I dyed my hair for the first time and this is what I learned…

I bleached my virgin dark hair for the first time ever and this is my experience. For context I will provide a brief run down of the condition of my hair. I have virgin typical asian straight hair. My hair is not particularly thin and as I’ve aged my hair has thinned out. I have managed to train my hair so that I am only washing it once every 3 days. As I’m writing this I am working on getting my hair wash routine and frequency down to once a week.

Anyway, if you’re reading for the tea on colouring your hair the first time here is what I’ve learned so far/my top tips:

1. Do your research

I am a big proponent of doing your research on any type of beauty service you’re considering especially for a new experience (as this was for me). 

Since this was my first time colouring my hair, I was very nervous. I did some searches through Instagram (you can try searching up hashtags of the style you’re look for in whatever area who are in for example #torontobalayage or some variation of that) and was able to find a local colourist who had tons of photos of her work.

One thing to look for when scrolling through someone’s photos of their work (which is essentially their portfolio) is to look for hair textures and colours that look similar to your own and that will of course give you an idea of what your own hair will look like. Look at the interaction of the tones and colours with different lengths of hair and against skin tones that is close to yours so that you can get a good idea of what to expect and what you want. I am so glad I took the time to do this research because it allows me to gauge what my hair would look like and minimize surprises.

2. Tell your colourist what you want

The best way to do this is to be very prepared. Take notes of things you want to communicate to your colourist the day you see him/her. You can of course communicate this to him/her before the appointment but be sure to also take note of this info so you can really reiterate it at the beginning of your appointment.

These colourists (especially during these times) are often extremely busy so it’s totally understandable that information may be lost or forgotten. If it’s your first time getting your hair coloured be sure to communicate your preferences and concerns.

I told my colourist that it was my first time getting my hair coloured, I really wanted a darker and a more soft and natural look that was low maintenance. She was very attentive and understanding and really took all of my comments and concerns into account.

Additionally I sent my colourist photos of what I wanted and we confirmed those photos at the start of the appointment to be sure that we were on the same page. I think it’s a good idea to also throw in a few photos of the colourist’s own work so s/he has a better sense of what you want and what your expectation as are.

3. Ask questions

If you’re getting your hair coloured for the first time and are going from dark to light this will likely take time. I would prepare all and any questions you have and take that time to get all your questions out.

You may want to ask your colourist about recommended products and maintenance tips. You can ask about best practices and what to expect in terms of returning to have your colour touched up. Take note of any questions so you don’t forget during your appointment.

4. Your hair will likely be extremely dry

I have never had dry hair. I have typical Asian hair (brown-black in colour) and it is on the normal to oily side. I usually keep my hair fairly long and it is on the greasy side. I spent years heat styling my hair without heat protectant without any issues (I only began to use heat protectant a few years ago when I started washing my hair once every 3 days).

I realized in the weeks after I had my hair coloured I was having to put oil on my ends two to three days after I washed my hair. I started doing a moisturizing hair mask on days I wash my hair and it has made a tremendous difference.

Colouring your hair (especially when you are going from dark to light and therefore bleaching your hair) will inevitably lead to dry and damaged hair. However, there are ways to keep you hair soft and moisturized especially if you do these things.

5. Limit heat and washes

This goes hand and hand with number 5. Limiting heat and washes will help minimize hair dryness and damage. I always heat style my hair when I wash it because it helps me extend the wash. So basically the less I wash, the less I heat I will use on my hair.

When you have coloured hair that is dry, repeated heat styling it is never a good decision. If you are able to train your hair so that you are washing it 1-2 times a week that is ideal. There are tons of YouTube videos on this.

When you are only washing your 1-2 times a week you can certainly invest in higher quality products and take the time to do things like a moisturizing mask each time you wash so ensure that you hair lasts. If you’re washing your hair daily, it is much more time consuming to do a moisturizing mask each time you wash not to mention washing this often is pretty drying for coloured/damaged hair.

6. Gradually work towards the colour you want

If your have super dark hair and are interested in colouring your hair lighter (especially if it is your first time) you have to understand that making this move gradually is the best course of action.

You never want to go too light and then regret it. It’s much better to move toward your goal colour gradually – ease into it. This is especially the case if you’re colouring your hair for the first time and prefer a more soft and natural look.

All in all, I am so pleased with the results of my hair and I am planning to continue colouring my hair. As someone with thinner hair and hair that had zero dimension as it was all one colour, the baby lights/foliage that I got really gives my hair more dimension and makes it appear thicker.

I asked for a more rooted look in order to make the style low maintenance (my hair actually grows super quickly) and so that as my hair grows out it doesn’t look too stark and messy.

Here are some before and after photos, you can find more on my Instagram!

Feel free to share any tips you have for other girls considering colouring their hair for the first time. I will also include links to my favourite products that I’ve been loving so far (some links are affiliate links). 

My Canadian Affiliate links 

my american affiliate links