Begin by asking your colorist to use a professional hair color with conditioning properties. Hair color with oils will help retain moisture in your color-treated hair and leave it looking shiny and healthy.
2. Shampoo Your Color-Treated Hair Less Frequently
To prevent washing away your vibrant color, wash your hair less often. Research suggests that 80% of the reason color fades is water. Shampoo 2-3 times per week, and never more than every other day. This will help your color last longer and help maintain health in your colored hair.
3. After Coloring, Wait 2 Days Before You Shampoo
When you color your hair, wait at least 48 hours to shampoo, preferably longer. If you can go 3 or 4 days before shampooing, that is even better. This will give the color plenty of time to set.
4. Turn Down Water Temperature When Shampooing Color-Treated Hair
When you shampoo, stick to lukewarm or cooler water temperatures. Super-hot water leeches dye out of hair faster and strips the color.
5. Product Usage Matters on Color-Treated Hair
What you put on your hair will make a difference in the longevity of the color and the long-term health of your hair. Dyed hair requires special attention, so invest in salon-grade products formulated for colored hair. Using color-protecting shampoos and treatments can help protect color and add shine.
6. Keep in Mind a Basic Rule
Plan ahead. If you're trying to lighten your hair a whole bunch, consider the fact that your hair will become much dryer than you're used to. Be willing to change your hair-care routine for the very best care and results for your hair.
7. Apply Leave-In Treatments to Protect Color-Treated Hair
Using a leave-in conditioning treatment can help detangle your hair and protect it from heat tools, the elements and other damaging forces. Look for leave-in conditioners that are formulated to protect color-treated hair. This is particularly important if you frequently use blow dryers, curling, or straightening irons or if you spend a lot of time in the sun.
8. Avoid Chlorinated Water on Color-Treated Hair
If you spend much time in a swimming pool, wet your dyed hair and apply a protective leave-in conditioner before you get wet to help prevent the chlorine from damaging your color, because the chemicals in chlorine can build up and cause hair color – especially lighter colors – to shift to an unattractive hue. Or, wear a swim cap to keep your hair dry.
9. Don’t Process Your Hair Too Frequently
Too much of a good thing can become a bad thing, and that includes hair color. Coloring your hair too often can cause damage so don’t color more than once every five to six weeks. If you color, try to avoid perming or relaxing.
10. Get into glazes (aka toner or gloss)
This demi-permanent salon process does for hair what a topcoat does for nails or a clear gloss does for your lips — it adds instant shine. Lighter color, in particular, dulls more quickly than any other color and can benefit from this boost. You should visit the salon every 4 weeks for a quick toning session.