Hair

Can I Wash My Hair the Same Day I Get Highlights?

Can I Wash My Hair the Same Day I Get Highlights?

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Getting highlights is one of the easiest ways to add depth, brightness, and dimension to your hair. Whether you’re going for sun-kissed balayage, bold blonde streaks, or caramel ribbons, the process of lightening your hair requires care.

So, once you’ve left the salon with your fresh new look, you might be wondering: Can I wash my hair the same day I get highlights? The short answer? No. It’s best to wait.

In this blog, we’ll explain why you should hold off on washing your hair straight after a highlighting session, what could happen if you do, and how long you should wait before giving your hair its first post-colour rinse.


How Do Highlights Affect Your Hair?

What Happens to Your Hair During Highlights?

Unlike traditional hair dye, highlights lift the natural pigment from your hair rather than covering it with a different shade. To achieve this, your hairdresser uses bleach or a high-lift colour to open up the cuticle and remove the melanin inside the strands.

This process can be intense on the hair structure, making it more porous and prone to dryness. Because your cuticles remain lifted for a while after bleaching, the hair becomes extra absorbent—meaning washing it too soon can strip away essential moisture and toner.

Why Highlighted Hair Needs Extra Care

When you lighten your hair, you’re removing natural oils and weakening the hair shaft. This makes it more vulnerable to damage, breakage, and dehydration. That’s why it’s so important to use the right products and follow expert advice when it comes to caring for your highlights.

At Salon No. 100, we always recommend professional aftercare to keep your new colour looking vibrant for as long as possible.


Should You Wash Your Hair Right After Getting Highlights?

The Importance of Letting Colour Set

After you’ve had your highlights done, your hair needs time to settle. The toner and any gloss treatments applied at the end of your session help neutralise unwanted brassy tones and enhance the final colour, but they need time to fully bond to your hair.

If you wash too soon, you risk:

  • Fading the colour prematurely
  • Stripping away toner, leaving brassy tones behind
  • Drying out your hair before it has a chance to recover

How Long Should You Wait?

Experts recommend waiting at least 48 hours before washing your hair after highlights. If you can stretch it to 72 hours, even better! This gives your cuticles enough time to reseal and lock in the colour for longer-lasting results.

If you’re worried about greasy roots in the meantime, a light dusting of dry shampoo can help refresh your style without interfering with the colour.


What Happens If You Wash Your Hair Too Soon?

Fading and Discolouration

One of the most frustrating things that can happen after highlights is watching your fresh colour fade too quickly. If you shampoo too soon, the water and surfactants in your shampoo can strip away the toner, leaving your hair looking dull, uneven, or brassy.

Blonde highlights, in particular, are prone to brassiness if the toner is washed out prematurely. That’s why we always recommend waiting before reaching for the shampoo.

Dryness and Weakness

Because bleached hair is more fragile, washing too soon can make it feel rough, dry, or brittle. Your natural scalp oils play an important role in replenishing lost moisture, so giving your hair a break from washing allows these oils to work their magic.

Overloading with Products

Newly highlighted hair is extra absorbent, which means it soaks up product much faster than usual. If you wash your hair immediately after highlights, you risk overwhelming your strands with shampoos, conditioners, and treatments before they’ve had time to stabilise.

Instead of rushing into a full wash, let your hair rest for a couple of days and then introduce gentle, colour-safe products.


How to Care for Highlighted Hair Properly

First Wash After Highlights

When it’s finally time for your first shampoo after highlights, take extra care by following these steps:

  1. Use a Sulphate-Free Shampoo – Sulphates strip away natural oils and speed up colour fading. A gentle, colour-safe shampoo helps maintain vibrancy.
  2. Rinse with Cool or Lukewarm Water – Hot water opens the cuticle, leading to faster colour loss. Stick to lukewarm or cool rinses to preserve your highlights.
  3. Follow Up with a Deep Conditioner – A moisture-rich conditioner or hair mask helps restore hydration and keep your highlights looking glossy.
  4. Limit Heat Styling – Give your hair a break from straighteners and curling wands for the first few days to prevent further damage.

The Best Products for Maintaining Highlights

Keeping your highlights vibrant, soft, and healthy requires the right aftercare routine. Here are some must-have products recommended by our team at Salon No. 100:

  • A Purple Shampoo (for blondes) to neutralise brassiness and enhance cool tones.
  • A Bond-Repairing Treatment (like Olaplex) to strengthen and protect highlighted hair.
  • A UV-Protectant Spray to shield your colour from sun exposure and fading.
  • A Lightweight Leave-In Conditioner to keep hair smooth and hydrated.

By using high-quality, salon-approved products, you can keep your highlights looking fresher for longer.


Final Thoughts: When Should You Wash Your Hair After Highlights?

If you’ve just had highlights done at Salon No. 100, the best thing you can do is wait before washing. Ideally, hold off for 48 to 72 hours to allow your colour to fully settle and your hair to recover from the bleaching process.

Taking extra precautions—like using sulphate-free products, washing with cool water, and deep conditioning regularly—will help extend the life of your highlights and keep your hair looking its best.

Need personalised haircare advice? Our team at Salon No. 100 is always here to help!

For the best Solihull hairdresser, look no further than Salon No. 100! Serving clients from [cities], we’ve gathered hundreds of five-star reviews over the past few years. Call [xfield_phone] and book your appointment today!

