Does Anesthesia Impact Hair Dyeing and Straightening Treatments

How Anesthesia Can Impact Hair Dyeing

Getting your hair dyed can be an exciting process as you transform your look. However, if you are planning to get your hair colored soon after having surgery, you may be wondering if the anesthesia can affect the hair dye process or results.

Does Anesthesia Have An Effect on Hair Dye?

Anesthesia causes changes in the body that can impact the hair and potentially hair dyeing. Here are some key things to know:

• Anesthesia can make hair more porous - Some types of anesthesia may open up the hair cuticle layer, making strands more porous and thirsty. This can lead to faster or more vibrant dye uptake.
• Chemicals may interact - Chemicals from anesthesia may interact with hair dye chemicals, altering the final color.
• The scalp may be sensitive - If your scalp is irritated after anesthesia, dyeing could cause further inflammation or discomfort.
• Hair loss is possible - Some anesthesia can temporarily impact the hair growth cycle, causing shedding. This can affect how well dye is retained.

Wait Time After Anesthesia for Hair Dye

Most experts recommend waiting at least 2 weeks after having anesthesia before dyeing your hair. Here's why this waiting period is advised:

• Allows hair to recover - Waiting 2 weeks gives your hair time to recover from any follicle or chemical impacts of anesthesia.
• Scalp sensation returns - Your scalp may be numb or sensitive after anesthesia. 2 weeks allows this to stabilize.
• Hair shedding finishes - Any hair push into a shedding phase has time to fall out, letting new healthy hair better retain dye.
• Regrowth begins - New un-dyed hair starts coming in right after anesthesia. Waiting 2 weeks lets some regrowth occur so less needs later dye touch-ups.

Is There Higher Risk with General Anesthesia?

Yes, general anesthesia that puts you fully unconscious seems to come with higher risk of:

• Extreme hair shedding - General anesthesia is more likely to push hair into an accelerated shedding phase.
• Noticeable hair loss - The amount of shedding can be significant enough after general anesthesia to see more visible thinning.
• Longer recovery - It typically takes hair longer to recover from general versus local or regional pain-numbing anesthesia.

For these reasons, it's wise to wait at least 2 weeks and ideally 4 weeks before dyeing hair if you had general anesthesia for a surgical procedure.

Tips for Dyeing Hair After Anesthesia

If you plan to get your hair colored after having any type of anesthesia, keep these tips in mind:

Do a Strand Test First

It's smart to do a strand test 48 hours before full hair dyeing. To strand test:

• Choose hair close to your scalp at your temple or neck
• Dye just the small strand with intended color
• Check if coloring took well or seems different than expected

Based on the strand test, you can adjust your timing or plan for the full head application.

Use a Gentle Hair Dye Product

Choose a gentle, conditioning hair dye formula for post-anesthesia dyeing. Options may include:

• Ammonia-free dye
• Dye with oils, silicones or ceramides
• Low-volume developer

A gentler formula puts less stress on recovering hair and scalp.

Do a Patch Test Too

Along with a stand test, doing a patch test can detect potential skin irritation or allergic reaction after anesthesia. To patch test hair dye:

• Apply a small amount of mixed dye to your inner arm
• Let it sit for 24-48 hours unwashed
• Check for any redness, itching, swelling or reactions

If you notice any unusual skin reaction, choose another dye brand or wait longer to color hair.

What About Permanent Hair Straightening?

Chemical straightening treatments like Brazilian Blowouts use harsh chemicals requiring heat activation to break and reform internal hair bonds. This high chemical and heat exposure can damage recovering post-anesthesia hair.

Most experts recommend waiting at least 4 to 6 weeks after surgery requiring anesthesia before getting a Brazilian Blowout or other chemical straightening. This allows sufficient re-growth of undamaged healthy hair better able to withstand chemical processing.

Hair Regrowth After Anesthesia

On average, here is the usual hair cycle regrowth timeline after different types of anesthesia:

• Local anesthesia - 1 to 2 weeks for new growth
• Regional anesthesia - 3 to 4 weeks for new growth
• General anesthesia - 6 to 8 weeks for new growth

Healthy re-growth replaces shedding hair over time. Taking good care of your hair and scalp nutrition can help speed regrowth.

Other Post-Anesthesia Hair Care Tips

In addition to being cautious about dyeing and chemical processing, keep these other hair health tips in mind after having anesthesia:

Use a Gentle Shampoo

Stick to a mild, hydrating shampoo in the weeks following anesthesia to avoid further damaging fragile strands.

Handle Hair Gently

Use a wide-tooth comb and avoid harsh brushing or heat styling until hair recovers its strength.

Take Hair Supplements

Consider supplements for hair, skin and nails that contain nutrients like biotin, vitamin C, zinc and silicon to provide internal support for optimal hair regrowth.

Be Patient!

It takes time for hair to rebound after any medical event like surgery and anesthesia. Have patience with the regrowth process and avoid dyeing or chemical treatments until your hair shows signs of recovery.

In most cases, hair returns to normal in 6 to 12 weeks post-anesthesia. Work with your stylist to find temporary coloring options if desired during the grow-out period.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.