6 Tips for Maintaining Vibrant Hair Color

Keep in Mind That Some Colors Fade Quicker

No matter how hard you try to keep your hair from fading, some colors fade quicker than others, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Colors that have a red base (for example, magenta or deep pink) normally stain the hair more and last longer than blue or green. Of course, much depends on the quality of the dye you use; a high-quality blue dye is likely to last longer than a cheap red one.

When deciding on the color your choose, consider how it will fade. For example, pinks fade to peach, purples fade to silver, and blue fades to gray. And all these colors can look gorgeous on you! So when you choose the dye, think about the entire palette and not only about the brightest end of the spectrum.

Forget About Hot Showers

Bright pigments usually don’t penetrate all the way to the hair cortex and tend to stay closer to the cuticle (the outermost layer of the hair). Hot water opens the cuticle and washes away the pigment, making the color fade quicker. To keep your hair bright, wash it with warm or lukewarm water that won’t open the cuticle so much. In fact, the water should be as cold as you can stand.

Use Sulfate-free Shampoos

Harsh surfactants like sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS/SLES) also open the hair cuticle and make the hair fade faster. If you have brightly colored hair, opt for mild sulfate-free shampoos and don’t shampoo too often. Once, maximum twice a week will be enough unless you have very greasy hair. You can also try co-washing (conditioner-only washing) to protect your hair from surfactants. Dry shampoo will help when you need to freshen your hair.

Protect Your Hair

UV radiation destroys the pigment in your hair, making the color fade faster. To protect your hair from the sun, always wear a hat when in the sun and use styling products with UV protection. You should also protect your hair from chlorine in the pool water by wearing a cap, as well as avoid hot styling and blow drying as much as you can because high temperatures are dangerous for vivid hair color.

Add Some Dye to Your Conditioner

If you think that your hair color fades too quickly, add some colorant that you’ve used to dye your hair into your conditioner or hair mask and leave it on your hair for some time. The longer you leave it, the better. However, you should be prepared that this may lead to permanent stains on your towels and pillowcases. By the way, some manufacturers of hair dyes produce complementary tinted conditioners specifically to help consumers maintain their color.

Keep Your Hair Healthy

Good color starts with healthy hair. Dry, dull, damaged hair doesn’t hold pigment well and fades easily. Make sure to use high-quality bleach when your dye your hair (unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to get your hair colored bright without bleaching it first, unless you’re a blonde with very fair hair) and make sure that your hair is nourished and hydrated at all times. Hair masks and repair products with protein are your best friends! If your hair tends to have split ends, trim them regularly to make your hair look neat.