There are more women that color treat their hair than don’t, so that puts us in the majority. That also puts us in the group which makes the most mistakes with our (color treated) hair. These simple tips can help you change hair color or color the gray and keep the hair color truer for a longer time.
Water is the Enemy
Water is the biggest enemy color treated hair has, according to ELLE magazine, with an estimated 80% of color fade coming from water alone. Shampoo and conditioner have always gotten the blame for color fade, but it’s the water and should be avoided as much as possible to keep hair color lasting longer. Dye strips away the hair shafts lipid layer, which is similar to the protective oil barrier on skin. Without the lipid layer, hair becomes more porous, causing hair to absorb and release water more readily, taking with it a small amount of dye with each absorb/release cycle.
Shampoo hair sparingly and always use a shampoo specially formulated for color treated hair. Use the coldest water you can stand during the shampooing and conditioning sessions and make the sessions as quick as possible. Between washings, use a dry shampoo product to keep hair clean and oil-free.
Clarify Before Dying
Two days before dying hair, use a clarifying shampoo to remove all product buildup on the hair. Every hair product you uses, including shampoos and conditioners, leave something behind, like silicone, waxes and resins. These leave-behinds are attached to the hair shaft and will prevent the dye from adhering to each strand. Using a clarifying shampoo will remove all residual buildup and make each strand ready to receive new color.
For best gray coverage and long lasting color, stay within a few tones of your natural hair color. This will help avoid the dreaded line of delineation where hair color stops and root color shows about three to four weeks after dying. Avoid dying hair red if you want long lasting color, as red fades the quickest due to color composition, according to Good Housekeeping’s Nina Judar.
Use New Hair Care Products
Remember hair color stripes away the lipid layer and changes hair texture, using the same hair care products as you did prior to color treatment can result in color loss and extremely dry hair. Use hair care products designed for color treated hair, they help prevent color fade and keep hair moisturized.
Sources:
ELLE
Good Housekeeping
My Own Experience