Everything You Need to Know to Make Bright Hair Last Longer
After scrolling through pictures of geode hair, rainbow hair, and graffiti hair, it’s natural to have been tempted to take the rainbow plunge. Vivid hues are the trend du jour, letting you show off your personality in unforgettable shades and styles. But with the commitment to color comes the added pressures of daily maintenance. At-home care is the most important part of keeping your tresses looking as fly as they did when you stepped out of the salon. We spoke with Emma Bushey, Aveda Master Stylist at Kay Gregory Salon, about what it takes to keep next-level locks looking fresh and healthy.
1. Go dark and finish with a gloss. To start, Bushey recommends beginning with a tone that’s one shade darker than the hue you’re after, because some of the color will wash out during your first few washes. “The color you see after you wash it multiple times is the shade that will stay the longest,” Bushey tells Brit + Co. Another way to seal in your freshly dyed shade is to finish off with a gloss. “A color gloss will also protect your color and extend its vibrancy,” Bushey advises. Plus, it’ll make your processed hair softer and smoother, so you don’t have a dull look and feel to your mane.
2. Invest in color-safe shampoo and conditioner. “A high-quality shampoo and conditioner that actively protects your color is so key,” says Bushey. When choosing a color-safe shampoo and conditioner, make sure that the product is sulfate-free so it won’t strip your gorgeous hue. A duo like the Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color ($44) and Oribe Conditioner for Beautiful Color ($46) is a solid set that will keep your pigmented locks looking freshly dyed.
3. Use a daily color protector. Harsh processing is just as bad for the longevity of your color as it is for the integrity of your hair. If your tresses are feeling extra parched, it’s best to apply a leave-in conditioner that’ll protect your strands like Aveda Color Conserve Daily Color Protect ($24).
4. Avoid over-washing by using dry shampoo. Don’t wash your hair every day if you can avoid it, Bushey says. Too much cleansing will strip your hair of its natural oils that keep your locks long, strong, and healthy. Spray or shake in an oil-sopping dry shampoo at night to help with absorption — this is a total game changer for your hair — trust!
5. Limit hot tools. As much as we love styling with hot tools, they can wreak havoc on colored hair. When dealing with trending tones, use a heat protecter like Drybar Hot Toddy Heat & UV Protectant ($30) to add a helpful layer to fight breakage caused by heat up to 450 degrees (!). Beyond damaging styling tools, this product blocks your hair from absorbing harmful UV rays. If you must use a hot tool, choose wisely. “You’ll want to use irons and wands that have temperature settings and not just an on and off setting,” says Bushey. The lower the temperature of your heat tools, the better chance your hair color has at lasting.
6. Wash your hair with cool, filtered water. When cleansing, back away from the temperature knob. “Washing with cooler water will help to protect the integrity of the color,” Bushey explains. Another factor in hair color longevity is the filter in your shower. Adding a filter to your shower head like the Sprite Universal Handheld Shower Filter ($25) can cut down on mineral deposits like iron and lime, which are harsh on dyes.
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