Have you ever tried to give yourself a pink balayage, but are sadly disappointed by how fast the color fades?
Or maybe you have tried to go from one end of the color spectrum to the other and deal with the hard consequences of changing your natural color: the in-between salon appointments and the transition process.
When you decided to dye your hair, you might not have expected it to take over your hair routine, and change everything you know about hair care, but it does. Chemically altering your hair changes its chemical composition, to the point that it has different care needs than natural hair.
For long-lasting color, and keeping your hair hydrated and healthy, make sure you are using the right products for color-treated hair, and following the right process to go along with it. Follow these do's and don't for long-lasting color haircare.
Do Prevent Damage & Fading
When you add chemicals to your hair, especially bleach, you are setting yourself up for the damage, it is an inevitable cost to getting the color just right. But with today's haircare knowledge and high-tech products, it is not a death sentence at all, just something to be extra aware of when you dye your hair.
To prevent damage and dullness, you need to avoid certain products as well as use the right ones, in the right way. When you have color-treated hair it is important to get into a new haircare routine for long-lasting color.
Other than being careful with your products, caring for your hair means allowing it to have natural textures and oils. Avoid adding heat which includes blowdrying, and try to go as long as possible in between washes. Both of these mechanisms help your hair restore its natural health and support longer color.
You should also avoid the sun, and use a leave-in conditioner to protect your hair for your spring break or summer vacation.
Don't Use Products With Certain Ingredients
You need to buy products that support long-lasting color, which mostly means avoiding certain ingredients. The most common ingredients you need to avoid include sulfates, parabens, sodium chlorides and petrochemicals.
These chemicals dry your scalp and hair, making it easier for damage to the surface and allowing your color to fade. The dye needs good hydration to hold and not fade, make sure to buy ultra hydra boosting products including shampoos, conditioners,
Do Use The Right Shampoo
Always read the ingredients before buying a shampoo to avoid those listed ingredients that tend to fade your color. It takes time and research to find the right shampoo for your texture and hair type, not to mention throwing color treatment into the mix.
Some of the most highly recommended brands for color-treated shampoos include:
- Pureology
- Olaplex
- Hairburst
- Kerastase
- Ouai
- Morroconoil
Find a hydrating shampoo that can also rejuvenate, but try to shampoo your hair as infrequently as possible to truly retain color. The important part of maintaining color comes with conditioner, styling products and hair oils.
Don't Forget Conditions & Masks
Conditioner is super important for color-treated hair in every single form. From your sulfate-free conditioner to a good leave-in conditioner and the weekly hair mask for repair and hydration.
Depending on your hair type, you can DIY your own hair mask with all-natural ingredients like coconut oil, avocado and banana.
A tip includes putting a little bit of your hair dye into your conditioner to freshen and retain the color. The brands previously mentioned also make great conditioners, but do look for ingredients that include superfoods, antioxidants and other natural ingredients.
Do Use Heat Protectant & Hair Oils
If you are someone who styles your hair often, hair oil and heat protectants are essential for maintaining healthy and shiny hair.
Hair oil should be applied right after your leave-in conditioner, hence after the shower when your hair is wet. Massage it into your hair, but depending on your hair type you may want to avoid the roots and stay focused on the tips.
Some hair oils also act as a heat protectant, but if you have color-treated hair it is important to also spray on a sulfate-free protectant before applying the heat. Some great brands for heat protestant include:
- Color Wow Dream Coat
- Olaplex
- L'Oreal Professional Expert Multi-Purpose Spray
- IGK Sold Out Curl Priming Basecoatat Spray
- Dove Smooth & Shine Heat Proextant Spray
- Good Behavior Spray
- Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day Heat Styling Spray
To sum it up add as much hydration as you can throughout your routine from avoiding your wash day, always using conditioner, leave-in conditioner and the weekly hair mask, followed up by hair oil or serum and a heat protectant for styling.
Keep long-lasting color by simply switching up your products and routine to support your new hair color.
