Hey people, /images/graemlins/wink.gif
The reason they say you should style as usual is for two reasons...
First the instructions are designed to help ensure that there is maximum color retention and to guard against fading. Any process (shampooing, conditioning) that will raise the cuticle that the rinse just sealed will cause some color loss. This is particularly true if heat is used in the conditioning process post color.
The other thing I think is going on is that because it's a color product and they are giving instructions on how to get the best results for coloring the hair - the other possible hair conditions a consumer might want to take into account aren't taken into account by the manufacturers of a color product.
That said - I use rinses all the time as many folks here know /images/graemlins/wink.gif and I ALWAYS both shampoo and condition my hair post color. However - I only DEEP condition BEFORE the risne goes on. So here's the process I do...
Wash, Apply Deep Conditioner with Heat, Rinse with water, Apply Color Rinse and apply heat, Rinse with water, Shampoo (only once) and Use a detangling acidfying rinse out conditioner to finish up.
Long process but I get the results I am looking for this way.
The two unexpected parts of the process - where I shampoo post color and when I condition pre color - I do this because 1) I hate color on my scalp which shampoo corrects and 2) to condition the hair and seal in the conditioning benefits with the rinse which is also conditioning the hair. It also helps in the event that a rinse product keeps out any conditioning products by sealing the cuticle.
HTH /images/graemlins/smile.gif