Seven Ways to Maintain the Health of Your Dyed Hair and Keep Color Vibrant

You regularly spend a small fortune to get the perfect hair color -- but then it inevitably starts to fade! So, the big question is, how can you make your hair color last longer? While you can’t keep hair color from fading forever, you can help it last longer with proper maintenance and care. Here are seven tips for keeping your hair color on point between every salon touchup.

 

Seven Ways to Maintain the Health of Your Dyed Hair and Keep Color Vibrant

 

You regularly spend a small fortune to get the perfect hair color -- but then it inevitably starts to fade! So, the big question is, how can you make your hair color last longer? While you can’t keep hair color from fading forever, you can help it last longer with proper maintenance and care. Here are seven tips for keeping your hair color on point between every salon touchup.

 

Use Color-Safe Hair Products 

 

When you color your hair, the shampoo and conditioner you choose make a huge difference. Look for low pH formulas like the shampoo and conditioner in the Biolage Color Last Collection, as they gently cleanse and prolong Day 1 hair color tone for up to 40 washes without stripping color of the hair. A stable pH level ensures that the hair cuticle, which acts as a protective barrier, lies flat and remains undisturbed, thereby preserving color longevity and maintaining shine. The collection’s special color care concentrate is also micro-dosed with a combination of filtered Soybean Oil and Stearic Acid which nourishes and preserves your color by shielding your hair from damage. Products like these are thus less likely to strip away natural oils, which are essential for maintaining moisture and shine!

 

Avoid Over-Washing and Use Cool Water 

 

Frequent washing strips the hair of its natural oils, which are essential for locking in color. This not only causes the color to fade faster but also leaves the hair looking dull and lifeless. Using hot water will especially allow the surface cuticle of each hair strand to open up, further allowing hair color to escape from the deeper layers. This is especially true of red hair color molecules, which tend to be larger and therefore more difficult to absorb and retain. So try to shampoo and condition your hair with lukewarm water, and rinse with cool water to keep your hair color as fresh looking as possible, for as long as possible.

 

Incorporate Hydrating Treatments and Hair Masks 

 

Using deep-conditioning treatments regularly are essential for maintaining the vibrancy of dyed hair because they provide the necessary moisture that colored strands often lack. The added hydration helps to seal the hair cuticle, protecting color pigments from washing out. Leaving hair incredibly soft, shiny and locked in with moisture, the Hydra Source Deep Treatment Mask from Biolage instantly nourishes hair to provide 5x more hydration after one use. Apply to wet hair and leave in for 3-5 minutes and rinse to reveal softer, healthier hair with less breakage.

 

Boost  Shine

 

Shine is important for all hair colors but especially for reds and brunettes. One of the best ways to keep your hair color looking shiny is with a multi-tasking leave-in conditioner spray. The All-in-One Multi-Benefit Spray will detangle, protect your hair from UV and heat damage and soften and seal the hair cuticle, all of which enhances hair shine. Plus, since you don’t rinse it out, it stays busy all day long!

 

Air Dry More and Blow Dry Less 

 

Modern thermal tools get super-hot—that’s how they get the job done—but those high temperatures cause hair to become dry and brittle, which in turn causes your hair color to fade. To create a barrier between your hair and heat, it's advisable to apply a high-quality heat protectant like the Biolage Thermal Setting Spray which provides heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also mitigate heat damage by embracing air-drying or using the cool setting on your hair dryer. Although these options will take more time, the trade-off is healthier, more vibrant-looking hair that retains color integrity.

 

Consider Balayage Techniques 

 

Talk to your stylist about getting balayage if you want to lighten up your hair color without committing to frequent root touch ups. These hand-painted highlights are placed several inches away from the scalp, usually off of your part and around your face. As a result, the hair grows out less noticeably, which means fewer touch-ups are needed.  Because your natural hair color remains the same at your roots, you only need to refresh balayage highlights two or three times a year. 

 

Neutralize Brassy Tones of Blonde 

 

Blonde hair over time can become brassy or yellow. This can be due to a number of factors, including too-frequent or incorrect shampooing, exposure to UV light or over-use of hot tools. Purple Shampoos contain violet pigments that counteract these warm tones. Neutralizing with an occasional application of low pH ones like Color Last Purple Shampoo, will help cancel out those unwanted warm tones and restore the desired cool shade.