Have you ever got your hair colored and felt the feeling of walking with vibrant hair? Unfortunately, good things never last for long.
Over time, color-treated hair can become dull and faded, especially if it’s not cared for properly hence it becomes difficult to maintain your color-treated hair.
But don’t worry – there are plenty of things you can do to keep your color-treated hair looking fresher and longer.
We’ll discuss using sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, washing your hair less frequently, using cool water to rinse your hair, avoiding heat styling, protecting your hair from the sun, getting regular trims, and using a color-depositing conditioner in this blog.
You can assist ensure that your color-treated hair stays vivid and healthy-looking for weeks, if not months, after your salon session by following these simple tips.
15 Tips To Maintain Your Color-Treated Hair At Home
Below, we go through all of these tips and more to help you keep your hair color looking beautiful all summer long.
1. Wait For Three Days Before You Wash Freshly Colored Hair
Do not wash your hair for at least 72 hours after coloring it, or the color will wash out quickly. The chemical processing used in hair coloring leaves the cuticles of the hair open and vulnerable to harm.
Hair dyes cause chemical changes to the hair structure. This hair is more porous and vulnerable to injury.
2. Shampoo Your Color-Treated Hair Less Frequently
When you wash your colored hair frequently, the dye will leech out and the color will fade. Washing your hair frequently also depletes its natural oils, leaving it dry, dull, and lifeless.
Reduce the frequency with which you wash your hair to avoid this. This will also help to keep the hair color vivid.
3. Limit Exposure To Damp Air
Avoid long showers and humidity since wet air causes hair color to fade. While bathing, wear a shower hat and avoid getting your hair wet. Use anti-humidity serums to protect your hair, especially during rainy seasons.
4. Use Dry Shampoo
Don’t compromise on cleanliness, so on days between washes, use a color-safe dry shampoo to remove grease, dirt, and product build-up from your hair.
This will remove the filth and muck without damaging your hair color due to regular shampooing.
5. Use a sulfate-free shampoo
Once you’ve decided on a shampoo, double (triple!) check that it doesn’t contain sulfates. These are powerful detergents that are commonly found in a variety of beauty products.
On the ingredient label of shampoos, they’re commonly stated as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES).
Because they are so powerful, they can strip the hair of its natural oils and will likely strip color from the hair faster, causing premature fading.
6. Condition Your Colored Hair
You must use a conditioner every time you shampoo colored-treated hair. Check to see if the conditioner is color-safe. These conditioners act as a barrier between the hair strands.
This helps seal the cuticles and lock in moisture, giving your hair sheen, volume, and luster. As a result, your hair will be soft, healthy, and lustrous.
7. Avoid High Temperatures
Showers should be cool or lukewarm, as hot water can damage and fade color-treated hair. This is also true for heat-styling appliances like curling irons, straighteners, and blow dryers.
As the heat opens up the cuticle, the outer protective layer of the hair is damaged, and the color flows out quickly. When styling your hair, use a thermal protectant hair serum or spray.
8. Use Deep Conditioning Treatments To Smoothen
Deep-condition your color-treated hair locks once a week for added shine. Apply the treatment to moist hair and comb it through from roots to tips.
Pull your hair into a bun and pin it in place, or cover it in a soft towel and leave the treatment in for 30 minutes. When you rinse it out, you’ll have softer, shinier hair.
9. Apply Leave-In Treatments To Protect Color-treated Hair
Silicones in leave-in conditioners build a protective coating over the hair shaft. This reduces sun damage and soothes post-processing frizz.
They also help to protect your hair from the damage caused by heat-styling appliances.
A leave-in conditioning treatment can also help untangle and protect your hair from environmental aggressors.
10. Maintain A Healthy Diet To Keep Your Hair Looking Great
What you eat has everything to do with the health and appearance of your hair. A nutritious diet provides the energy that stimulates hair growth and luster.
