How Often Should You Dye Your Hair? Plus, Color Maintenance Tips

There's nothing quite like the feeling of leaving the hair salon with a new and improved color. Whether you're going from dark to light, light to dark, refreshing your go-to tone, or getting highlights, it's easy to feel on top of the world. 

The quick answer: "When ammonia or any harsh chemicals are present in the color you're using, a good rule of thumb is at most four to six weeks," says celebrity hairstylist and colorist Jonathan Colombini.

However, this becomes much more nuanced when you add in factors like bleach. Below, find a brief guide.

For single process & grays

A single process refers to any color job that's done in one step. Most often these will include a base color or root touch-up. "This depends on how much gray someone has and how fast the hair grows. I recommend every four weeks for this process," says colorist and founder of LRN Beauty Lauren Paglionico. 

"Any sooner, and you could overlap the existing color and end up with a dark band. It can also make the hair look inky, like shoe polish," she adds. 

Keep in mind that single-process treatments are not the same as a hair gloss or glaze (more on that in a bit). 

For highlights & balayage

If you opt for highlights or balayage, you'll be exposing your strands to bleach—so take extra caution. "Bleach is one of the strongest chemically driven coloring products to use," Colombini says. 

"So, it's very important to not use too often or you'd experience breakage. Bleach is to be used at max every eight to 10 weeks and only on new outgrowth," he adds.

If you have breakage-prone strands, consider spacing out your bleach treatments even more, and opt for a look that can easily grow out without looking choppy, like a balayage.

For double-process

"A double process is a bleach-on-root application, also known as a global application. This process should be done every three to four weeks or when you have ½ an inch of regrowth," Paglionico says. "This needs to be done more often because the bleach is applied directly to the scalp, which warms up the bleach and helps it to develop faster."

"If you wait too long, the temperature drops and the hair may not get as light as the last application. This can create a warm band," she adds. 

While everyone's hair needs are different, it's a safe bet that dyeing your hair too often will create damage.