Tips for Coloring African American Hair

Dyeing African American hair can be lots of fun if you are careful to do it right. Our hair is incredibly versatile; we have so many styles to choose from and even different curl patterns that we can experiment with.  But sometimes what we really want is a new color.  Dyeing your hair can put it under a lot of stress, though, so use caution to ensure that it will remain healthy.

There are basically three types of dye: temporary, semi-permanent and permanent.  Permanent color alters the proteins that give you your natural color, but temporary dyes just put a layer of color on top of your strands and will fade after a few washes.

Dyeing your hair can really dry it out, especially when you use permanent dyes, so be sure to take meticulous care of your hair before and after getting it colored.  If you want to dye your naturally dark hair blonde or another very light color, the risk of damaging your hair is even greater.

The best bet for dyeing natural hair to a more drastic color is to visit a professional who is familiar with natural hair.  Another option is to get supermarket hair dye.  Just be sure to follow the directions carefully!

You can also use henna to color your hair.  Henna is a plant native to the African, Asian and Australian continents and has been used for centuries to color hair and skin.  It also has the ability to loosen up curls and give you more curl definition, as well as act as a deep conditioner for your hair.  What henna does to your texture can very, however.

Dyeing African American hair is something that needs to be done with careful planning and thought.  Always do a deep conditioning treatment after dyeing your hair to help it recover.  The more you dye your hair, the more potential there is to damage it, so regular deep conditioning and protein treatments are a good idea.