Hair care for colored hair is like tending to a delicate garden – it needs the right attention, products, and timing to truly flourish. Whether you’ve opted for bleached, dyed, or treated hair, giving it some extra nurture and attention is essential. If you’re someone who loves rocking bold and funky hair colors but worries about color fading, this article is for you.
Here’s the thing about hair color maintenance routine daily care – it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. The secret lies in understanding what your colored hair actually craves and giving it exactly that. We’re about to unveil the secrets to effective hair care that will help you preserve your hair color and keep your tresses in excellent condition. From proper washing techniques to heat protection and moisture-boosting strategies, we’ve got you covered with expert tips and recommendations.
Pre-Color Preparation: Setting Yourself Up for Success
Caring for colored hair actually begins before dye even touches your strands. Here’s what most people don’t realize – the better your hair’s condition before coloring, the longer your color will last and the healthier your hair will remain.
Two months before coloring:
- Begin applying oils and hair masks for deep hydration
- Get regular trims to remove split or dry ends
- Minimize heat styling or always use heat protectant
- Consider your hair’s porosity level (this affects how color takes and fades)
If you’re planning to bleach, apply a nourishing hair mask the night before to create a protective barrier.
Keeping Your Color Vibrant and Healthy
Be careful with hairwashing
When it comes to caring for colored hair, proper washing techniques play a vital role. Here’s where most people go wrong – they treat freshly colored hair the same as regular hair. Big mistake!
Experts recommend being cautious with hairwashing immediately after coloring. It is advised to wait at least 72 hours before washing your hair. This waiting period allows the cuticle layer to fully close, ensuring that the color molecules are effectively trapped within the hair shaft. Think of it like a freshly painted wall – you wouldn’t touch it before it’s completely dry, right?
By postponing that first wash, you can help your color last longer. Additionally, it is crucial to use shampoos and conditioners specifically formulated for colored hair. These products are designed to be gentle and nourishing while protecting the color from fading. For instance, SuperPlex Keratin Bonder Shampoo is ideal for colored, bleached, and highlighted hair.
The good news? Once you get past that initial waiting period, maintaining your color becomes much easier. The key is establishing a routine that protects color treated hair from fading right from the start.
Water Temperature: The Game Changer
Here’s something that can make or break your color longevity – water temperature. Hot water is like kryptonite for colored hair. When you wash with hot water, it opens up the hair cuticles and literally washes your color down the drain.
Switch to lukewarm or cool water for washing and rinsing. Cool water seals the cuticles, locking color in. If you can’t give up your steamy showers entirely, at least keep your hair out of the direct hot water stream. Try ending with a cool water rinse to seal everything in place.
Occasionally replace shampoo with dry shampoo
In addition to proper washing techniques, incorporating dry shampoo into your hair care routine can be beneficial for colored hair. Chemicals present in hair colors make your hair more vulnerable, and frequent washing can lead to color fading.
Here’s what most colorists won’t tell you – washing colored hair every day is like putting your investment through a shredder. To reduce the frequency of washing your hair, consider using a dry shampoo once a week as an alternative. Dry shampoo absorbs excess oil and refreshes your hair without the need for water. A cult favorite, Batiste dry shampoo, offers a great combination of affordability and quality.
The trick is to apply dry shampoo before your hair gets oily, not after. This proactive approach keeps your style fresh and extends the time between washes.
Avoid hot styling tools after coloring your hair
Heat can be damaging to colored hair, so it’s important to be mindful of your styling tools. After coloring your hair, it is advisable to avoid using a hairdryer, as the heat can strip the hair of moisture and cause color fading. Instead, opt for a gentle towel blotting technique and allow your hair to air-dry whenever possible.
But let’s be real – sometimes you need to style your hair. When you do use heat-styling tools such as straighteners or curling irons, applying a heat-protecting spray beforehand is crucial. HSI PROFESSIONAL Heat Protector, enriched with argan oil, not only protects your hair from heat damage but also leaves it smooth, shiny, and strong. Using lower heat settings on your styling tools can also help minimize damage and preserve the vibrancy of your hair color.
The secret most people miss? Apply heat protection for dyed hair styling to slightly damp hair, not bone-dry hair. This creates a better barrier and distributes the product more evenly. Also, never skip the cool shot button on your blow dryer – that final blast of cool air seals everything in place.
