After Coloring: When Can You Wash Your Hair Again?

If you can, wait about 48 hours to wash hair after coloring. That is the practical recommendation from the colorists we spoke with. If your scalp is uncomfortable, or your colorist gave you a different plan, wash when you need to. Fresh color does not come with one rule that fits every service.

Why do colorists use the 48-hour rule?

Joel Mowen, a colorist at Marie Robinson Salon, recommends at least 48 hours after highlights, a single process, or a gloss. His advice is simple: when you can, wait a couple of days before shampooing again.

“I recommend waiting at least 48 hours after highlights, a single process or a gloss. Color technology has evolved tremendously, but leaving freshly deposited tone undisturbed for the first couple of days can still help preserve it.”

— Joel Mowen, Hair Colorist Marie Robinson Salon NYC, from the August 2026 RŌZ interview

Anthony Lillio, a hair colorist at Crane Los Angeles, approaches the same advice from a slightly different angle. He likes 48 hours when it works for you because there is no need to shampoo fresh color right away.

“I like 48 hours when possible. Not because your color is magically ‘setting,’ but because immediately shampooing freshly colored hair is unnecessary. Give your hair and that fresh tone a minute.”

— Anthony Lillio, Hair Colorist Crane Los Angeles, from the August 2026 RŌZ interview

Bianca Hillier, a hair colorist at Andy LeCompte Salon in Los Angeles, gives clients a window rather than a single deadline:

“There is no perfect time to wait to wash your hair after a color service. Twenty-four to 48 hours is the best window.”

— Bianca Hillier, Hair Colorist at Andy LeCompte Salon; lightly edited from a September 2026 RŌZ interview for clarity

An earlier wash does not have one predictable result for every formula or service. Think of 48 hours as salon guidance, not a universal requirement.

Does the service change how long you should wait?

The person who performed the service knows the formula and the finish they were aiming for. Their instructions are the ones to follow.

What if you need to wash sooner?

Wash if your scalp is uncomfortable, sweaty, or genuinely needs cleansing. Mowen specifically cautions against making your scalp wait longer than is comfortable. Burning, persistent itching, or needing to remove something from your hair matter more than a two-day guideline.

Follow the instructions your colorist gave you. Use comfortably warm water instead of very hot water, concentrate shampoo at the scalp, and rinse well. One needed wash does not have to turn into repeated cleansing. If you have irritation, pain, swelling, or broken skin, contact the salon or a dermatologist rather than trying to solve it by changing your wash schedule.

What matters after the first 48 hours?

Once you are back to washing, the bigger question is how often you wash and what you use. Lillio focuses less on one first-wash deadline and more on the routine that follows. Mowen makes a similar point: water exposure and wash frequency both affect maintenance, while a clean, comfortable scalp still matters.

Skip a rigid “twice a week” rule. Wash when your scalp needs it, and cut back on avoidable extra washes when that works for you. On wash day:

1. Use water that feels comfortable, not punishingly hot.
2. Put shampoo at the scalp rather than scrubbing the full length.
3. Choose a cleanser because it suits your hair, not just because the label says color-safe.
4. Condition the mid-lengths and ends according to how they feel.
5. Use lower heat when drying and styling when the result allows it.

The American Academy of Dermatology advises washing according to how oily or dirty the scalp becomes and limiting excessive heat. Those are general hair-care principles, not evidence for one universal 48-hour wait after color.

Choosing a shampoo? Read what to know about sulfate-free shampoo for color-treated hair. For the routine after that—including heat, sun, swimming, and hard water—see how to make hair color last longer.

Sources and reporting note

The timing guidance is professional opinion from August and September 2026 RŌZ interviews with Joel Mowen, Anthony Lillio, and Bianca Hillier. General scalp-washing and heat guidance comes from the American Academy of Dermatology. This article does not present 48 hours as a universally proven chemical countdown.

• American Academy of Dermatology: Tips for healthy hair
• American Academy of Dermatology: Habits that damage your hair