8 Biggest Hair Colour Myths You Should Stop Believing

If you’ve been dying your hair for any length of time, then you’ve likely had others around you share their concerns about your choices. Before you start worrying or stressing yourself out, it’s important to note that many of these concerns are nothing more than hair colour myths that we, as a society, need to stop believing!

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We’ve all been there at one time or another when someone (often completely well-meaning) feels the need to offer their advice on the choices that you’ve made. Let me tell you, walking around with tattoos and blue hair apparently opens the door to not only hear this from friends and family but also complete strangers far more often than I care to admit. The trick is to learn the difference between myths and facts.

There is no magic solution that will immediately reveal an unfounded myth. Instead, it is on each of us to take the time to research, educate ourselves and discover the truth.

I could be here talking ALL day about the many myths and concerns that are floating around regarding hair colour and how you may be risking your health or the fact that every person who wants to change their hair colour must spend hundreds of dollars at a high-end salon if they want it to look right. Instead, I’m going to kick it off with what I believe to be 8 of the biggest, most common hair colour myths that you should stop believing today.

#1 – Dying Will Destroy Your Hair

This is one of the biggest myths out there, and one that I hear all the time. If I had a dollar for every time some random person asks me ‘doesn’t it destroy your hair to colour it like that?’. Thank you, complete stranger, for caring about the condition of my hair, however, I’ve been dying it for years and it’s currently just as soft and healthy as it always was.

I’m not saying that dying your hair can’t have an incredibly negative impact on your hair. In fact, some people resort to cutting their hair incredibly short just to cut off the ‘dead portion’ after putting their hair through hell. What’s the difference? It’s all about the products and techniques that you use!

There are many different options on the market and maintaining healthy hair while having fun with the colours that you’re rocking will depend on what you are choosing. For example, I haven’t touched a ‘box dye’ in years! Often seen as the ‘go-to’ for at home dying, permanent box dyes are chemical based products that are incredibly harsh on your hair. Instead, I use Arctic Fox, Manic Panic, or other similar vegan semi- and demi-permanent options. While they don’t last as long (as they wash out over time), the actual condition your hair during the dying process, and don’t expose your hair to many of the chemicals responsible for the damage people report.

A MAJOR culprit for damage hair lies in the use of bleach, especially for those that are doing their hair at home. I have seen far too many people pick up the strongest bleach their can get their hands on, throwing it in their hair assuming everything will be fine only to fry their hair, leaving it feeling like straw. If you aren’t familiar with what you’re doing, don’t rely on the simple instructions on the back of a DIY bleaching kit – either do your research or consult a professional.

#2 – The Sun Doesn’t Have An Impact On Your Hair

You may be surprised to know this if you haven’t heard before, but the sun’s rays can have a significant impact on your hair colour and how quickly it will fade out. I’m not suggesting that you have to turn into a hermit if you want to keep your hair looking bright and vibrant, however, you do need to take steps to protect it. Before you head out for a day by the pool, you likely take the time to put on sunscreen to protect your skin, but what are you doing for your hair?

There are some great hair products that have been created with the specific focus of acting as a ‘sunscreen’ for your hair, however, the easiest option is simply to throw on a hat or sit under an umbrella.

It’s also important to note that this isn’t exclusive to the summer months! The sun is out shining down on you year-round, even if you’re not feeling it. If you’re heading out for the day in the middle of winter, choose a hat instead of a headband – you’ll keep your head warm and protect your hair from the sun’s harsh rays all at the same time!

#3 – It’s Okay to Wash Your Hair Right Away If You Use ‘Colour Safe’ Shampoo

One of the biggest myths that exist in the world of hair colour is that of the ‘colour safe’ shampoo. While many of these products are formulated to help extend the life of your hair colour, they aren’t some magical product that you can use whenever you like without impacting the quality of your hair colour, especially right after you’ve dyed your hair!

If you’re looking to keep your hair looking vibrant longer, you want to give your hair time for the cuticles to fully close, locking the dye in. Sure, it’s not a permanent solution, especially if you’re using semi-permanent dyes, but it could mean the difference between your hair washing out in a couple weeks or lasting a couple months. Always wait 48-72 hours after dying your hair before you wash it the first time. After that, keep in mind that the more you wash your hair, the faster it will fade, even if you are using ‘colour safe’ products.

This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t purchase the appropriate products for your hair! Sulfate-free ‘colour safe’ products will help to extend the length of time before you have to touch up or re-dye your hair.

