇨ Stay Hydrated - Water helps nutrients to reach your follicles effectively
⇨ Try To Minimise Stress - This can be a hard one to manage, but take time out of your day for self-care and to relax, as unnecessary stress can wreak havoc on your hair
⇨ Use a Topical Hair Serum - Such as the UKHAIR Hair Growth Serum to keep your scalp revitalised and give your strands the best chance at staying strong

Colouring your hair doesn’t have to mean compromising its health. With the right choices, from ingredients and preparation to aftercare, you can absolutely have vibrant colour and healthy, resilient hair.

As someone who’s spent years researching the science of beauty, I can confidently say this: healthy hair is beautiful hair, no matter its colour. At UKLASH, we’re proud to empower people to embrace their individuality and to feel healthier, bolder and stronger each day.