You spend your time and money on new hair, so here’s how to keep your hair color. These things are not easy when you want to go lighter or darker.
1. PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
Your hair is colored by spending so much time and money therefore do not allow it to go in vain. If you can be more careful with it and always brush it softly, the difference will be felt.
2. WATER IS THE ENEMY
The major cause of fading in hair color is water.
Water has a higher pH than our hair’. Water’s pH is 7 while that of our hairs is around about pH 4.5 – 5.5.
When you use anything above pH 5.5, this can open up the cuticle of your hair which should be closed down for protection purposes. Also, note that the hair color is around ph 8-9 whereby we have deposits forming inside our heads.
Though water has a neutral pH of seven, it still opens up the hair cuticle when your hair gets wet letting that color out.
Therefore reducing shampooing can help reduce loss of colour in your hair and if possible reduce even swimming times. Don’t worry if you’re a swimmer because all you need is to put on a cap and under-cap mask while there.
3. WEAR A HAT
Also, the sun fades colors away as well, so wear a hat outside to protect your hair from fading.
I hope I don’t have to tell you this but it’s also true that they fade off your color along with everything else Terrible for skin but terrible for color too. They are like concentrated sunlight damage for your barnet if you think about it.
4. CHOOSE COLOUR SAFE PRODUCTS
For maintaining your colored locks select shampoos and conditioners designed specifically for such purpose. The use of sulfate-free alternatives instead of sulfate shampoos should be taken into consideration, as sulfates remove more color.
5. MINIMISE HEAT
Reduce the heat on your styling tools and try to style with less heat. High temperatures can also cause your hair color to fade just like the sun’s rays do.
6. ADD IN MORE COLOUR
There are some color depositing conditioners available and this can really help manage your color at home.
You could either tone your hair purple using shampoos such as Evo Fabuloso custom-made one in pink by my hairdresser at home.
A NOTE FOR REDHEADS
For you redheads, you’re probably already aware that red is the fastest-fading color.
The biggest molecule hence difficult to retain in our head is a red color molecule.
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I strongly recommend getting a conditioner with a red toner in it or asking for a personalized mixture from your hair stylist that you can top up yourself.
Instead, you could go for a gloss treatment in between colour treatments at the salon.
Protect Your Hair from Its Color
Wash less: Water is truly hair color’s worst enemy. Each time you wash your hair, it opens up the cuticle a little bit more and allows the color to run off. Try to wash your hair less frequently and use dry shampoos that can expand the time between washes.
Use cold water: If you have to cleanse your hair, do it with cold water. Compared to hot water, cold water will hardly open up hair cuticles thus it makes a longer-lasting seal for color.
Choose the right products: It is essential to buy sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners designed particularly for color-treated hair. These are milder products that help preserve the tint without taking it away completely. Choose something labeled as color-safe.
More Tips on Maintaining Color
Guard Against Heat: One of the primary factors that cause the fading of your colored hair is heat. Always use heat protectant spray before using styling tools and try keeping the temperature of your air dryer or straightener as low as possible.
Shield from the Sun: Like skin, our hairs need protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun that bleach out colors in them making them look faded. Wearing hats whenever one is out can help protect against radiation damage while using such hairstyling products as those containing UV filter agents may also be quite helpful.
Color Depositing Products: Occasionally, using color-depositing shampoos or conditioners can help you revive what was once vibrant coloration for your tresses.
For instance, purple shampoos are good at fighting brassiness among blonds just as red-toned ones would be ideal for any red-head’s routine.
Personal Experience & Suggestions
Through my own experience with dyeing my hair, especially with bright or unusual colors I have learned that maintenance goes a long way.
At home, I have been refreshing my color with a custom mixed conditioner (something like Evo Fabuloso mentioned earlier) on a regular basis which has greatly extended the life of my dye.
Glossing treatments done in between full coloring appointments may be a consideration for those with particular concerns about fading.
Such treatments can help to boost the vibrancy and shine of your hair color during break periods between intense applications.
Redheads: special note
If you have red hair, you already know that it fades faster than most other colors. The larger size of red dye molecules means that they are more likely to fall out of the hair shaft.
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An option here is to request some custom colored conditioner from your stylist if you don’t want to use red-toned shampoos or conditioners. This way, you can refresh your color whenever it starts to look a bit dull.
Maintaining colored hair requires commitment but with the right techniques and products; you can keep your hair looking as fresh and vibrant as when you walked out of the salon.
Keep in mind that everyone’s hair behaves differently hence finding the perfect routine for your unique type and shade could take some trial and error.
I hope this helps maintain your hair color a keep it looking fresh the whole time. And let me know your tips for maintaining your color!