Moisture-boost your hair ….often
Colored hair tends to become dry and delicate due to the chemical processes involved. Here’s what happens during coloring that most people don’t realize – the chemicals lift the hair cuticles to deposit color, which makes hair more porous and prone to dryness. Therefore, maintaining moisture is essential for keeping your hair healthy and preserving the color.
To moisturize your colored hair effectively, opt for conditioners specifically formulated for colored hair. These conditioners help create a protective barrier that locks in moisture and prevents color fading. Additionally, incorporating leave-in conditioners, hot oils, or hair masks into your routine can provide your hair with extra nourishment.
Olaplex products, such as Olaplex N6, are highly regarded for their ability to strengthen, hydrate, moisturize, and improve blow-dry times. These bonding treatments are known to bring about dramatic changes in the appearance and health of colored hair.
Pro tip: Apply your deep conditioning treatments for vibrant color on slightly damp hair, not soaking wet. This helps the product penetrate better without getting diluted. Weekly deep conditioning becomes non-negotiable for colored hair – think of it as a weekly spa treatment for your strands.
Don’t over-expose your hair to the sun
The sun’s UV rays can be detrimental to colored hair, causing color fading and dryness. Think of UV rays as tiny color thieves – they break down the color molecules in your hair bit by bit. When spending time outdoors, it’s important to protect your colored hair by wearing a hat or using hair spray with SPF. This will help shield your hair from the damaging effects of the sun and maintain the vibrancy of your color.
COOLA Organic Scalp Spray & Hair Sunscreen Mist With SPF 30
By taking this simple precaution, you can extend the life of your hair color and keep it looking fresh and vibrant. During summer months, consider using a leave-in treatment with UV protection for daily defense.
Swimming Pool Protection Strategy
Chlorine is basically chemical warfare against colored hair. It strips color, causes dryness, and can even turn blonde hair green. Before diving in, wet your hair with clean water and apply a leave-in conditioner or oil to create a barrier. This prevents your hair from absorbing as much chlorinated water.
Don’t dry your colored hair with a regular towel
Drying your colored hair with a regular towel can lead to damage and breakage due to the coarse texture and dryness of the fabric. To minimize these risks, it is advisable to switch to a microfiber hair wrap. This gentle alternative quickly absorbs excess moisture from your hair without causing frizz or damage. By using a microfiber hair wrap, you can protect the integrity of your colored hair and maintain its health and shine.
Instead of vigorously rubbing your hair (which creates friction and fading), gently squeeze and blot sections of your hair. Work from the roots down to the ends, never against the hair cuticle.
Use castor oil as a hair mask for colored hair
For added nourishment and hydration, incorporating natural oils into your hair care routine can work wonders for colored hair. Castor oil, in particular, is known for its nourishing and moisturizing properties. Applying organic Castor Oil as a leave-in mask for at least 20 minutes or overnight can help revitalize and strengthen your colored hair. However, keep in mind that you may need to shampoo your hair multiple times to remove the oil completely. To maximize the benefits, consider conditioning your hair with a conditioner 30 minutes before showering.
The beauty of natural oils is that they not only moisturize but also form a protective coating around each hair strand, helping to seal in color and prevent fading.
Before coloring your hair use a clarifying shampoo
Before coloring your hair, it is essential to create a clean canvas for the hair dye to adhere to. This is where a clarifying shampoo comes in. Clarifying shampoos are specifically formulated to remove impurities and buildup from your hair, ensuring a clean surface for the hair dye. The ACURE Curiously Clarifying Shampoo, for instance, is 100% vegan and gently removes buildup without stripping your hair of its natural oils. By incorporating a clarifying shampoo into your hair care routine, you can optimize the results of your hair coloring process.
ACURE Curiously Clarifying Shampoo
Think of it as preparing a wall before painting – the cleaner the surface, the better the color will take and the longer it will last.
Avoid using hair gels, hair sprays, and hair mousse in your colored hair
Certain hair styling products, such as gels, sprays, and mousses, can affect the vibrancy of your colored hair, particularly if it is blonde. These products can make the color appear paler and contribute to dryness. The culprit? Many styling products contain alcohol, which is extremely drying and can cause color to fade faster.
