There’s no better sensation than being salon-fresh. When your hair looks radiant and vibrant after a color treatment, often you feel so too – it’s not uncommon for a trip to the hairdressers to boost your mental well-being. However, as roots begin to show and color begins to fade, we can often feel disheartened over our appearance.
Here are some tips on how to keep your hair color looking fresher for longer.
Wash less frequently
After getting your hair colored, you should wait at least 24 hours before washing it – for optimum results wait for 72. This gives you a chance for the cuticle layer to fully close so any color can’t escape early!
Washing your hair less, in general, is also a good rule to abide by as hair colorant and water are far from best friends. If you really can’t avoid a day without washing your hair, consider dry shampoo and avoid excessive rinsing. You can also buy specific shampoo that is designed for colored hair. These formulas will protect your color, and keep your hair healthy.
Apply semi-permanent hair color
Applying semi-permanent hair color (sometimes referred to as gloss) is an excellent way to conceal roots, grey hair, and give you back that salon-fresh vibrancy.
Containing no ammonia, semi-permanent color is a gentler formula, and can often also include ingredients that will nourish your hair. The color usually lasts up to 12 shampoos, so if you want to preserve your hair color, refer to the previous section about washing your hair less frequently.
Water temperature
Have you ever noticed that your hairdresser usually gives your hair a cool rinse? That’s because hot water isn’t great for your scalp or hair. The heat from the water will cause damage to the cuticle layer, and make your color fade faster.
That’s why it’s better to rinse your hair with cold water. We understand this may be a struggle on those winter mornings, but even reducing the temperature slightly to what you can bear is guaranteed to help.
Avoid heat application
It’s not just hot water that’s bad for your hair, but the heat, in general, can cause damage and ensure your hair color does not maintain that salon-fresh look.
Try to avoid using heat through appliances such as hairdryers, straighteners, or curlers. Have your hair dry naturally, use rollers, or put your hair in a plait overnight to create a wavy effect. If you have frizzy hair that you need to keep in order, try blow-drying your hair straight, but avoid the use of straighteners afterward. That way, you are at least reducing the amount of heat you use on your hair.
UV Filters
Colored hair can also be affected by the sun, causing the pigments in your hair to change color or fade. As color-treated hair is more fragile, it is more prone to the effects of the sun, meaning you may notice a quick change in your hair if you’ve been lounging around for hours.
The best way to protect your hair from the sun is simply to avoid it at its strongest hours. If you cannot avoid direct exposure, it’s important to protect your hair from UV rays, just like you would do with your skin.
Investing in some hair sunscreen will protect your hair from UV rays, and keep your hair healthy and vibrant.
By following these tips, you can keep your salon-fresh finish alive for weeks. Here’s to a good hair day!
