Let’s be honest… Nothing beats the feeling of a great new hair color. Whether it’s a refresh of your current locks or daring to rock a whole new shade entirely, we’re all in love with the power of the bottle.

However, dying your hair isn’t something you should overdose on. But while most of us are aware that we should use color with caution, it can be confusing as to know how often is too often?

The answer to the question is…. It depends. That’s because multiple factors come into play when determining the optimum amount of time to leave between treatments.

So let’s take a look at what these are:

• The color you’re using: In short, lightening your hair is more damaging than dropping shade or two darker. This is because to go lighter you need to strip the color from the cortex of the hair, which is done by using bleach. When you go darker you’re depositing color onto the hair shaft, a procedure that’s decidedly less harsh on your crowning glory.

• The condition of your hair: Is your hair damaged from multiple previous treatments and over-styling? If it is, then it’s wise to put off the next hit of color for as long as possible. 
• The type of dye you use: As we’ve already mentioned, bleach is uber-damaging to hair. If this is part of your color regime then it’s necessary to wait longer between treatments than if, say, you’re using a semi-permanent color.

Taking all this into consideration, the general rule is to wait at least 4-6 weeks between color treatments, and this should be tweaked according to the above-mentioned points.

Of course, the amount of time you wait will also be determined by your style. For instance:

• You might be cool with letting a little root growth show for a few weeks, in which case you can go longer between treatments. But if you’re the type who can’t bear even the tiniest of re-growth then this won’t be the case. If this is you it’s well worth considering the least damaging color option to ensure you can keep the perfectly groomed perfection you desire.
• If you’re going for a complete color change then it’s advisable to let your hair grow out before you do so. So-called, “virgin hair” will absorb a new shade far more easily, reducing any chance that your hair will end up tinged with a strange hue that you didn’t expect.
• The advice of your hairstylist. To determine the right amount of time between color treatments there’s no better way to understand this than from a professional. Striking up a relationship with the person you trust with your tresses is by far the best thing you can do to keep your hair beautiful. 

Leading boutique hair salon Dapper & Divine can advise on all types of hair treatment, including the optimum time you should leave between color applications. Another reason for letting the pros get their experienced hands on your mane is that they can often recommend kinder methods that’ll still satisfy your color needs. 

After all, it’s not just the shade that makes the style, it’s the condition as well. Something all of us would be wise to take into account next time we feel a hair dye fix coming on…