There’s nothing quite like the freshly coloured look of your hair, where hues like blonde, brunette, and red appear vibrant. The ultra-glossy, lustrous, toned, tinted, highlighted, or balayaged tresses can truly transform your appearance. Yet, it’s annoying when this newly-coloured brilliance starts fading. Whether you opt for a DIY approach at home or invest a small fortune in a professional salon, the goal is to make your dye last longer and keep your color looking fresher for more than just a few washes.
To preserve your treasure and maintain beautiful results, you must pamper it with protection against daily stressors like water, shampoo, heat, and the sun. Adding layers of protection can significantly slow the color fading process and help your shade stay bold and vibrant.
Color maintenance requires more than just occasional care; it demands consistent attention to detail. From choosing the right products that are proper for colored hair to avoiding hot water that can rinse the color off your strands and drain its vibrancy, every step matters.
How to Keep Hair Color from Fading? The Quick Answer
Which Hair Colors Usually Fade the Fastest?
When it comes to hair coloring, red hair dye is notorious for fading the fastest. The reason lies in the molecular structure of the red pigments. These molecules are larger on average, making it harder for them to penetrate the hair’s central cortex deeply. This superficial deposit results in a more transient display of color. In contrast, darker colours like mahogany, burgundy, and black tend to stay longer due to their smaller pigments that penetrate more deeply and deposit their colour more firmly.
Does Bleached Hair Fade Like Hair Color?
Bleached hair does fade, but it’s different from how natural hair colour fades. Bleach makes hair more porous, which means it absorbs more water, minerals, and products. This can cause the hair to become duller and develop discolouration or brassiness as the toner washes out, revealing yellow pigments more visibly.
From my own battle with keeping my bleached hair from turning brassy, I’ve learned the importance of using a purple toner and limiting exposure to hard water. These steps help maintain a cleaner, less discolored appearance.
What are the Precautionary Measures to Minimize Hair Color Fading?
To ensure your hair color stays vivid, adopt a hair care routine specifically for color-treated hair. Also, consider our expert level guide to keep your delicate strands vibrant and lifely.
Double Check While Choosing Hair Color
When you’re looking to buy hair dye, especially boxed dye from places like drugstore chains (exceptions L’oreal, Garnier, or Clairol), so it’s crucial to double-check the formula. Popular brands often cater to an average consumer and might not be formulated to penetrate more resistant or coarse hair types, including those pesky grey hairs, as they fade away rapidly.
It is recommended to use hair dyes from a beauty supply store like Sally Beauty Supply, a well-known U.S. chain known for higher quality products often used by salon professionals, which can provide a longer lasting and less damaging result. You can easily use them at home. These dyes are typically designed to last longer, offering long-lasting results with professional-level formulas that cater to coloring your hair with care.
Incorporate Hair Color-Friendly Shampoo/Conditioner
To maintain vibrant and true-to-intended color hair, choosing the right shampoo and conditioner is key. Opt for sulfate-free products designed for color-treated hair. These products help wash and condition your strands without stripping away the color.
Use color-protecting shampoo and Conditioner; they not only cleanse the hair but also keep it softer, shinier, and stronger. Purple Shampoo and Purple Conditioner are excellent for those with lightened locks, helping to neutralize brassy tones and deposit violet pigments that maintain the shade.
Limit Water Exposure
When you’ve just colored your hair, the cuticle layer is often raised, making it easier for dye molecules to escape when the hair gets wet. Water with a neutral pH of 7 can disrupt your hair’s acidic pH, typically between 4.5 and 5.5.
When wet, the cuticles of your hair raise up, making the dye molecules move more freely and fade faster. Keeping cuticles flat by avoiding water helps dye adhere better and prevents color from fading. When showering, opt for a shower cap. This simple accessory keeps your hair dry. Similarly, wearing a swim cap while swimming can hugely reduce color fading.
The natural oils in your hair help protect the color, keeping it sealed within the cuticle. Washing your hair too often strips away these oils, leading to faster fading. Try to refrain from washing your hair more than once every three to four days. To manage oily roots and extend the time between washes, a good dry shampoo can absorb excess oil and leave your hair feeling fresh.
Rinse Your Hair with Cooler Water
Rinsing your hair with cooler or cold water is one of the best ways to keep your color from fading. Cold water helps seal the cuticles, which prevents your colour from bleeding out. If you can’t handle a full cold shower, try using lukewarm water instead of hot water, which can strip your hair and make it dry and dull.
