While the salon offers fantastic hair coloring services, the challenge lies in maintaining the vibrancy of your newly colored locks. What you truly need are some simple do-it-yourself hair color tips to keep your hair looking fabulous without breaking the bank. When you color your hair, you’re exposing it to chemicals that can lead to dryness, damage, and breakage. Moreover, without proper care, your color-treated hair may lose its shine and vitality over time. However, with a bit of dedication, the right hair color products, and consistent effort, you can proudly showcase your colored hair for an extended period of time
In this article, we have listed easy and simple hair care tips so you can keep your tresses healthy and protected. Keep reading to learn more!
10 Tips on How To Take Care of Colored Hair at Home
The internet is full of the latest hair color trends, and each trend is better than the next. However, there are very few platforms that talk about hair color maintenance. We are here to share our expert tips with you, which will ensure the longevity of your hair color.
1. Allow a Three-Day Grace Period Before Washing Newly Colored Hair
Give your freshly colored hair some time to settle; refrain from washing it for at least 72 hours after applying the color to prevent premature fading. The chemical processes involved in hair coloring leave the hair cuticles exposed and vulnerable to potential damage. Hair dyes undergo chemical alterations to the hair structure, resulting in increased porosity and susceptibility to damage during this initial period.
2. Opt for a color-protectant shampoo
Your choice of shampoo holds significant sway over the vibrancy of your hair color. Opt for a shampoo specifically designed for color-treated hair when washing your locks. These specialized formulas not only shield your strands but also maintain a healthy pH balance. By using color-safe shampoos, you safeguard your hair’s hue, preventing premature fading. Additionally, they boast hydrating and nourishing components, replenishing and revitalizing your hair. Steer clear of shampoos containing harsh additives like sulfates and alcohols, as they tend to strip away both color and moisture from your locks.
3. Shampoo Your Color-Treated Hair Less Frequently
To maintain the vibrancy of your color-treated hair, it’s advisable to reduce the frequency of shampooing. Washing your colored hair too frequently can lead to the gradual leaching of dye and the fading of your color. Moreover, frequent washing strips away the natural oils that nourish your hair, resulting in dryness, dullness, and a lackluster appearance. By shampooing less often, you can help retain the intensity of your hair color while preserving its natural oils, ultimately keeping your locks looking vibrant and healthy.
4. Use Dry Shampoo
Maintaining hygiene is non-negotiable, even on days when you’re not washing your hair. Opt for a color-safe dry shampoo to absorb excess grease, dirt, and product residue, refreshing your hair in between washes. This handy solution effectively removes grime and buildup without the risk of stripping away your hair color, preserving its vibrancy and health despite the frequency of shampooing.
5. Condition your colored hair
To maintain the vibrancy of your colored-treated hair, it’s essential to incorporate conditioner into your shampoo routine, ensuring that it is specifically formulated to be color-safe. These specialized conditioners create a protective shield around each hair strand, effectively sealing the cuticles and retaining moisture. This process not only enhances shine, volume, and luster but also leaves your hair feeling soft, healthy, and glossy.
6. Limit exposure to damp hair
To preserve your hair color, steer clear of lengthy showers or humid environments, as moisture can cause fading. Opt for a shower cap during bathing sessions and minimize wetting your hair unnecessarily. Shield your locks from humidity with specialized serums, particularly during rainy weather. These steps help safeguard your hair’s vibrancy and ensure your color lasts longer.
7. Avoid high temperature
Consider choosing cool or lukewarm showers instead of hot water, as excessive heat can harm and diminish the vibrancy of color-treated hair. This caution extends to the use of heat-styling tools like curling irons, hair straighteners, and blow dryers. The intense heat from these tools can compromise the outer protective layer of your hair by opening up the cuticle, leading to color fading and damage. Prioritize the use of a thermal protectant hair serum or spray whenever styling your hair to shield it from potential heat damage and maintain its health and color.
8. Use Deep Conditioning Treatments To smooth And Add Luster To Colored Hair
For added brilliance, indulge your color-treated hair strands once per week with a luxurious deep-conditioning session. Apply the treatment generously to damp hair, ensuring full coverage from roots to ends. Gather your hair into a bun and secure it with pins or wrap it snugly in a soft towel, allowing the treatment to penetrate deeply for 30 minutes. After rinsing, revel in the result: hair that’s noticeably softer and glossier.
An additional consequence of coloring your hair is the protein damage it incurs (1). Recognize the signs of protein deficiency in your hair when it becomes prone to stretching and breakage, perhaps feeling limp when wet. The remedy lies in replenishing your hair’s protein levels. Whether opting for off-the-shelf protein treatments or homemade hair masks, nourishing your hair with protein is the key to restoring its strength and vitality.
9. Apply Leave-In Treatments To Protect Color-treated Hair
Leave-in conditioners typically contain silicones, which create a protective barrier around the hair shaft. This barrier serves to reduce sun damage and tame frizz that may occur after styling. Additionally, these conditioners act as a shield against the harmful effects of heat styling tools, preventing hair damage. Apart from these benefits, using a leave-in conditioning treatment aids in detangling hair and shielding it from environmental stressors. Opt for leave-in conditioners specifically designed to preserve color-treated hair, especially if you frequently use heat styling tools or are regularly exposed to heat or sunlight.
10. Apply A Hot Oil Treatment To Add Shine To Color-Treated Hair
Elevate your hair care routine with simple yet effective hot oil treatments that can be easily done at home, leaving color-treated hair radiant and vibrant. Begin by applying the warm oil to freshly cleaned, towel-dried hair, ensuring thorough coverage, and then cap it off with a shower cap. Intensify the treatment by applying heat, whether through a hot towel, a blow dryer, or basking under the sun’s rays. Once treated, allow your hair to cool down to room temperature before rinsing off the oil with a refreshing splash of cool water. While nourishing hair packs can work wonders for hair health, integrating regular oiling is essential for maintaining luscious locks . Whether it’s a nightly oil application washed off in the morning or a quick hot oil treatment, no hair care regimen is complete without this nurturing step.
