My mom is a hair stylist, which means my hair has been every color of the rainbow. No joke– EVERY color of the rainbow and then some!
My love for colorful hair started in the 4th grade when I asked my mom for golden highlights. My mom worked her magic and gave me golden streaks, which I swore were made out of REAL gold. Ha! Fast forward 2o years and my affliction for rainbow colored tresses has only gotten stronger. In my most recent crazy color adventure, I decided to strip my naturally dark brown hair to nearly platinum blonde, on a quest for smoky stands. I shared my story on how I dyed my hair grey, but getting my hair grey/purple is only a fraction of the investment that goes into having bright colored hair. The real challenge I face everyday is maintaining my brilliant hair color between touch ups.
Maintaining color treated hair can be tricky, especially when it comes to bold colors such as blue, red and all of the other colors found in a bag of Skittles. That’s because these colors are typically semi-permanent pigments that deposit color into your hair, but not deep enough to last for a long period of time. Even maintaining the intensity of salon quality products (which is what I use and recommend) can be difficult to keep after a few washes.
After years of experimenting with bold hair colors, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to squeeze an extra week or two between touch up, while keeping my color vivid for as long as possible. These are some of the best kept beauty secrets that I hold, so I guess that officially makes us hair besties!
Everything You Need To Know About How To Care For Bright Colored Hair To Reduce Fading
Say NO To Sulfates- Sure, sulfates may help you create a luscious lather that scrubs your hair squeaky clean, but they a major foe when it comes to color treated hair. They strip the oils out of your hair, along with your color. Even one wash with a shampoo containing sulfates can be detrimental to your hair color. Make sure to opt for sulfate-free shampoos that are color-safe and designed for color treated hair.
Wash Your Hair With Cold Water- I know, it’s horrible. It really it, but it also really works. Heat opens the hair cuticle allowing your color to fade away. By washing your hair with color water, you help to drastically reduce color loss. They say beauty is pain, right? I guess this is a small sacrifice to maintain your fantasy hair color.
Add a Dash of Color Between Touch Ups- Lately I’ve noticed that people are obsessed with purple shampoo. People are acting like it’s the most cutting edgy product in the hair game. Guess what? It’s not! As a matter of fact, you probably know a grandma or two that has been using it for years to remove brassy tones from their grey/white strands for years. How do you think grandma keeps that snow white hair so good? Just another beauty trick you should nab from your granny, especially if you color your hair purple, grey, or blonde.
I’ve tried a few of the purple shampoos, but I hair to say that the Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo is my favorite! I also use the Conditioner, which deposits a hint of color into my hair every time I use to it to keep up the intensity of my hair color.
If you have rainbow colored strands, you may also want to check out color depositing conditioners like oVertone. They offer a wide range of shades, as well as a variety of intensity levels.
Dry Shampoo Is Your Bestie- The best way to keep your hair color bold and lasting longer is by avoiding washing. Of course you have to wash your hair, but using dry shampoo will help extend the time between each wash, while refreshing your hair. It removes excess oil, odor, and leaves your hair full of volume. I used to hate dry shampoo, but now I’m totally addicted to it. Since I’ve started using dry shampoo, I’ve reduced shampooing to every 7-1o days. Crazy, right?
Treat Your Hair To Some TLC- Color treated hair requires a little extra love, especially if you want that color to last as long as possible. Treat your hair to deep conditioning treatment or a mask regularly to maintain the moisture and integrity of your hair. Also, don’t forget to protect your hair from the damaging effects of the sun by using an leave in conditioner with SPF.
Cut Back On The Heat- Styling tools can dry out your hair and cause fading, so try to reduce your use. If you can’t stand the thought of ditching your curling iron, make sure to always use a heat protector on your hair before styling. If possible, allow your hair to air dry before styling to reduce the amount of heat exposure to your hair.
How do you keep your bright colored hair from fading? Do you have any tips that I missed?
GiGi Eats says
I have purple hair… But man did it fade pretty quickly!!!! WOMP! But your tips will definitely help me when I get it put back in in a WEEKS TIME 🙂
Sahily says
It’s pretty, but it sure doesn’t last long. I wish you luck with your purple strands!