Turning the temperature down during your wash will keep your hair looking vibrant, and your future-self will thank you for it. Even though I love a piping hot shower, I’ve learned that cooler water is much gentler on color-treated hair.
A Big No to Heat Styling Tools
Using heat styling tools like blow dryers, curling irons, and straightening irons can seriously damage your hair and cause your color to fade. I know it’s hard to quit hot tools completely, but even small changes can help.
Start by air drying your hair once a week and reduce the temperature when you do need to use heat. Always apply a heat protectant to reduce damage and protect your cuticle from opening up, which allows color to escape. Taking these baby steps will make a big difference in the long run.
Minimize Sun Exposure
Sun exposure can make your hair fade faster, especially on hot sunny days when the UV rays are strong. Antioxidants like vitamin E in hair products can offer some protection. To keep your hair safe, try avoiding the sun during peak hours or wear a hat to cover your head.
I personally love wearing big-brimmed hats at the beach or a lightweight bandana when jogging to protect my hair from excessive exposure to harmful UV rays that can cause dryness, discoloration, and damage to the pigment.
Protect Your Hair Against Chlorine and Salt Water
If you love swimming in the pool or jumping into the ocean, your color-treated hair could face some serious damage. Chlorine and saltwater are both harsh on dyed strands, as they tend to strip away moisture and cause fading of the tones. A good trick is to saturate your hair with regular water before getting into the water.
This way, your hair absorbs the water and doesn’t soak up too much chlorine or saltwater. Additionally, wearing a swimming cap can create a protective barrier, keeping the harsh elements away from your color-treated locks.
For extra care, use a leave-in conditioner or a hair mask to lock in moisture and minimize the drying and fading effects. After swimming, always rinse your hair with shower water that’s been filtered, especially if you have hard water, to prevent the harsh effects of minerals on your hair.
Avoid Clarifying Treatments or Shampoos
When trying to keep your hair color vibrant, it’s essential to avoid using clarifying shampoos too often. These products are formulated to strip away product buildup and mineral deposits from the scalp and hair, but they can also strip away essential moisture, leaving your hair feeling dry and prone to color fading.
If you live in an area with hard water or well water, these minerals can further cause damage by weighing down your hair with water-insoluble molecules. A water filter in your shower is a lifesaver in such cases, as it can help drain the mineral deposits and prevent any damage from these harsh elements.
Avoid Sulfate and Surfactants
When looking for a shampoo, make sure it is sulfate-free. Sulfates tend to strip your hair of natural oils and can quickly cause color to fade. Using a gentle cleanser, like a Color Protecting Shampoo, can keep your strands feeling moisturized and soft while still cleaning effectively. I’ve personally found that using sulfate-free shampoos makes my hair feel much softer, shinier, and even stronger.
Instead of harsh surfactants, go for a formula that uses mild agents to cleanse your hair without damaging the color. This way, you can maintain the vibrancy of your color without sacrificing healthy-looking hair. The right Conditioner paired with a sulfate-free shampoo can further lock in the moisture and help keep your hair feeling amazing after every wash.
Incorporate Masks and Deep Conditioner Into Your Routine
When it comes to protecting your hair from color fading, the secret often lies in the hydration you provide. A deep conditioning treatment can be a key step in your routine, especially when focusing on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair, which are more susceptible to damage.
A hair mask is a great option, as it penetrates deeper, replenishing lost moisture and helping to keep your strands from becoming dry or brittle. Apply a leave-in mask and let it sit for an hour or so to get the most out of the essence of the ingredients. This step doesn’t just maintain the look of your hair but actually elevates its longevity.
Closing Words
When it comes to keeping your hair color from fading naturally, it’s all about taking the right steps. While you can’t completely stop the fading process, a few simple changes in your routine can keep your hair looking vibrant and healthier for longer. Remember, taking a little extra care in the long run can help you maintain that beautiful, rich color without it fading too quickly.
FAQs
Dive into the world of curls with Farah, a celebrated curly hair expert whose passion and expertise have transformed her into a beacon for those seeking to embrace their natural hair texture. With a vibrant career spanning over a decade, Farah has dedicated herself to the science and art of curly hair, making her an authoritative voice in this niche. Her deep understanding of curly hair’s unique needs and challenges allows her to craft personalized care routines and styles that not only enhance the natural beauty of curls but also promote hair health.