CO causes change in color?

[Ravenne]

I'm not talking about going from brunette to blonde. Lol. But I've noticed in the 2-ish weeks that I've been doing CO, my hair has changed from an ash brown to a more... chocolate? Cocoa? Something like that. There's more diversity in individual shades in the hair strands. Some are very red. Some are varying shades of brown. I've even found a few dark blondes in there. The only change I've done recently is going from WC to CO so I'm attributing it to that. Has anyone else noticed a color shift when starting CO?

[ArienEllariel]

not that I know of.

[manderly]

I know when my hair is dry it looks lighter....like each individual strand is more translucent. So I just attribute any change to the fact that my strands are now nicely moisturized and plump :)

[TXbarbie]

Oh weird... I have recently begun CO washing so I haven't seen a difference yet. I'm interested to know as well

[Ravenne]

Hm. Maybe it is just because they're more moisturized and the color is becoming more vibrant. :shrug:

[ChrissieM]

I think your hair is healthier, more moisturized, and maybe not coated with styling products/cones anymore (I don't know your routine) so the natural color is coming out.

[JenniferNoel]

Health, moisture/less porosity can easily make light hit and bend around the strands differently, therefor causing the illusion of a natural/pigment color change.
Bottom line - sounds like your hair is happy. :applause

[spidermom]

Mine looked darker because it was limp and stuck to my head.

[Sylvanas]

I know when my hair is dry it looks lighter....like each individual strand is more translucent. So I just attribute any change to the fact that my strands are now nicely moisturized and plump :)

Yup, same for me. Darkens a wee bit with CO, but if I use shampoo it's back to "normal" colour :)

[Sissy]

I hadn't noticed but would LOVE it if COing would make my hair darker :)

[Carolyn]

I've been COing for several years and haven't noticed a color change. I've changed HOW I color it but I don't think CO has anything to do with my color. I think my hair is more moisturized and healthy with CO like others above have said.

[manderly]

I hadn't noticed but would LOVE it if COing would make my hair darker :)

I should clarify. Moisture (in this case CO for some - not me) makes hair appear darker. It's not a cumulative effect, nor is it actually changing your color. It's akin to the color change you'd experience with heavily oiled or wet hair.

My hair looks almost black when wet. I know water didn't make it darker, and I know when it dries it goes back to it's regular color. It's the fact that my hair is super moisturized and clumped together (as opposed to frizzy and flyaway when dry) that makes it appear darker.

[Shicurls]

Yup, my hair's natural highlights become much more distinct/darker.

[artemis]

I used to CO and after I started, I had several people ask me if I'd dyed my hair. It changed from dark blonde to lighter blonde with a hint of red.

[Ursula]

I've noticed some change in tint when my hair is better moisturized. It can fade to a somewhat yellow tone when dry, but seems darker/redder/browner when better moisturized. This is less pronounced since I've hennaed. But a different tone as discoloration from dryness goes away makes sense from my experience.

[Marlowe]

Odd someone brings this topic up, only cleansers that have touched my head the past few weeks have been conditioners and I was looking at my older (bleached, dyed, hennaed, etc) growth and thinking how shiny and light/varying colored it was. I figured it was just the conditioners I was using being special and pulling old dye and water mineral residues out of the hair.

[Flaxen]

Several of us have noticed over the years that COing brings out red tones. :agree:

[christine1989]

Yes, my hair is slightly darker too but im not complaining since thats what I wanted anyway :)

[Sissy]

I should clarify. Moisture (in this case CO for some - not me) makes hair appear darker. It's not a cumulative effect, nor is it actually changing your color. It's akin to the color change you'd experience with heavily oiled or wet hair.

My hair looks almost black when wet. I know water didn't make it darker, and I know when it dries it goes back to it's regular color. It's the fact that my hair is super moisturized and clumped together (as opposed to frizzy and flyaway when dry) that makes it appear darker.

My hair always looks darker when wet too. :) I wish it would stay that way when dry!

[Adrienne]

Been on CO since 2005........... Still Jet Black........

[scata999]

Mine is a few shades darker since I started washing with conditioner only.

[scata999]

Should clarify, my hair is naturally blonde. I would think the lighter your hair, the more you would notice a difference. Don't think this applies to dyed hair though.

[Anje]

Seems like hair often looks a bit darker when it has more moisture, and COed hair usually is more moisturized (sometimes too much, depending on the person/hair/condish).