#4 – If You Start Colouring Your Hair, You Have To Continue

There is no rule saying you have to keep colouring once you have started, that choice is 100% yours to make. If you are loving on a colour now and started colouring and decide 6 months from now that you’d rather return to your natural colour, you can definitely make that transition. Don’t let inaccurate hair colour myths keep you from experimenting! 

If you are looking to return to your natural colour, there are a couple options available to you. First, you can simply allow your hair to fade out and grow out until you reach a point where you can cut it, leaving just your natural behind. This is the most cost-effective, however, it does take time and you’ll have to endure the ‘in-between’ stages. If you’re not concerned about how it’s going to look as it grows, then run with it!

However, if you’d like to return to your natural colour now, another option that may be more appealing is to find a hair dye that is as close as possible to your natural colour. If you choose this option, you may have to re-dye your hair as it fades. Eventually, however, your hair will grow out, just as with the first option, and you can cut off the dyed portion. The difference? You will look like you have your natural colour during the stages in-between.

#5 – Your Eyebrows Should Always Match Your Hair

Not only is this a myth because it simply isn’t true, contrasting hair and eyebrows is a trend that has grown recently in popularity but trying to dye your eyebrows can get you into big trouble. Why? Hair colour products aren’t designed to be that close to your eyes. In fact, attempting to bleach or colour your eyebrows could lead to serious permanent damage to your eyesight.

Instead, you have a couple much safer options. First, rock that contrast look. If it’s an unnatural colour versus a natural colour, it won’t even look off. I have never actually dyed my eyebrows to match my blue hair. If there is a dramatic difference, own it! The darker brow/lighter hair combination is hot right now. Second, you can temporarily alter the colour of your brows using makeup. This is especially helpful for those that may feel their super light brows are completely washed out by their hair colour. This includes both darkening your brows or, if you’re feeling adventurous, opting for a rainbow brow as well.

#6 – All Hair Colours Work The Same  

This couldn’t be further from the truth. While it’s true that all hair colour has one clear goal – to colour your hair, understanding the differences in the way that different brands will respond to your hair is key to improving your experience.

Each brand has its own formula, and no two people have the exact same hair. As a result, the way that a specific hair dye responds with my hair may differ incredibly from how it responds with your own. If someone recommended a specific brand to you, stressing how long that brand held vibrant colour in their own hair, and it washed out of yours in less than two weeks, this isn’t necessarily a sign that they weren’t telling you the truth. This is why it’s so important to experiment and find what works for you.

Every ‘hair dye addict’ is going to have their brand of choice. What we often don’t share is how many different brands we’ve tried to get to that point. Personally, if given the choice I will use Arctic Fox every time I dye my hair. Why? It holds WAY longer in my hair than any other brand I’ve tried. This means less work maintaining it, and more money in my pocket.

If you’ve tried dying your hair and it ‘fell out’ right away (meaning the colour washed out of your hair in a matter of days, or even hours), this means one of two things – either you need to change something about how you dyed your hair OR you need to switch the brand you’re using. A lot of this comes down to trial and error, learning what works best for your individual hair.

#7 – It’s Hard to Colour Your Hair At Home

I can’t count how many times people have told me that they could never do what I do at home, one of the most common hair colour myths out there! The truth is that unless you’re playing with bleach (which we previously discussed), colouring your hair at home can actually be incredibly easy as long as you take the time to prepare properly. Sure, there are more complicated looks with colour blends and techniques but start with a single colour and go from there. Furthermore, remember that if you end up not liking a semi-permanent colour, it’s going to fade out. This isn’t permanent! You can even speed up the fade simply by washing your hair more often or using a fading treatment.

Make sure that you are gathering the necessary tools to set yourself up for success, such as gloves to keep your hands clean (hair dye can stain the skin), and a shower cap for after you have the dye in place. You can read more about how to colour your hair at home in one of my previous posts: ‘Hair Colour At Home: Step By Step’

#8 – Colouring Your Hair Will Make It Go Grey Sooner

This is a fear that far too many people have expressed to me, and I know they are completely well-meaning in their effort to protect me by warning me of this supposed ‘risk’. However, grey hair is the result of genes and lifestyle. If you’re taking care of yourself (eating healthy, working out, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water), then you are doing all that you can do to prevent this. At the end of the day, the appearance of grey hair will come down to whether your genes are working in your favour.

It is not uncommon for people to believe that they went grey faster because they are suddenly showing up. Don’t worry, this isn’t actually because you have CAUSED your hair to go grey… The truth is that your hair colour has faded enough that the grey hair (that was already grey underneath the dye) is now showing through.

Are there any hair colour myths that you’ve heard? I’d love to hear them in the comments!