How to Maintain Vibrant Color Between Salon Visits

After investing your time and money into the perfect hair color, you want to keep it fresh and vibrant for as long as possible. While that may take some dedication and some forming of new habits, vibrant hair can stay like-new for much longer than you expect. Check out our advice on how to maintain your beautiful and vibrant color between salon visits. 

Choose the right products:

One of the most crucial steps to maintaining color is choosing the right products that will aid in its upkeep. Being aware of what products you use on your hair is especially important for people with colored hair, as chemicals in shampoos and conditioners can often strip your hair of all the bright color that you love.

According to theeverygirl.com, “Sodium laureth sulfate, also known as sodium laureth ether sulfate, is a type of anionic detergent that is found in many personal care products. This ingredient is used to help produce a foaming effect in your shampoos and conditioners. By using sulfates, you run the risk of stripping your hair of its natural oils and moisture, which can then lead to stripping your beautiful color-treated hair (which you just spent hours and dollars at the hair salon to achieve)”. 

Protect Hair from Sun and Heat

Another important type of products to consider are ones that protect against heat, sun, and other things that can harm your hair and color.  “Heat can strip away color and hydration and lead to damaged hair. To help prevent these problems from happening while using hot tools, try using a heat protectant spray before blow-drying or styling. Heat protectant sprays will help reduce moisture loss from inside the hair, smooth the outside of the hair, and protect your hair from humidity after heat styling, which will help maintain your color.”

Heat changes your hair. From UV rays to styling products, if you want to keep your hair shiny and new, avoiding these things is pivotal. 

As for avoiding styling products like curling irons and straighteners, this is important because it minimizes color loss and maintains the health of your hair. Look into heatless options to do your hair, like rollers, braiding, and letting your hair air dry. 

Minimize contact with chlorine and Hard Water.

When it’s summertime, and the beach and pool are calling to you, make sure to protect your hair while swimming. Avoiding chlorine and hard water because both can strip away color and moisture, leaving you with dry, brittle, and colorless hair. Avoid going underwater completely, or swim with a diving cap. If you do decide to go in the pool or ocean, wash and rinse your hair thoroughly afterward, and follow up with a conditioning treatment to lock in moisture and avoid damage. 

According to USMS.org, there are lots of pivotal steps in protecting your hair from chlorine before and after swimming. 

• “Protect your locks. Prior to jumping in the pool, wet your hair with clean, cool water. When the hair is wet, it can’t absorb as much chlorinated water from the pool, which will limit the effect of the chlorine.
• Coat with conditioner. In addition to wetting your hair, you may also want to apply a pre-swim conditioner, such as Nature’s Prescription, to your hair before you get into the pool. 
• Wear a cap. A swim cap […] creates a physical barrier between your hair and the pool water, reducing the exposure to chlorine.
• Rinse immediately. As soon as you get out of the pool, rinse your hair thoroughly with clean water to remove any chlorine residue.
• Deep condition. Chlorine can be very drying, so to keep your hair looking shiny and healthy, use a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask regularly to restore that lost moisture.”

Seek UV protection. Although chlorine can be tough on your hair, it’s not the only factor that can affect hair color. Sun exposure can also cause fading. To prevent this, reach for hair products or sprays that offer UV protection.

Reduce Hair Washing

Growing up, we learned that every time our hair gets greasy, it needs to be washed. Now that you take care of your own hair, realizing it doesn’t need to be washed every time is a time-saving (and hair-saving) epiphany. When you overwash your hair, not only do you break down the color in your hair, but you also wash away all the good natural oils. “To retain those natural oils […] shampoo just two or three times per week, and never more than every other day.” Focus on your scalp and roots when washing, ensuring your hair is clean and minimizing color loss.