Glow note
Kids in the colour chair
Colouring hair is a big step for a child and their family. Here’s how to keep young blonde or lightened hair healthy and soft, from the first appointment onwards.
Why colouring young hair is different
Children’s hair is usually finer and has a softer cuticle layer than adult hair. When you lighten or colour it, the process makes the hair more porous and delicate. Bleach or lightener opens the cuticle and removes some of the internal structure, so hair absorbs and loses water faster, and is more likely to tangle or break when wet.
Young scalps can also be extra sensitive to products and colour chemicals. Most professional colour and lightener instructions are not intended for under-16s, and many salons follow this rule strictly for safety. If a child does get colour or gloss, it’s usually a partial highlight, gloss or semi-permanent rather than a full head lightener. Always ask about the product, the allergy test, and whether it’s meant for younger heads.
Steps you can follow at home
Start gentle: wash with a low-suds shampoo like our Blonde Wash Soft, and always use a soft towel to blot (not rub) hair dry. After colour, the first few washes matter most, as fresh toner fades quickly. Apply a weekly Silk Repair Mask to mid-lengths and ends to keep things soft and prevent tangling.
Protect from the sun: use Sun Shield Mist before school, sports or any midday time outdoors, UV can dry and fade blonde even in winter. For swimming, wet hair with clean tap water, comb through a leave-in conditioner or serum, and try a swim cap if your child will wear it. Rinse with tap water straight after the pool.
At bedtime, a silk or satin pillowcase helps reduce friction and keep hair smoother. Many parents forget this step until they see split ends start to show up.
- Wash gently, no rough towels
- Use leave-in mist with UV filters
- Rinse after swimming
- Silk pillowcase at night
What to discuss with your colourist
Ask your colourist about the product being used, the patch test for allergies, and if the service is meant for children. It’s also important to know how strong the developer is and whether the process will be gentle enough for young hair.
Raise any history of scalp sensitivity or allergies before the appointment. Ask the stylist to explain each step to your child in plain words. If you’re ever unsure about an itchy, broken or flaking scalp after colour, rather see a doctor or dermatologist.
Common mistakes to avoid
We often see parents or teens go too heavy on purple or blue shampoos, thinking more will keep yellow away. Over-use or leaving them on too long can give very light or porous hair a lilac cast. Keep the timing short and always rinse until the water runs clear.
Skipping the allergy patch test is risky, even if it feels like a bother or if you’ve used colour before. Sometimes its easy to forget a product has changed or that a child’s skin can react differently. Another mistake is using adult-strength heat tools: lightened young hair needs low heat, and never use flat irons on damp hair.
- Don’t overdo violet or blue shampoos
- Always do the allergy patch test
- Avoid high heat styling
- Take scalp irritation seriously
First colour questions for parents
Before booking any colour service for a child, use our contact form to ask about patch testing, age limits, and whether a gloss or a few foils is more suitable than full lightening. From Kramerville, Sandton, we can point you to the checks worth making first, especially for sensitive scalps, school sport, and strong Gauteng sun exposure.
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