One of the best things about having African hair is the number of different African hairstyles you can try out. From cornrows, to braids, to weaves and even a shaved head, you will always have something new and exciting to try with your hair. A lot of people crave a burst of colour for their hair and so, will want to try colouring it.

At the same time, many people are afraid of the potential damage that dyeing your hair can cause. This may be because of horror stories they have heard when a friend of a friend coloured their hair and it all fell out. However, it is important for you to make a decision about whether or not to colour your hair based on facts and not myths.

Most hair dyes on the market are safe to use. Otherwise they would not be on our shelves. It is up to you to use them properly and follow the application instructions carefully. It is possible to enjoy dyed AND healthy hair.

How do hair dyes work?

There are three types of hair dyes, which are permanent, semi-permanent and temporary hair colour. In order for permanent hair colour to work, it lifts the hair cuticle and alters the proteins that give your natural hair colour. Temporary colours, on the other hand, simply coat your hair strands with the colour dye and can be washed out.

African hair is quite weak, and so, when you decide to colour it, going no more than 3 levels lighter at a time is best for ensuring less damage. It is generally advised that you dye your hair gradually over time as compared to a single treatment from, say, black to blonde.

The reason why a lot of black women end up with damaged hair after it has been dyed is because of lack of knowledge about the effects of hair dyes, how they affect African hair and how to ensure your hair is well maintained after colouring it.

African hair is very porous. This means that is can absorb and hold in moisture well. So, when you colour your hair, the porous nature of your hair will allow the colour in, but sometimes the pores do not close tight enough to keep moisture in after dyeing. This leads to dry and brittle hair. You should, thus, give your hair a deep conditioning hair treatment after dyeing to close the pores and help prevent dryness.

What can cause the most damage?

1. Going from dark to light causes the most amount of damage. Since a very large percentage of Africans have naturally black hair, there is a good chance they will have to endure some amount of damage as their hair colour change is probably going to be from black to blonde, auburn or red.

Dyeing your hair blonde is likely to cause the most amount of damage as a larger amount of bleaching agent in used and is left in for longer.

2. The frequency with which you dye your hair can affect how much damage is done. Obviously, the more frequent your do it, the weaker and more damaged your hair will be.

How to take care of coloured hair

1. Using the conditioner that comes with the hair dye is important. It will help you maintain the colour, while also helping your hair remain healthy.

2. Use a deep conditioner once a week to help prevent dryness, brittleness and breakage that can be caused by dyes. Any type of chemical treatment, be it relaxing African hair or dyeing it can reduce elasticity and so, make the hair vulnerable to breakage. This is why a good deep conditioner is necessary as it will help strengthen your hair and give it elasticity.

3. To maintain the vibrancy of your colour, use a product made for dyed hair to wash, condition and style it.

4. Avoid sulphate shampoos as these will strip hair of the colour. Instead, a sulphate free and moisturising shampoo would be best.

5. If you are going to use heating tools such as hair dryers or a flat iron, make sure you use a heat protector product to avoid damaging your hair any further.

What conclusion can we draw from the above about whether or not colouring your hair will damage it? Basically, any treatment that alters the state of your hair is not good for it. However, when you dye your hair, make sure you give it the help and support it needs to be strong and healthy. A strict regime of deep moisturising conditioning can help prevent damage.

A good product to try that works on dyed Ethnic hair as well as Caucasian is the Dove Colour Radiance range