Does Cutting or Coloring Hair Come First?
What Comes First: A Haircut or Color?
When deciding whether or not to dye your hair, there’s always the question of whether or not to cut it first. Before you color, you should usually get a haircut. However, there are some instances where coloring first makes sense. Take a look at this:
- In general, you should always dye your hair first, then cut it once it’s dyed.
- If you’re going for a pixie or bob, however, you should cut your hair first and then dye it.
- If you’re getting a balayage, you should also cut your hair first.
Would It Be Better To Cut Or Color My Hair First? Our Hairstylists Offer Advice To Help You Decide.
It is dependent on the color you are receiving. It doesn’t matter if you’re just doing a single process color, but if you’re getting highlights, it matters a lot. Before applying highlights, get a new haircut or trim so your hair colorist can match the highlights to the cut. This is especially true if you’re getting balayage and the color is concentrated at the ends of your hair. You can cut off the brightest ends if you cut after the highlights.
When Should You Cut Your Hair Before Dying It?
Choosing A Completely New Haircut
It’s best to choose a style before you color if you’re going for a completely different haircut. Knowing your objectives will assist your colorist in determining the best course of action for your new hair color. Removing a lot of length also aids in a more even application of color. Remember that healthy ends make it easier for your follicles to absorb color than hair that hasn’t been trimmed.
Cutting before color is useful for a variety of reasons, including reducing length and adding layers. The location of your layers will determine the placement of your highlights or hair dye. As your hair moves after a layered cut, the different angles of the layers, especially the bottom section that is usually hidden, will show off the color.
Adding Dramatic Layers
Cutting before color is useful for a variety of reasons, including reducing length and adding layers. The location of your layers will determine the placement of your highlights or hair dye. As your hair moves after a layered cut, the different angles of the layers, especially the bottom section that is usually hidden, will show off the color.
Your Hair Appears To Be Damaged Or Dry
Get a trim before you color if your strands are stressed, you spend a lot of time in the sun, or it’s been a while since your last cut. Too much sun can cause your hair color to oxidize, making it appear dull; sun and heat styling can also make your hair look extremely dry and cause split ends. Simply have your stylist dust the ends to refresh your hairstyle, ensuring that color is applied to the healthiest parts of your hair.
You Want Subtle Highlights
Trim your hair before you highlight it for the best results, especially if you’re thinking about trying balayage. A new trim will aid you and your colorist in deciding where to place your highlights (you don’t want to paint on lovely highlights only to have them all cut off). Not only will a new cut give you a better outline for painting on highlights, but you’ll also save time processing your hair, which is always a plus. Our Light Set gives strands a painted-on dimension that grows out nicely in all the right places.
When Dying Your Hair First And Then Cutting It Is A Good Idea
You'd Like To Brighten Your Shade
Frequent lightening of your hair can cause damage and stress to your strands. As a result, we recommend lightening first and then trimming away the unhealthy ends. Based on the condition of your ends, your stylist can determine how much hair needs to be removed after processing. Our hair color can only take you two shades darker or lighter than your current shade, preventing over-processing.
Going From A Long Hairstyle To A Super-Short Hairstyle
It’s easier to cut it all off first for shorter hairstyles and dye your hair like tight tousled curls or a lob. By removing length, we have a lot less to work with and can better section hair for color. Sectioning becomes more difficult as you go shorter.
Hair color applied after a haircut makes it much easier to section while coloring, prevents color overlapping from one section to the next, and results in a fantastic final cut and color.
Learn About Haircutting

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