“Can I get hair damage from dyeing it?” How to Prepare Clients for the Side Effects of Hair Dye

“I’ve never colored my hair before. Can I get hair damage from dyeing it? What side effects of hair dye should I be aware of?” 

“Does dye ruin your hair forever?”

“Does dying your hair cause hair loss or make it thinner?”

“Can hair dye cause cancer?”

First-time coloring clients are bound to have concerns. They’ve spent their whole lives growing that shiny, healthy hair, and they don’t want to cause irreparable damage. 

You don’t want to scare them unnecessarily. Nor do you want them filing complaints because they weren’t informed about the possible side effects of hair dye. As their stylist, how can you set reasonable expectations? 

Here are five ways to help customers prepare for new hair without the scare.

5 Ways to Address Hair Dye Damage Concerns

1. Listen to their concerns empathetically.

Imagine a teenage girl and her mom walk into your salon. The mom tells you how excited her daughter is to dye her hair. It’s all she’s talked about for months, and for her birthday, she finally has her mom’s permission. 

But now that she’s in your chair, the girl seems less than thrilled. She’s biting her fingernail and tapping her foot repeatedly. You ask if she’s excited. She nods, but her eyes are wide. 

“Is dying your hair bad?” she asks. “Is it going to hurt?”

You can respond dismissively: “You wanted this, right? So why are you scared now?” Or, “It’s not a big deal. You’re worrying for nothing.” 

Or, you can make her feel heard.

It doesn’t matter if your client is 14 or 64. If they’re new to dye, they’re bound to be a tad nervous. If they’re  anxious about the process or possible side effects of hair dye, the best way to make them comfortable is by listening. 

Active and empathetic listening makes people feel heard. As a result, this actually makes them feel better. In fact, studies have shown that increasing your active listening by just one percent can yield 14 percent more customer gratitude. At the same time, one percent more empathy can yield up to 90 percent more gratitude. 

So before you offer advice or opinions, offer your ear. Invite clients to speak openly about their hair dye damage concerns. Acknowledge their feelings. Be patient. Give them your undivided attention. Don’t interrupt, multitask, problem solve, or try to change their mind. By slowing down to listen and understand, you’ll not only make them feel better, but also build trust and loyalty in the process. It’s like the saying: Slow down and you’ll get there faster. (Hint: You can use this technique when managing hair salon complaints, too!)

2. Teach them how hair dye works.

A lot of fears come from misunderstandings or incomplete knowledge about how hair dye works. To put clients at ease, offer gentle education—and use it to your advantage.

For example, you know that all hair dye causes some damage—even if you aren’t using bleach or you go dark instead of light. But your clients don’t know that. They’re likely to ask:

• Does permanent hair dye damage hair? 
• Does hair dye damage your hair without bleach? 
• Will there be less damage if I opt for non-permanent dye? Or does temporary or semi-permanent hair dye damage hair, too?”

Explain how the dye changes the hair’s natural structure. Permanent dye, for example, uses ammonia to lift the strands’ cuticles while peroxide breaks down the natural pigment, Haircode UK writes.  It makes the hair brittle and prone to breakage; it also lasts longer and provides fuller coverage. On the other hand, temporary and natural dyes only penetrate the outer layers. If they’re anxious about the side effects of hair dye and how to prevent damage when coloring hair, you might recommend a temporary or semi-permanent alternative. Their effects are fleeting, but also much gentler.

Additionally, they might assume that dye is the only thing responsible for damage. But your products and techniques, plus their allergies and their hair’s current condition, also make a difference, L’oreal Paris and Healthline explain. 

As you work, tell them what tools and products you’re using and why. Make verbal observations about their hair. Is it already dry or brittle? Is it in good shape for permanent dye? 

Lastly, explain what they can expect after their treatment. Will the texture change? Does dying your hair damage it forever? How fast will it grow out? 

Educating is key to demonstrating your expertise and setting clear expectations. It shows you know your stuff. It also shows you’re proactive about protecting them from hair dye damage to the scalp. 

3. Share your experience.

You’ve listened to your client’s concerns. They have a clearer idea of how hair dye treatments work. But your client still isn’t sure what to expect.

Don’t dish out the dye just yet. Another way to ease their anxieties is by sharing your personal experience.

Did a past client share similar concerns about dying their curly hair? Or about the side effects of temporary hair dye right before their wedding? Did a past client also ask about dying hair while on chemo (and after)?

With their consent, show before and after photos of these past clients and how their treatment turned out. If it went well, tell them. If a fellow stylist went through a similar scenario but didn’t get a great result, share what lessons were learned and what you would do differently.

For example, maybe during your training you read a study about dying already-compromised hair. Or maybe you have statistics about how rare adverse side effects like ulceration really are. That’s your window to discuss realistic results and how you would approach it for the best possible outcome.

Have your clients never experienced hair damage from dyeing it? Share that, too. Your stories and personal experiences help clients better grasp the potential outcomes of working with you.

4. Create a treatment plan.

Excellent service doesn’t stop when your client leaves the hair salon. To protect clients from negative side effects of hair dye, create a treatment plan that prevents hair dye damage outside the salon, too.

For example, you could recommend hair care products that protect their new color and ward off heat damage at home. Furthermore, encourage them to return periodically for regular trims and maintenance. Recommending customized treatment and maintenance shows you’re in it for the long haul.

Client “dyeing” to complain? We’re rooting for you.

Worried a client will complain about adverse side effects of hair dye? 

WellnessPro’s insurance program for hair stylists won’t dye-sappoint. Fill out a free, online app to secure peace of mind today.