Surgery and Hair Coloring

Hair that looks orange
Photo: Amir Kaljikovic/Shutterstock
Q: I recently had surgery about three weeks ago and I'm way overdue for my usual hair coloring and highlights. A friend mentioned that she heard having anesthesia shortly before getting your hair colored can somehow make the color turn out orange or give unexpected results. Is there actually any truth to this, or is it just one of those beauty myths that gets passed around?
 
A: This is actually a fascinating question that touches on how our bodies process chemicals after medical procedures. While the specific claim about anesthesia causing orange hair color isn't something that's well-documented in medical literature, there are several legitimate reasons why your hair coloring results might be different after surgery.
 
The concern about anesthesia directly affecting hair color results is likely more myth than medical fact. General anesthetics like propofol, sevoflurane, or isoflurane are metabolized and eliminated from your system relatively quickly - usually within 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Three weeks post-surgery, these medications would no longer be present in your system in any meaningful concentration that could interfere with hair dye chemistry.
 
However, your friend isn't entirely wrong to be cautious about post-surgical hair treatments. Surgery puts significant stress on your body, and this physiological stress can actually affect your hair in several ways. The stress response triggers hormonal changes that can alter your hair's texture, porosity, and even its ability to absorb and hold color. Some people notice their hair feels different - perhaps more brittle, oily, or dry - in the weeks following major surgery.
 
More importantly, any medications you're currently taking for post-surgical care could potentially interact with hair coloring chemicals. Pain medications, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and other prescriptions can sometimes affect how your hair responds to chemical treatments. For instance, certain antibiotics can make your hair more porous, which might cause it to grab color differently than usual, potentially leading to uneven or unexpected results.
 
There's also the issue of increased chemical sensitivity that some people experience after anesthesia and surgery. While the anesthesia itself is gone from your system, some individuals report heightened sensitivity to strong odors and chemicals for several weeks after their procedure. The ammonia and other chemicals used in hair coloring products might feel more overwhelming than usual, potentially causing discomfort or even allergic-type reactions that weren't a problem before.
 
Given these considerations, the best approach is to have an honest conversation with your hairdresser about your recent surgery and current medications. A skilled hairdresser will be able to assess your hair's current condition and make appropriate adjustments to the coloring process. He or she might recommend doing a strand test first to see how your hair responds, or could suggest modifications to the timing, products, or technique used.
 
The good news is that three weeks is generally considered adequate time for your body to recover from the immediate effects of anesthesia, so you're likely fine to proceed with hair coloring as long as you're feeling well and your stylist is informed about your situation. Just be prepared for the possibility that your hair might respond slightly differently than usual.
 
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See also:
 
Medications with side effects that affect our hair
 
Can anesthesia cause hair loss?
 
Is it safe to get a perm 1 or 2 months before an operation?