If your hair is falling out, or your locs look and feel damaged, then it’s time to go see a professional ASAP.
You don't want to add too much color to your locs too often. Once or twice a year is more than enough. Coloring the locs too often can damage the hair, making the locs feel dry and dull. You may also be more prone to breakage if the hair isn't well moisturized, so we strongly recommend using that steamer as a part of your washing and maintenance routine. We also want to discourage dying your locs yourself, since they require special treatment from a specialist who is trained in specifically dying locs. Dying locs yourself, or with someone who has never dyed locs professionally before, can create myriads of problems for your locs. That being said, let’s take a closer look at what your options are if your locs have been damaged by color treatment.
Your number one solution
Rather than building up the tension we're going to give it to you right away. Dr Locs had a highly informative conversation with Joy Barnes, founder of nomorehats.com, our number one veteran at coloring locs and natural hair, who strongly recommended a restorative protein treatment for locs damaged from color. She says, “Depending on the level of damage, do a series of protein treatments. Go see a stylist to get your protein treatment in a salon so they can determine the level of damage and what you need. They can tell you what you can do at home and what you need to do in the salon. You don’t want to abuse the protein, but you’ll need a protein treatment. See if your salon offers the services you need. The protein goes in and fills in those pockets where the damage has occurred. Then you may need to follow the protein treatment with a steam treatment. Your locs needs moisture and needs that protein moisture balance.”
Get into a really good moisturizing routine to rehabilitate your locs
As mentioned above, you’ll also need to see a professional who knows exactly what has gone wrong and what your locs need. You may just need to reassess your moisturizing routine and get that moisture into the inner matrix of your locs and hair shafts. Oils are not really the way to go as they may cause the color to fade. To really moisturize your locs you’ll need a water base which is your true moisturizer.
Consider a trim
Depending on how serious the damage is, you may want to consider a trim to give your locs a break and slowly give them a chance to recover. Your locs will need all the strength and moisture it can get. Trimming the locs may lighten the load on your new growth and can help you hone in on the problematic areas.
Consider taking a long break from coloring those locs
What more needs to be said? If your hair is experiencing color damage, and recovers through a healthy protein treatment, you may want to lay off the color for a while. At least a year can really do your locs and your new growth the opportunity to regenerate healthy, undamaged hair strands that you will then groom into your locs.
Use the Dr Locs Color Treated Line for your hair
Dr Locs especially curated a buildup-free color treated line to ensure your hair stays healthy, moisturized and color-rich. When it comes to color treated hair you really need to make sure you’re using the best shampoo and conditioner for your hair. One that will not strip the hair of its color or moisture, but is designed to preserve both color and moisture. The rest is up to you!
