Will Nanoplasty Affect My Hair Colour? What You Need to Know

If you’ve recently coloured your hair — especially if it’s blonde, bleached, or toned — it’s natural to wonder how a smoothing treatment like Nanoplasty might affect your results. Many clients ask us, “Will Nanoplasty strip my colour?” or “Will it change my tone?”

The short answer: Nanoplasty won’t strip your colour, but it can cause subtle tonal shifts

Let’s break down what actually happens, why it happens, and what you can do to protect your colour and get the best possible result from your Nanoplasty treatment.

Myth vs. Truth: Understanding Colour Changes with Nanoplasty

There’s a lot of confusion around Nanoplasty and colour — especially online. Let’s clear up a few common misconceptions right away.

Myth: Nanoplasty strips all hair colour.

Truth: When done correctly, nanoplasty causes minimal to no colour change—especially on professionally coloured hair where we know the full hair history. On lightened or bleached hair, there may be slight tonal shifts due to the heat sealing process, but it does not remove permanent colour. Home box dyes can be more unpredictable, but we have tips and techniques to minimise any changes as much as possible.

Myth: Nanoplasty always makes blonde hair brassy.

Truth: In most cases, there’s no brassiness at all. Thanks to our expertise and careful technique, we protect your hair’s integrity and colour throughout the process. At most, you might see a minimal tonal shift—especially on bleached hair—but our knowledge and product choices are designed to keep your blonde looking its best.

Myth: You can’t have Nanoplasty if your hair is coloured.

Truth: Nanoplasty is suitable for coloured hair — in fact, it can help protect colour by sealing the hair and reducing the need for heat styling long-term.

So while it’s not completely without impact, Nanoplasty is far more colour-friendly than many people assume — as long as it’s done properly.

The Science: Why Tonal Shifts Happen

To understand why some hair colours may shift slightly during Nanoplasty, we need to look at what happens during the treatment process. Nanoplasty uses a blend of amino acids and heat to restructure the hair from the inside out. Once the treatment is applied, a flat iron is used to seal the product into the hair shaft — locking in the smoothing effects.

Here’s where colour comes in. Lightened or bleached hair is typically more porous, meaning it absorbs and loses moisture — and colour — more easily. When high heat is applied during Nanoplasty, it can slightly alter the surface of the hair cuticle. On blonde hair, this can enhance underlying warm or yellow tones, giving the appearance of brassiness. On darker hair, the shift is usually more subtle — possibly softening or slightly warming the tone.

Think of it like fabric exposed to sunlight or heat — the fibres may still be intact, but the colour can fade or appear altered. Or, like makeup that oxidises slightly after application, hair colour can react to environmental factors such as heat and moisture — not because it’s being stripped, but because it’s being exposed to transformation conditions.

The key takeaway? These tonal changes are cosmetic, not chemical loss. Your permanent colour is still intact beneath the surface — it’s simply reflecting light a little differently due to heat and hair porosity.

How to Minimise Colour Changes with Nanoplasty

While some tonal change is possible, the good news is that it can be minimised — or avoided completely — with the right preparation and a professional touch. Hairdressers trained in Nanoplasty know how to manage heat, assess colour sensitivity, and advise clients on the right timing for both colouring and smoothing services.

If your hair is freshly bleached or toned, you may want to wait at least two weeks before having Nanoplasty. This gives your colour time to settle and your hair cuticle time to close, which can help preserve cooler tones.

Alternatively, if tone correction is needed — particularly for blondes wanting to maintain icy or ash finishes — we use a specific Nanoplasty formula that includes an integrated toner. This allows us to neutralise unwanted warmth and enhance tone during the smoothing process itself, without needing a separate toner afterward.

For brunettes or red tones, tonal changes are generally softer and may not be noticeable unless the hair is heavily processed. In most cases, the treatment enhances shine and smoothness — which can actually make colour appear richer and more vibrant.

Best practices to protect your colour:

Wait 2 weeks after colouring before getting Nanoplasty (especially for bleached or pastel shades)
Use colour-safe, sulfate-free shampoo before and after treatment
Discuss a toner refresh post-treatment if you have very light or porous hair
Choose an experienced salon that understands both colour and Nanoplasty

Want more tips? See our Expert Aftercare Tips for Nanoplasty.

Nanoplasty and Different Hair Colours

Let’s break it down by hair colour to understand how Nanoplasty typically interacts with each:

Blonde / Bleached Hair: Blonde hair is the most likely to experience tonal changes during nanoplasty, particularly if it’s very porous or hasn’t been recently toned. However, we do everything we can to ensure minimal colour change. We carefully select nanoplasty products that add tone rather than remove it, and adjust our procedure to maintain your colour. While post-treatment toning isn’t possible due to how the hair is sealed, 9 out of 10 blondes notice little to no tonal change when nanoplasty is done correctly.
Brunette Hair: Usually experiences minimal change. In some cases, dark colour can soften slightly, giving a more “sun-kissed” look. Often appears shinier and richer post-treatment. Unless you are artificially brunette then you are more at risk and this is where going to an experienced Nanoplasty salon in crucial
Red Hair: Can appear slightly warmer but generally becomes more vibrant and reflective due to the smoothing of the cuticle. Post-care is important to retain vibrancy. Artificial red tones — especially when applied over previously lightened hair — are more vulnerable to tonal shift during smoothing treatments. However, at The Cutting Room, we use carefully selected Nanoplasty formulas and techniques to minimise or eliminate colour change wherever possible. While some salons may struggle to preserve vibrancy, our approach is designed to maintain the richness of red tones, leaving hair smoother, shinier, and just as bold.
Virgin Hair (never coloured): Colour stays stable. Nanoplasty enhances shine and smoothness without any tonal interference.

In every case, the technique matters. A poorly done treatment — or excessive heat — can exaggerate tonal change. A professional application will ensure colour stays consistent and predictable.

Still not sure what to expect? Read Does Nanoplasty Really Last? to see what else can affect your results.

Checklist: Before Booking Nanoplasty on Coloured Hair

Before scheduling your Nanoplasty treatment, take a moment to review this quick checklist — especially if your hair has been recently coloured or bleached:

Has it been at least 2 weeks since your last colour service?
Is your hair in good condition — not overly dry or brittle?
Have you discussed your colour goals with your stylist?
Are you using colour-safe, sulfate-free products at home?
Can you clearly recall your hair history — including past colours, lightening, or chemical treatments — so your stylist can tailor the process and ensure maximum protection and results?

As always, the best results come from a professional who understands your hair history and knows how to balance both your colour and your smoothing goals. If in doubt, start with a consultation.

Get started here: 7 Questions to Ask Before Booking Nanoplasty

The Bottom Line: Colour-Safe When Done Right

Nanoplasty is not a colour-removal treatment. When applied correctly and managed by a professional, it is perfectly safe for coloured hair — and in many cases, it actually enhances shine and reduces fading by cutting down the need for heat styling.

If your hair is blonde, bleached, or highly processed, your stylist may recommend slight adjustments — like timing the treatment between colour services or refreshing your toner afterward. These small steps make a big difference in keeping your tone exactly where you want it.

At The Cutting Room, we perform hundreds of Nanoplasty treatments on coloured hair every year — and we know how to balance vibrant colour with smooth, healthy, long-lasting results.

Want smooth hair without compromising your colour? Book your Nanoplasty consultation today and let us show you how it’s done.