Just like haircuts, coloring your hair can completely alter your look. While it can be really exciting, a lot of us opt out of it owing to the fear of damage the color may cause. While it’s true that any sort of chemical treatment that changes your hair color or structure can cause damage, there are few ways by which you can take care of colored hair, keep them healthy while flaunting a gorgeous color.
How to take care of colored hair?
Coloring your hair makes it more porous which causes your hair to absorb and release moisture more easily. This can cause loss in color every time you wet your hair. Here are few tips to retain as much moisture as possible in your hair hence having a maintaining a good condition to take care of colored hair
#1 Use only quality conditioning hair colors
Before getting your hair colored, ask your stylist to use a professional hair color which has conditioning properties. The natural oils in the hair color would help retain moisture in your color treated hair leaving it shiny and healthy. You can also choose ammonia free hair coloring options.
#2 Choosing your hair color
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While red color looks vibrant, they tend to fade faster and are most susceptible to color loss. As they have the largest molecules, red dyes find it difficult to penetrate the hair and hence dissipate easily. Therefore, many professionals, including the ones at Navidi Hair Company (who are known to be reputed hairdressers in Bridgend), would recommend you to use a good-quality hair color that maximizes the coloring results while causing the least amount of stress to the hair cuticle.
Note that, if you are coloring your hair all by yourself, do not forget to wear Nitrile gloves from the online stores similar to unigloves for hand protection when handling chemicals such as permanent hair dyes. It can protect the wearer from the toxicity of color dyes for up to an hour. Besides, the gloves may prevent the color from wasting as it might get absorbed into your skin.
#3 Shampoo less frequently
To prevent washing your hair color off, wash your hair less often. It is important to retain the natural oils that condition your color treated hair hence shampoo just 2-3 times per week and never more than every alternate day. This will help retain your color while maintaining health of your hair
#4 Use dry shampoo in between washes
Maintain the freshness of your hair by spraying dry shampoo at the roots to soak up oil. Buying a good dry shampoo can increase the time between the washes
#5 Shampoo after 2 days of applying new colour
Ideally you should give your hair at least 48 hours before shampooing, the longer the better. This will allow the colour to settle in better. Freshly coloured hair is vulnerable to bleeding and damage. You can also oil your hair before you wash it to minimize fading
#6 Keep your hair dry in shower
When you aren’t shampooing, keep your hair dry by wearing a shower cap as this can cause some colour to fade. If you don’t have a shower cap, you can tie a loose bun or a ponytail to protect your hair from getting wet.
#7 Use cold water for shampooing
While shampooing, stick to lukewarm or cold water. Warm water can strip the colour of your hair faster as it opens the surface of the hair strand leaving them dry and frizzy.
#8 Use only conditioner
At times, you can skip the shampoo and wash using only a moisturizing conditioner. Shampoo strips more colour from your hair than conditioner
#9 Always use a conditioner
It is very important to condition your hair every time you shampoo. Use a colour protecting conditioner for moisturizing your locks after every wash. If you have thin or fine hair, condition the tips which are the oldest part of your hair and usually the most dry and damaged. Use only colour protecting shampoo and conditioners which will help retain the colour longer, add shine, volume and lustre
#10 Avoid products with sulfates
Shampoos with sulfates can strip colour from hair, so always opt for a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfates contain salt which strip away moisture causing the colour to fade. To ensure that your colour lasts longer and hair remains healthy, invest in some good colour protecting products. Sulfate free shampoos and conditioners form a protective layer around your hair which prevents bleeding. Buy Sulfate free shampoo from here
#11 Avoid clarifying shampoos
Clarifying shampoos are great for deep cleansing and removing dirt build-up from your hair. However they can strip color as they contain high level of detergents. You should avoid using them unless it just before you are getting your hair colored.
#12 Use at-home deep conditioning treatments
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Give your hair extra shine with a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Apply the hair mask from roots to tips, tie it in a bun and wrap it in a soft towel. Leave the treatment for at least 30 minutes before rinsing off with cold water. You will be left with softer and shinier hair
#13 Use leave-in conditioners
Look for leave-in conditioners specifically made to protect color-treated hair. They not only detangle your hair but also protects it from heat if you’re a frequent user of blow dryers, curling or straightening irons.
#14 Use hot-oil treatments
Hot-oil treatments are great to re-moisturize your hair and take care of colored hair. Apply the oil to clean, towel-dried hair and cover your hair with a shower cap or wrap. Apply heat using a hot towel, blow dryer or even by sitting in the sun. After heating, allow the hair to cool to room temperature before rinsing off with cold water
#15 Use styling tools on dry hair
If you use blow dryers or irons, ensure that your hair is completely dry before styling. To take care of colored hair, start with a fortifying leave-in conditioner and finish with a hairspray. If you are using blow-dryer, keep it on the lowest heat setting or use a cool blast instead.
#16 Protect your hair from sun
Sun rays can fade hair color, hence avoid long exposures in the sun irrespective of the season. Many leave-in conditioners and hairsprays have SPF which can provide protection against the UV rays. Wear a hat every time you are going to be in the sun for a long time. You can buy Malibu Clear Hair and Scalp Protector SPF 30,50ml or Toni & Guy Limited Edition Heat Protection Hair Mist, 150ml
#17 Avoid sea or pool
If you are going to the beach for a holiday or spend a lot of time in the pool, wet your hair and apply a protective leave-in conditioner. Chlorine in pool has bleaching effect and can be extremely damaging to your hair color. You can also wear a swim cap instead to keep your hair dry and take care of colored hair.
#18 Avoid coloring too frequently
Frequent coloring can cause irreparable damage to your hair. To take care of colored hair, it is therefore advisable to not color before every five to six weeks between every sitting. When the roots begin to show, use at-home touch up kits, hair mascara or spray-on root concealers to hide grays between treatments.
#19 Avoid overdo of chemicals
If you colour, try to avoid simultaneous perming or relaxing treatments. If you want to do both, ask the stylist for low-ammonia, botanical formulas that can condition the hair while processing.
#20 Regular trimming
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If you hair is damaged or your coloured locks are frizzy, your hair may be damaged. The best way to keep your hair healthy is to get regular cuts or trims. You don’t need to chop all your locks off, but just need enough to keep frayed ends at bay. This would prevent the damage from spreading
#21 Healthy diet for healthy hair
Include a healthy diet to provide energy that fuels hair growth and ensures care of colored hair. Food rich in iron helps build a healthy scalp, improves hair texture and stimulates growth. Consume lean meat, egg whites, fish, spinach and soy which are a great source of iron to have a healthy hair. Also include fruits, nuts and grain as snacks between meals. Vitamin C commonly found in citrus fruits is key to a healthy scalp as it help iron absorption. Biotin, an essential B vitamin, strengthens weak hair and improves texture. Biotin is found in carrots, egg yolks, salmon and sardines. You can also take biotin supplements to include it in your diet.
Include the above tips to take care of your colored hair. These would not only help you retain the color longer but can also help restore and maintain the health of your color-treated hair. Let us know how these tips have helped you in the comments section below.