As women, our looks mean a lot to us, and sometimes, we just feel like switching things up. More often than not, the change starts with our hair. You know that feeling when you’re scrolling through Instagram, TikTok or Pinterest, admiring hair with rich tones and styles, and suddenly, you’re picturing your hair smooth, sleek, freshly relaxed or glowing in a rich new shade. You are already looking forward to a fresh look, bold transformation, or just something new to match the season or your vibe.
While switching up your hair is exciting, doing too much at once can turn that excitement into a full-blown hair emergency, especially when colour and relaxers are involved. A question we get all the time is, “Can I relax and colour my hair on the same day?” It might sound like a time-saving glow-up hack; the answer is a firm no (at least, not if you care about the health of your hair).
Why You shouldn’t do both Treatments at once
The reason is that both relaxing and colouring involve strong chemicals that alter your hair structure. When done together or even too close together, they can strip your strands of moisture and strength, leading to dryness, breakage, and major regrets. We’ve had clients who come in asking for both on the same day, maybe because of time or budget, but we always explain the risks. Overlapping these treatments can overprocess the hair, weaken the strands, and cause more harm than good.
So what’s the safe way to go about it?
Our golden rule? At least two weeks in between. As a hairstylist who’s seen countless heads of hair walk through that door over the years, my professional recommendation is to relax the hair first.
And this is precisely why we recommend consultation. It’s not just a quick chat; it’s a vital step! We need to get to know your hair’s current state, understand its health, and then, and only then, can we customise a routine that will work with your hair, not against it, to achieve your desired look safely.
Before getting a relaxer, do not scratch, wash, or tug at your hair. Just bring it in its natural, untouched state. That “don’t touch” rule helps protect your scalp from irritation or chemical burns during the relaxer application. No one wants that kind of surprise.
Colouring After Relaxing
Once your hair is beautifully relaxed and you’ve given it some time to recover, then you can safely venture into colouring. At this stage, we often recommend going darker rather than significantly lighter. This is because lightening already-relaxed hair often involves bleaching, and that’s adding another layer of intensity that can compromise your hair’s strength.
Another thing to note before colouring fully is the patch test. It is non-negotiable. We always urge clients who are getting a colour with us for the first time to book a session with us.
It’s a simple check to make sure you don’t have any allergies and helps us understand how your hair might respond to the dye.
While the idea of a quick two-in-one hair makeover might sound tempting, giving your hair the proper attention, care, and a little breathing room between services like colouring and relaxing will ultimately lead to healthier, happier, and undeniably more beautiful results.
Thinking of colouring or relaxing soon? Book a consultation with us. Let’s help you make hair decisions your future self will thank you for.
