My client's color kept washing out until I tried this pre-treatment trick

Her gray hair just wouldn't hold dye, so after chatting with another stylist, I began using a protein filler for five minutes before applying color. Now the color stays put for weeks. I've heard some folks swear by this step for all resistant hair, while others say it's overkill and can make hair brittle. What's your usual method for tough cases like this?

5 comments

5 Comments

the_ruby2d ago

That protein filler trick reminded me of when my aunt used egg whites on her hair before dyeing it. It worked for a while, but then her hair got really dry, so she stopped.

valward2d ago

Remember my friend tried using lemon juice and olive oil for highlights one summer... looked okay from a distance but up close her hair felt like straw. Sometimes those kitchen tricks work too well at first, then you're left fixing the damage. Makes you wonder how many good ideas get ditched just because they backfire later. Beauty experiments are a risky business.

finleylopez2d ago

Yeah the protein filler thing works until it doesn't. I read on a hair forum that too much protein can actually make your hair stiff and then it snaps off. Makes sense why her hair got dry and brittle, like it was overloaded.

the_christopher2d ago

Actually, protein itself doesn't dry hair out. The brittleness happens when there's way more protein than moisture, throwing the balance off. Getting that balance right is the tricky part for resistant hair.

jadeprice2d ago

Yeah the kitchen trick thing... my cousin once used mayonnaise as a deep conditioner because she read it online. It made her hair super greasy for days, like it wouldn't wash out... she had to use dish soap to get it all out and then her scalp was a mess. Sometimes those ideas just don't translate from the internet to your actual bathroom.