How to Maintain At-Home Hair Color
Switching up hair color has been one of the biggest beauty trends of 2014. We saw a lot of celebs rocking all sorts of shades: grays, purples, and reds galore. While I normally save drastic changes for the salon professionals, there are a lot of new at-home solutions available that can quench our color cravings.
However, maintaining a dye job done at home can be challenging. Miguel Garcia, International Artistic & Education Director from Revlon Professional, has some tips on how to make your hair color last— whether you’re going with a bold, all over change or just want to add highlights.
“Wash hair with cold or lukewarm water instead of hot water.”
In general, the more you wash your hair, the faster your color will fade. When you do wash your hair, try using cold or lukewarm water. Hot water makes your hair porous, allowing dye to wash out more quickly. Hot temperatures can also dry out your hair, eliminating shine. Limit your washes to twice a week if you can— dry shampoo is your best friend!
“Always use color-preserving shampoo for color-treated hair.”
Many regular shampoos contain sulfates and other cleansing agents that strip the hair of dirt and oils, but also moisture and color. Color-safe shampoos are gentle, omitting alcohol and other damaging agents while often being moisturizing as well. When in doubt, just watch out for and avoid ingredients that end in sulfate, sulfonate, sulfoacetate, sarcosinate, and sulfosuccinate.
“Try to avoid chlorine.”
Exactly why many blondes lament after a swim in the pool, chlorine has the ability to change the appearance of your hair color (along with the chemicals drying and damaging your tresses). The bacteria-killing substance is powerful in lifting color from your hair, and should be avoided after a dye job. If you can’t help from taking a dip, go in with already soaking wet hair— it will help prevent the absorption of pool water. Also make it a point to immediately rinse your hair after getting out. Try protecting products like 12 Benefits Hair Treatment for an extra barrier against damage.
“Use products with sunscreen protection.”
I’ve mentioned how to protect your hair from the sun during summer, but this is extra important when you’ve dyed your hair. The sun will fade your hair color like it fades paint on an old house. Just like you should be protecting your skin from sun damage, everyone should also be vigilant in doing the same for their hair.
Have you done a hair color change this year?
Ion makes a great line of after-color hair treatments that I’ve been liking lately. I’ve dyed my hair many different shades of red but it’s a really difficult color to keep vibrant. A few months ago I found a red that I loved more than any I’d ever tried and have since vowed to keep up with dying it this color. I’ve been using the Ion products (I find them at Sally’s) and they’ve been working pretty well!
I definitely agree with the cold water, it’s helped tremendously. The easiest way I’ve found to do it without freezing yourself from head to toe is to shampoo and then rinse with the coldest water you can stand, then condition, and let it sit in your hair, put your hair up in a bun or clip or whatever otherwise will keep it out of the way while you do the rest of your shower routine. Then rinse at the very end of your shower with your head upside-down in cold water so that the showerhead is only hitting your head and not the rest of you. If you’re chilly once you’re done rinsing, just put your hair back up, blast yourself with some warm water and warm yourself right back up without it having to hit your hair!! I’ve actually done the hair-in-a-clip thing in the shower for so long that on the off chance that I’m somewhere out of town and don’t have my clip I kind of freak out in the shower! LOL! 🙂
Awesome tips, Jamie! I would just wash my hair in the sink. I chill easily!
Also not washing your hair all the time too helps, specially if your a red head. Dry shampoo will be your best friend !
Yes, I’ve heard red is the hardest color to maintain!
Washing with cool water definitely helps, but sometimes I can’t bear it! Brrrrrr!
That’s when you do it in the sink instead of the shower 😉
thank you for the tips
You’re welcome! Do you color your hair at home often?
hi,yes I got premature grey so I have too. I a only 33, I used henna but last I was tired of it , too sticky, I wasn’t able to apply properly, no I have a one who is prepared liquid, no ammonia or peroxide, I buy a shade lighter than my hair so it looks like I have highlights.