How to look after colour-treated hair

Just spent a small fortune at the salon? Whether you’ve gone bold with a whole new look or opted for highlights or a glaze, it makes sense that you would want your pretty new hair colour to stay around for a while. But without the proper hair care maintenance, your new shade could easily rinse off your strands. Hold on, don’t fret, with a few tweaks to your hair care routine, you can improve not only the health of your hair but also increase the vibrancy of your new shade for longer.

Don’t wash your hair immediately

Avoid washing your newly coloured hair for at least three days to help the colour really settle into your strands and minimise washout.

Avoid hot showers

A hot shower might feel good after a long day, but hot water can re-open the hair cuticle, allowing colour to escape. Cold water, on the other hand, is much gentler on coloured hair and will prolong the brilliance of the colour.

Reach for products formulated for colour-treated hair

Regular shampoos and conditioners are laden with chemicals that accelerate fading. To help maintain your newly dyed locks and help keep the colour stay vivid and vibrant for longer, opt for shampoo and conditioners designed specifically for colour-treated hair.

Steer away from sulphates

Many over-the-counter products contain sulphates, which are great at keeping hair feeling smooth, but not so great at preserving colour as they are able to penetrate the hair colour and remove colour pigment. To prevent fading, ensure you are using colour-safe hair products that are sulphate-free (and alcohol-free) as they will help your hair hold on to its colour for longer.

Don’t wash your hair every day

Over-shampooing will not only strip hair of oils and colour, but can also make your locks dry, brittle, and damaged. Instead, wash your hair twice or three times a week and if your hair is feeling extra greasy, refresh your scalp with a quick spray of dry shampoo.

Incorporate a conditioning treatment or mask

Dry or brittle hair is more susceptible to colour fading so adding hydration back in is key. Incorporating a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask once a week is vital as all the nourishing ingredients help form a protective barrier, preserving the colour for longer.

Turn down the heat

The heat from your straighteners, curlers, and blow dryers not only damages your hair fibres but is also one of the main culprits of hair colour fading. To increase the time between colour touch-ups, air dry and towel dry your hair as much as you can and opt for heatless hairstyles. But if hot tools are a must, use a lightweight oil or heat protectant prior to styling as this gives the hair a protective barrier and hydrates hair for colour longevity.

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