Hair dying myth or truth?

[Kryptonian]

So I am sure there are a number of people here who use at home hair dying kits. My question is this:
I was lead to believe that it is better if your hair is slightly greasy before you dye it. That the dye holds better.
Is this true or is this nonscence?
I am hoping its not becuase I normally let my hair get a little greasy before I plan to die it and I hate doing this, its just yucky. But at the same time I dont want to damage it or have a bad dye job.
What is all your opinions?

[SquamishSerpents]

my opinion, is get your hair dyed professionally i've seen way too many things to go wrong. no idea about the greasy thing though.

[mrshawt]

If you're using cheap dye it's going to come out mediocre anyways. That stuff fades like nobody's business, but it will still take as long as your hair grows out completely to be gone.

I second the professionally done option if you can.
I've dyed my hair once before and did not have it greasy. Worked as well as I expected it to.

[littleindiangirl]

I believe the 'let it get dirty' trick is to better protect your scalp from burning.

[Kaorte]

Just shampoo your hair and don't condition it. This allows the dye to absorb into your hair better. I usually wash my hair the day before (no conditioner) and then dye it.

[mrshawt]

I believe the 'let it get dirty' trick is to better protect your scalp from burning.

Shouldn't that only happen if you need to bleach it first?

[americangypsy]

The reason to have dirty hair is so that the color can be better absorbed by the hair shaft.When the hair has not been freshly washed and has been in the sun and blow dried the outside of the hair is open this is called the cuticle .This in turn allows the hair to more readily except the color .
You should then wash and condition with a professional color protecting shampoo and conditioner as these are especially formulated to then close down and seal the cuticle . It is best to leave the hair unwashed for a day or two so that the color can relax into the hair shaft and do it's molecular bonding thing .Of course this all depends on if you are doing a glaze , semi permanent , or demi permanent , or permanent color .
No matter which of these always use cool water , less heat and wash less then you will get the most out of your color.
I also think that it is best to go to the professionals as they have better product and technique remember your hair is an investment in yourself . That being said it is better go to sally's and not the grocery store for your color should you still decide against the professional route .

[soy.lor.n]

The reason to have dirty hair is so that the color can be better absorbed by the hair shaft.When the hair has not been freshly washed and has been in the sun and blow dried the outside of the hair is open this is called the cuticle .This in turn allows the hair to more readily except the color .

well yeah...but any oils will have the opposite effect. Kaorte is probably right with the shampooing without conditioner the day before you dye it. Blowdrying is also probably not a bad idea.

I've self-dyed my hair like a zillion times and have very rarely had problems with it. And I've never waited until it got greasy.

[americangypsy]

Greasy and dirty are not really the same thing .The most popular non professional shampoos and conditioners are loaded with waxes I wouldn't recommend them to anyone before during or after a color . Glad to hear that this does not seem to be an issue for you.I just usually color my hair when it's dirty as does most other stylist I know . I'm sure washing it the day before with no conditioner will be fine . F.Y.I. any one that thinks professional products are to much I have picked up product like Toni and Guy , Chi , Crew and others at Ross and T.J. Max cheaper then I could at the beauty supply whole-seller at times they also have great deals on flat irons and blow dryers that would normally be over $100.00 .

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/1-6-2006-85618.asp

http://womenshair.about.com/od/shamp...ow2shampoo.htm

[nixer]

i think i have just now officially witnessed the most out of place thread of bp.net history