Dealing with a sensitive scalp but still want to color your hair? Good news: you can! Keune’s hair experts share their top tips for dyeing your hair while managing a sensitive scalp, including how to prevent and soothe common issues like irritation and burning.

What Is a Sensitive Scalp?

A sensitive scalp is characterized by symptoms like redness, itching, irritation, or a burning sensation. Several factors can trigger this sensitivity, including air pollution, stress, vitamin deficiencies, and the use of harsh hair products. Maintaining a healthy scalp is crucial for beautiful, healthy hair.

Prepping for Hair Dye with a Sensitive Scalp

To protect your sensitive scalp, avoid washing your hair for at least three days before your appointment. This allows your scalp’s natural oils to form a protective barrier, reducing the likelihood of irritation. Additionally, avoid over-washing your hair and using hot water, as this can dry out your scalp and strip away protective oils. As a bonus, this also helps your hair color last longer!

When you do wash your hair, choose a gentle shampoo specifically formulated for sensitive scalps, such as Keune’s Care Derma Sensitive Shampoo. It’s designed to clean your hair without affecting the vibrancy of your color.

Speak Up at the Salon

If you have a sensitive scalp, let your hairdresser know beforehand. They can select products designed for sensitive scalps and apply protective treatments, like soothing lotions or sprays, before or during the dyeing process. After coloring, your hairdresser may wash your hair twice with an after-color shampoo to ensure no dye residue remains. For added hydration and care, a nourishing hair mask or leave-in conditioner can also be applied post-coloring.

Choosing the Best Hair Dye for a Sensitive Scalp

If you’re visiting a Keune salon, ask about So Pure Color or Semi Color. So Pure Color is a vegan, plant-based dye rich in proteins and vitamins A and E, which promote a healthy scalp and hair. For demi-permanent color, Keune’s Semi Color contains soothing, natural ingredients like Boswellia Serrata, gum, and bisabolol to protect the scalp and reduce itching and inflammation.

Best Products for a Sensitive Scalp

For ongoing scalp care, use products specifically formulated to calm redness, itching, and irritation. Keune recommends alternating between a gentle shampoo for sensitive scalps and a color-protecting shampoo once a week. Some of our top products include:

• Derma Sensitive Shampoo: Calms and cleanses the scalp without stripping color.
• Color Brillianz Shampoo: Protects and enhances hair color.
• Tinta Color Shampoo: Designed to extend the life of your color.

Following up with a conditioner or hair mask after washing will help keep your scalp moisturized. For extra care between washes, apply a nourishing lotion or spray, such as:

• Derma Sensitive Conditioner
• Derma Sensitive Mask
• Derma Sensitive Lotion
• Vital Protein Spray

These products work together to nourish and protect your scalp, keeping it healthy and your hair color vibrant for longer.

Important note: Allergies to Hair Dye & a sensitive scalp are very different things. 

If you're concerned about allergies, it’s a good idea to schedule a patch test with your hairdresser before coloring. Your hairdresser will apply small amount of hair dye behind your ear or on your inner arm and monitor for any signs of irritation, such as redness or itching, over the next 48 hours. If no reaction occurs, it’s safe to proceed. If you do notice a reaction, consult your hairdresser and doctor on the best way to proceed. 

If you feel itching or burning during the dyeing process, alert your stylist immediately so they can rinse out the dye. Should an allergic reaction occur after dyeing, consult a dermatologist, especially if the symptoms are severe. To soothe your scalp, try Keune’s Care Derma Sensitive Lotion or Care Vital Nutrition Protein Spray, and handle your hair gently during recovery.