There comes a point in every girl’s life where she faces the idea of changing the color of her hair. Whether it’s the start of a new season or just out of pure boredom, coloring your hair can be extremely beneficial to your overall frame of mind. However, it can also be quite challenging and overwhelming if it’s your first time. You need to make sure you take all the correct steps to guarantee your color lasts as long as possible while preserving your hair’s healthiness at the same time.
1. Buy the right shampoo and conditioner: It is really important that you invest in shampoos and conditioners that are sulfate-free. Sulfates are found in most shampoos and they produce suds. You might notice your sulfate-free shampoo won’t lather as much as your typical “Pantene” drugstore brand. Sulfates have the potential to irritate your skin and hair, strip your hair of necessary oils (which will essentially dry your hair out) and can also damage your hair over time. Sulfate-free products will make your color last ten times longer. These products are definitely on the pricier side. However, they will save you more money in the end because you won’t need to re-dye your hair every other week. “Living Proof” and “Bumble & Bumble” make great sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners for color treated hair.
2. Cold water rinse: This might sound painful, but after you finish washing your hair, you’re going to want to rinse it under cold water for a few seconds. That doesn’t mean the rest of your washing should be done under burning hot water. It’s best to rinse in mild water, and at the very end use cold water to coat your hair. Cold water will help protect the color and make it last longer, rather than if you were to only use hot water the whole time.
3. Use a heat protectant: If you are going to be applying any type of hot tools to your hair, you need to use a heat protectant spray to save yourself from damage. A heat protectant protects your hair from moisture evaporation, and enables the color to stay put. There are several inexpensive options to choose from. No matter which one you pick, spray your hair generously with it before you pick up your straightening iron again.
4. Don’t re-dye your hair too often: This will do more bad than good; dying your hair too often will cause major damage. Although you may notice your roots start to fade after a few weeks, try to ignore going back to the salon or buying a new box of dye for a little while longer. If it gets to the point where you just can’t wait anymore, try to deep condition your hair once a week to retain as much moisture as possible.