Walking out of the salon with a fresh cut and color is an incredible feeling. A good hairstylist will work with you to put care and effort into the hues used to complement your complexion, so you’ll want to do everything you can to maintain your hair color. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you avoid losing that fabulous color. While fading color is inevitable, there are a few ways to stretch those appointments and save some money along the way. When you just add some small steps into your hair routine, you can keep your chosen color from fading.
Don’t Wash Your Hair Within the First 72 Hours
Your hairdresser most likely tells you this when you go to get your hair dyed, but it is important to follow this rule. When you get your hair dyed, the cuticle layer of your hair is being opened so the new pigmentation can soak in. Not washing your hair for a couple of days allows that cuticle layer to fully close, trapping more of the pigmentation so that it’s given a chance to soak in, allowing the color to last longer in between salon visits. The longer you can wait to wash your hair after your appointment, the longer your color will last.
Use Sulfate-free Shampoo and Conditioner
When you use shampoos and conditioners with sulfate, you always risk stripping your hair of its natural conditioning oils. Because of how harsh this chemical can be on your hair as it cleanses, it can also cleanse your hair of its color. Similar to watching dark clothes fade in the wash, the sulfates in shampoo are the same chemicals used in bargain detergent. If you are unsure if a shampoo is sulfate-free, try out Keranique’s Color Boost Shampoo and Conditioner.
Don’t Take Super Hot Showers
Similar to the 72-hour rule, if you take hot showers and wash your hair with hot water you are allowing your hair cuticle to open. When you reopen your hair cuticle, you will rinse out some of the dye, leading to a quicker fading process. Over time, if you continue to wash your hair with hot water you will have to get your hair dyed more often, which potentially will cause more damage to your hair. Help your hair and just turn down the water temperature while washing your color-treated hair.
Wash Your Hair Less
Similar to taking hot showers, the more you wash your hair the more likely it is to fade. Every time you wash your hair, you are washing out the natural oils and moisture, which also means you are washing out some of the dye each time too. Unless you work out frequently, you should try to only wash your hair 2-3 times per week, and instead use a dry shampoo —especially if you dyed your hair a vibrant color.
Make Sure to Use Heat Protectant
To avoid the heat from penetrating deep into your hair, causing it to become weaker and damaged, try using a heat protectant. A heat protectant spray will help you maintain the color because it will help to reduce the moisture loss inside your hair shaft and protect your hair from the harsh heat. Besides getting to keep your gorgeous color longer you also are saving your hair from future damage.
Use a Leave-in Conditioner
Color-treated hair needs extra moisture compared to natural hair. A leave-in conditioner will help to keep your hair smooth and moisturized, but it’s important to find one with UV protection when dealing with color-treated hair. When you dye your hair, you have to be careful how much time you spend in the sun because its powerful rays can fade the color during warmer months. Getting a leave-in conditioner with UV protection is one of the best products you can purchase after dyeing your hair.
Try to Avoid Chlorine
If you plan to be in a pool a lot, you should skip the hair dyeing for the time being. It’s best to avoid chlorine when you dye your hair. The mixture of chlorine and hair dye is never good, as chlorine strips your hair which causes the color to fade. The best course of action would be to avoid dyeing your hair in the summer if you are going to be outside a lot. If you can’t wait, use our previous tip and apply some leave-in conditioner.
No matter which tip you try, they all can help you maintain your hair color. Most of the ways color fading happens is the result of it being washed out or exposed to an external factor, so don’t be afraid to switch between the different tips. Go preserve that marvelous hair color with confidence!
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This article is not intended to treat any disease or offer a substitution for professional medical advice.
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