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Hair

What can I put in my hair to get rid of split ends?

What can I put in my hair to get rid of split ends?

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Split ends are one of those pesky hair issues that can sneak up on anyone, making hair look frizzy, dry, and untidy. Whether you’re aiming for sleek, shiny locks or just want healthier hair, treating and preventing split ends is essential. But can you truly get rid of them with products alone? And, if not, what’s the best approach? Let’s dive into how you can manage split ends, what products can help, and how to prevent them from returning.


Understanding Split Ends and What Causes Them

Split ends happen when the hair’s protective outer layer (the cuticle) starts to wear away, leading to fraying or “splitting” at the tips. This damage can be caused by various factors, from regular heat styling to environmental damage and even aggressive brushing. Once split ends appear, they tend to worsen over time, so understanding the cause is the first step towards healthier hair.

Causes of Split Ends

It’s worth noting that almost anything that weakens your hair can lead to split ends. Common culprits include heat tools like straighteners and curling irons, harsh chemical treatments, frequent colouring, and even sun exposure. Additionally, brushing too hard or using elastics that tug on the hair can contribute to split ends.

Why You Can’t Just “Fix” Split Ends

While there are fantastic products on the market that can temporarily “seal” split ends, once the hair has split, the only true solution is to trim it. A professional haircut by a Solihull Hairdresser at Salon No. 100 can remove damaged ends and keep your hair looking fresh and healthy. That said, products can help manage split ends and prevent further damage.


Top Products to Treat and Hide Split Ends

Although you can’t permanently repair split ends without a trim, there are products that can temporarily improve their appearance and prevent new ones from forming. From serums to masks, these treatments can strengthen and smooth your hair, making split ends less noticeable.

Serums and Oils

Serums and oils work wonders for smoothing out the hair and adding shine. Look for products that contain ingredients like argan oil, coconut oil, or keratin, as these can help “seal” the ends and make split ends less visible. A little goes a long way—apply a few drops to damp or dry hair, focusing on the ends.

Leave-In Conditioners and Split End Menders

Leave-in conditioners and split end menders are designed to penetrate the hair shaft and provide it with the moisture it needs. Many of these products include proteins that help to fortify weak strands, reducing the likelihood of further splitting. For best results, apply a leave-in treatment after each wash.

Deep Conditioning Masks

Weekly deep conditioning masks can be a game-changer for damaged hair. Masks with hydrating ingredients like shea butter, avocado, and aloe vera provide intense moisture, which keeps the hair elastic and reduces breakage. Try using a hair mask once a week to keep split ends at bay.


How to Truly Get Rid of Split Ends

While products can improve the appearance of split ends, they’re not a permanent fix. The only surefire way to get rid of them is to have them snipped off. But don’t worry, there’s no need to lose a significant amount of length! Regular trims can keep split ends at bay without compromising your desired style.

Regular Trims

Many people are reluctant to cut their hair, but a trim doesn’t have to mean a major chop. Every 6-8 weeks, visit your trusted Solihull Hairdresser for a light trim. At Salon No. 100, our stylists can take off just the very tips, removing split ends while keeping your length intact. This small commitment can make a world of difference to the overall health of your hair.

Dusting Technique

If you’re nervous about losing length, ask your stylist about a “dusting” technique. Dusting is a method of trimming just the very ends of the hair, so small that it looks like “dust” falling from the scissors. This technique removes split ends without changing the shape or length of your hairstyle.

Avoiding DIY Trims

It can be tempting to snip off your split ends yourself, but professional cuts are more precise. At-home trimming can sometimes make the damage worse, especially if the scissors are dull or you don’t have the right technique. Trust your Hairdresser in Solihull to handle split ends and keep your hair looking fabulous.


How to Prevent Split Ends in the Future

Once you’ve managed to get rid of split ends, keeping them away is key to maintaining healthy, vibrant hair. Prevention involves both good haircare habits and the right products to keep hair strong and hydrated.

Heat Protection

One of the most important steps in preventing split ends is using a heat protectant whenever you style with hot tools. Heat protectants form a barrier around the hair, reducing damage from high temperatures. Whether you’re blow-drying or curling, make sure to use a heat protection spray or cream.

Gentle Handling

How you treat your hair daily makes a big difference. Avoid aggressive brushing, especially when your hair is wet, as it’s more fragile. Opt for a wide-tooth comb for detangling and avoid elastic hairbands with metal clasps that can tug on your hair.

Hydration and Moisture

Keeping your hair moisturised is essential for preventing split ends. Hydrated hair is more elastic and less prone to breaking. Regularly apply a leave-in conditioner or hydrating cream to keep your strands smooth and healthy. A weekly hair mask can also provide extra nourishment.

Regular Treatments

At Salon No. 100, we offer various treatments designed to strengthen and protect your hair, such as keratin and protein treatments. These treatments reinforce the hair’s structure, making it less likely to develop split ends. Discuss with your Solihull Hairdresser to find the right treatment for your hair type and lifestyle.

For the best Solihull hairdresser, look no further than Salon No. 100! Serving clients from [cities], we’ve gathered hundreds of five-star reviews over the past few years. Call [xfield_phone] and book your appointment today!

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