Coloring hair for 1st time & need help

[cookie1]

..I've never colored my hair and will attempt to do so in the next few days if my strand test goes okay. I'm using the Clairol Natural Instincts b/c of the great reviews it got on here.
My questions are:
1. Do I need to poo first? A stylist at Ulta said even though my hair looks clean b/c I have oils in it I need to poo first.
2. How many days after I poo do I have to wait to color it? Can I do it the very next day or even the same?
3. After I color and use the cond. that comes with- can I do a DC or should I wait a few days?
4.Is there any thing else I should know?

 

[Qualitee]

use a protein treatment a week before HTH

 

[poookie]

if it comes in a box, i'm sure it'll come with instructions. i color, but i buy the color and developer separately... box color killed my hair.

 

[cookie1]

any more suggestions...i get my best advice from people who've done this already b/c while it does come w/ instructions it says not to wash and in other threads people have pooed/ cond before coloring and had great results.

 

[ElizaBlue]

I shampooed the same night just earlier in the night. I also did the baking soda clarifier after shampooing.

I can say that the Clairol NI is the bomb. I co-wash every day and DC once a week and I have had no bleed or fade whatsoever.

And my hair does not seem as dry as when I used Soft Sheen Carson color.

Don't shampoo for the following 72 hours. Only rinse the color from your hair and use the conditioner that comes with it.