Foods high in iron and protein nourish your scalp and hair by constructing strong keratin, the protein that strengthens, enhances the texture, and encourages hair development.
Consume lean meat, fish, low-fat cheeses, egg whites, spinach, and soy to keep your color-treated hair looking its best.
11. Dont Double-Process Color-Treated Hair
Again, don’t overdo it with the chemicals on your hair. If you color your hair, try not to perm it or relax it at the same time.
If you wish to do both, stagger the treatments and ask your hairdresser for low-ammonia, botanical products that condition your hair while treating it.
12. Use Products That Offer UV Protection
The sun’s rays can degrade hair color at any time of year. Avoid lengthy exposure to the sun. When you’re outside on a sunny day, use UV-protecting products on your color-treated hair.
SPF is included in a variety of styling products, leave-in conditioners, and hairspray.
Some UV-protection treatments even include a vitamin blend to help restore color-treated hair and prevent further damage.
13. Dont Color Your Hair Too Frequently
Too much of a good thing can be harmful, and hair color is no exception. Coloring your hair too frequently might cause damage, so limit it to once every five to six weeks.
When your roots start to show, there are a variety of solutions on the market to help you get through till your next coloring.
At-home touch-up kits, hair mascara, and spray-on root concealers can all assist get rid of this zipper (grown-out roots around your parting seem like a zipper) and mask greys between hair-color treatments.
14. Use hair products with SPF
You’re probably aware that you should apply sunscreen to your skin daily. But are you also using it on your hair? “Hair, like skin, is damaged by the sun,” adds Morales.
“Ultraviolet rays have a significant impact on the elastic properties of hair.” The cuticle deteriorates, leaving the hair fiber exposed.
15. Avoid using hot water
As Morales said above, another key thing to remember when taking a shower is to keep the water temperature as low as possible. Shampooing with hot water relaxes and opens the hair cuticle.
As a result, more color will wash off. Instead, try shampooing with lukewarm water and then rinsing with cool water to seal in moisture and prevent color loss.
Things to do before getting your hair colored
Before getting your hair colored, here are some things you can do:
- Research: Investigate the various hair colors and methods that are available. Consider your natural hair color and skin tone while deciding on colors.
- Consultation: Make an appointment with a skilled hairstylist. Discuss the color you’re thinking about and receive their professional opinion on what will look best on you.
- Hair conditioning: Colour will last longer if your hair is healthy. In the days coming up to your session, use a deep conditioning treatment or a hair mask.
- Avoid shampooing your hair: Wash your hair at least 24 to 48 hours before your visit. This allows the natural oils in your hair to build up, which will protect your scalp and hair during the coloring process.
- Wash your hair: Do not wash your hair for at least 24 to 48 hours before your appointment. This allows the natural oils in your hair to build up, protecting your scalp and hair during the coloring process.
- Heat styling products: Such as curling irons and straighteners, should be avoided since they can cause damage to your hair and make it more difficult for the color to apply effectively.
- Bring pictures: To your visit, bring images of the color you choose. This will assist your stylist in understanding exactly what you want and will give them a better idea of the techniques and products to utilize.
Things to avoid after Hair Coloring
After getting your hair colored, here are some things to avoid:
- Do not wash your hair for at least 48 hours after coloring it. This allows the color to set and prevents it from fading too rapidly.
- For the first several days after coloring your hair, avoid using heated styling appliances such as curling irons and straighteners. Heat can cause the color to fade and damage to your hair.
- Because chlorine and seawater can remove the color from your hair, you should avoid swimming for at least a week after coloring it. If you must swim, wear a swimming cap and thoroughly rinse your hair with fresh water afterward.
- Avoid using harsh hair products that contain sulfates, alcohol, or ammonia because they can strip color from your hair and cause damage.
- Try not to touch your hair too much because the oils from your hands can cause the color to fade faster.
- Washing your hair too frequently will cause the color to fade faster. Instead, between washes, use a dry shampoo or rinse your hair with water.