Therefore, it is advisable to limit the usage of gels, waxes, and mousses to special occasions. By reducing your reliance on these products, you can prevent unnecessary damage and maintain the health of your colored hair.
When you do need styling products, look for alcohol-free formulations designed specifically for colored hair.
The Power of Using a Sulfate Free Shampoo for Colored Hair
Not all shampoos are created equal when it comes to colored hair. Using a sulfate free shampoo for colored hair becomes crucial because sulfates are harsh detergents that strip color with every wash. They’re like tiny scrub brushes that remove not just dirt, but your expensive color too.
Look for gentle, color-safe formulations that cleanse without stripping. Your hair will feel just as clean, but your color will last weeks longer.
Use color preservatives between your hair coloring appointments
To keep your hair color looking fresh between coloring appointments, using color-preserving products is highly recommended. Professional brands offer specialized series designed for different hair colors. For instance, restorative shampoos for blondes help eliminate unwanted yellow tones, resulting in a beautiful silver color. The Matrix purple shampoo is a popular and affordable option for maintaining vibrant blonde hair.
Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo
Here’s the insider secret – use purple shampoo only 1-2 times per week. Overuse can actually deposit too much purple pigment, making your hair look ashy or dull.
Color-Specific Care Strategies
Red Hair: Extra TLC Required
Red hair dye has the largest color molecules, making it both beautiful and challenging to maintain. Red molecules don’t penetrate as deeply into the hair shaft, so they wash out more easily than other colors.
Red hair maintenance essentials:
- Wash only once per week maximum
- Use color-depositing treatments between salon visits
- Extra protection from sun and heat
- Consider adding a few drops of red dye to regular conditioner for color refreshing
Blonde Hair: Fighting the Brass
Blonde hair faces unique challenges, particularly unwanted yellow or orange tones that develop over time. These brassy tones occur when underlying warm pigments start showing through as the blonde color fades.
Blonde maintenance strategy:
- Purple shampoo 1-2 times per week to neutralize yellow tones
- Blue-based products to counteract orange tones
- Extra UV protection to prevent sun-induced brassiness
- Regular toning treatments every 6-8 weeks
Understanding Your Hair’s Porosity
Here’s something most people don’t know – your hair’s porosity level affects how it holds color. High porosity hair (often the result of previous chemical processing) absorbs color quickly but also releases it just as fast. Low porosity hair takes longer to absorb color but holds it longer.
If you have high porosity hair, you’ll need more frequent color-depositing treatments and heavier moisturizers. Low porosity hair benefits from lighter products and less frequent deep treatments.
Advanced Maintenance Strategies
Seasonal Adjustments
Your colored hair’s needs change with the seasons. Summer calls for extra UV protection and lighter moisturizing products, while winter demands richer, more intensive treatments to combat dry air and indoor heating.
During humid months, focus on anti-frizz products that don’t weigh hair down. In dry seasons, amp up the deep conditioning treatments and consider overnight oil treatments.
The Weekly Color Maintenance Ritual
Establish a weekly routine that keeps your color looking salon-fresh:
- Sunday Reset: Deep conditioning treatment or oil mask
- Wednesday Refresh: Dry shampoo application and gentle styling
- Friday Prep: Color-depositing treatment if needed
This routine ensures your hair gets consistent care without overwhelming it with products.
If you are a hair care enthusiast don’t forget to read our article on “Habits for strong and healthy hair”
The Bottom Line
Taking proper care of colored hair is crucial for preserving the vibrancy and health of your locks. By incorporating the tips and techniques mentioned in this article into your hair care routine, you can ensure that your hair color lasts longer and maintains its radiance. From being cautious with hairwashing to avoiding excessive heat styling, maintaining moisture, protecting against sun exposure, and using color-preserving products, each step contributes to the overall health and longevity of your colored hair.
Remember, colored hair is a commitment, but it’s one that pays dividends in confidence and style. With the right care approach, your color can look salon-fresh for weeks longer than you ever thought possible. The key is treating your colored hair like the investment it is – with care, consistency, and the right products for the job.
By following these hair care practices, you can enjoy your bold and funky hair colors while keeping your hair looking its best. Your future self (and your wallet) will thank you for taking the time to care for your colored hair properly from day one.
