Coloring your hair does not just involve getting you some dye and randomly putting it on your head then washing it out after an hour. There are multiple steps involved in taking care of colored hair, including different shampoos, conditioners, treatments, sun protection factors, etc., many people do not know these steps so they end up damaging their hair by using the wrong products or forgetting important steps. Without proper hair maintenance, strength is lost which can cause breakage or damage along with thinning or loss of color. Therefore, it is crucial to know exactly how to properly take care of your colored hair.
Chapter Overview
Hair washing
After a few weeks hair starts to feel dirty and greasy, this is because of natural oils that accumulate from the environment or even daily styling which can leave a residue on your hair diminishing color vibrancy. Because chemicals in dye cause dryness after coloring it is best to wash it as little as possible to make your hair color last since washing too much will strip it faster than usual. You also want to avoid hot water because it opens up the cuticle allowing more product to be washed away before it has had time to absorb into the cortex leaving your locks looking dull and lifeless without any shine.
There are ways around this by only shampooing every other day or using clarifying shampoos once a week which will remove build-up on your hair and scalp that can cause dullness. Also, try to use a conditioner every time you wash your hair which will not cause any color loss and leave it feeling soft and looking shiny.
Condition your hair
If you want to make your hair color last longer and protect it from damage or fading, then conditioner has to be a part of your daily routine; better yet, deep conditioner should be used at least once a week. Just like shampooing too much causes color loss, so will not condition your hair enough.
However, this is just the opposite way around because when you do not use enough product, unabsorbed chemicals remain on the cuticle which can cause the color to fade faster than normal making it looks dull and lifeless once again. Applying conditioner after every shower will help replenish moisture and reduce breakage while restoring vibrancy and shine to your locks while strengthening them as well.
Moisturizing and sun protection
This is a must when taking care of colored hair, moisturizing and protecting it from the sun’s harmful rays which can strip color to keep the locks looking fresh for as long as possible. There are specific products to use that will help further protect your dyed hair.
One of the biggest issues that people run into when taking care of their colored hair is sun protection. Besides specific products you can apply to your hair, several different types of arctic fox hair dye offer sun protection as well. This is a very important addition when choosing the coloring for your hair.
It is also essential to not forget about proper moisturization since the chemicals in dyes tend to cause dryness along with heat tools used on dyed hair every day. Conditioner has always been used for this reason but there are now serums out there designed specifically for hair that has been dyed.
Hair treatments
Colored hair needs a little extra TLC to bring it back to life and keep it looking its best. There are different treatments for your colored locks such as deep conditioning, reconstructing masks, anti-breakage serums, and heat protection sprays that can help with keeping color vibrant and strong while also preventing damage from occurring due to common factors such as brushing or wearing ponytails too much.
You don’t necessarily have to get all of these kinds of products but you should definitely invest in at least one good treatment product so you can extend the period before you need another dye job done because otherwise, coloring your hair every two weeks will become quite costly and damaging which is never fun!
Styling tools and heat protectors
Heat styling is the leading cause of damage in dye-treated hair. It causes dryness, breaking, and split ends among other things. This can be prevented by using heat-protecting sprays before hitting any heated tools like straighteners or curling irons. Also, owning a good hairspray is another way to protect dyed hair from heat damage since it holds locks in place when used properly.
If you don’t style your hair with these tools often but still want protection then wearing your hair up can save it from getting damaged that day. Plus this helps with maintaining color longer since sun exposure plays a part too. Just remember to take your hair down now and then to keep it from getting too tight.
As you can see, there are many ways to prolong the life of dyed locks by taking proper care of them. Of course, it won’t make a difference if you use a color remover shampoo instead of a clarifying one but at least these tips will help you maintain colored locks after they have been done so they last as long as possible!