Here’s How You Can Maintain Your Color-Treated Hair

7 Tips to Prevent Color Fading and Keep Your Hair Color Looking Fresh

Maintaining your hair color isn’t as intimidating as it seems. Whether you’re a hair dye do-it-yourselfer or have a regular salon ritual with your colorist, we know it’s super important to make that color go the extra mile. Maybe you’ve decided to take the plunge and try a completely new hair color or perhaps you’re refreshing your own natural shade. Whatever the reason, you’ll want to make sure your new hue lasts as long as possible. Nothing is worse than newly colored hair losing its vibrancy and then having it fade after a week due to not taking care of it. For your hair color to go the distance, you need to show your tresses some TLC. And no matter what color hair you’re working with, a special routine for color-treated hair is a must. So, we’ve put together our top tips on how to preserve and maintain your color at home to make it last longer.

1. Use a sulfate-free shampoo

Use color-friendly sulphate-free colour protect shampoos and conditioners on coloured hair, as a lot of shampoos can actually end up stripping the hair of its natural oils and will also likely strip color from the hair faster, causing premature fading.

Try: L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Shampoo

2. Remember your conditioner + Deep conditioner treatment

Remember coloring can leave hair looking and feeling dry and damaged and of course make your hair look dull. That is why keeping your strands nourished by using a conditioner following your shampoo is so important. A good conditioner will help to maintain your shade and prevent dye from fading.

Deep condition your hair once a week to keep your strands moisturized and your hair color looking vibrant. Reach for a hair mask that is formulated with hydrating ingredients like avocado, shea, and jojoba butter to keep your strands feeling soft and supple. When the hair is hydrated and healthy, color molecules will adhere better to the strands and your color will look more vibrant and help to extend the life of your colour.

Try: amika vault color-lock conditioner or Pureology Hydrate Conditioner

Try: L’Oréal Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm or Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Purple Intense Repair Hair Mask

3. Avoid using hot water

Hot water doesn’t only dry out your skin; it decreases the vibrancy of your hair colour too. Hot water opens up your hair cuticles, releasing your precious color. Try to use lukewarm rather than hot water. So, next time you’re in the shower, make sure to keep things at a cooler temperature with a cool rinse as this seals your hair’s outer layer and prevents color loss and fading later.

4. Ease up on the hot tools

Frequently using hot tools such as a blow dryer, flat or curling iron can open and damage the hair’s cuticle layer and speed up the process of colour fading from your hair. Try limiting hot tool usage in the first few weeks after getting your hair colored and whenever you do decide to bring the heat. It’s also a good idea to use a heat protectant to shields coloured hair against damage caused by hot styling tools.

Try: Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant

5. Give hair moisture and shine

Boost your vibrancy by using a glossing treatment, which will seal in colour and boost its brightness to give you a gorgeous glossy finished look. Use at-home shower glossing treatments which are ideal for use in between colour touch ups and will help you to go a little longer between color appointments.

Try: IGK EXPENSIVE Hi-Shine Gloss Treatment or Kérastase
Chroma Absolu High Shine Gloss Treatment for Color-Treated Hair 

6. Don’t over wash your hair

Washing your hair too often can fade your color-treated tresses. I personally wash my curls only once per week but experts recommend washing no more than two to three times a week to help preserve your shade and natural oils. Dry shampoo will be your best friend between hair wash days.

7. Avoid chlorine as much as possible

Chlorine is notorious for stripping color molecules and actually changing the hair color leaving behind a greenish tinge. It can also end up damaging the structure of the hair, leaving it feeling brittle. So basically, too much exposure to chlorine can lead to dry hair and dull looking hair color. To minimize chlorine’s ability to penetrate your hair, always wet strands in the shower before you get into a pool and immediately wash your hair to remove the salt and chlorine that is left behind after you return from the beach or the pool.