Experimenting with different hair colors may be a lot of fun. There's nothing like returning home from the salon with a fresh set of locks. However, do you feel your color-treated hair is dry and damaged as a result of your continual experimenting? Does your new color, as well as the money you spent on it, go down the drain after a few washes? How do you make sure your hair color lasts as long as possible so you get the most bang for your buck?
In this post, you'll learn how to take care of your dyed hair in the comfort of your own home.
Take Care of Your Colored Hair With These Tips and Tricks
1) Wait Three Days Before You Wash Your Hair
Credit: Envato Elements/
If you don't wait up to three days after coloring your hair, the color will wash off easily. Because of the chemical procedure used in hair coloring, the hair cuticles are left unprotected and vulnerable to harm. Hair colors change the structure of the hair chemically. This type of hair is more porous and prone to damage.
2) Hair Masks
Credit: Envato Elements/ shotprime
Instead of conditioner, use hair masks once a week. You can use any store-bought masks or make your own with natural ingredients like coconut oil or shea butter. Apply the mask to damp hair before covering it with a shower cap. Wait the time specified on the label or in the instructions before rinsing the mask.
Look for masks that are meant for bleached or colored hair. Masks that are nourishing, deep-conditioning, or reparative are also excellent choices.
3) Use a Shampoo and Conditioner That Are Free of Sulfates
Credit: Envato Elements/ BreakingTheWalls
Sulfate is used to give your shampoos and conditioners a foaming effect. When you use sulfates on your hair, you risk stripping it of its natural oils and hydration, which can cause your beautiful color-treated hair to fade.
To prevent your hair color from fading and to protect color-treated hair from damage, use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.
4) Ditch Hair Styling Tools
Credit: Envato Elements/ dolgachov
Colored hair is more prone to damage and is more susceptible to heat. Reduce heat exposure from blow dryers, straightening irons, and curling irons if you want your hair color to look fresh.
If you must use your heat styling equipment, invest in an excellent heat protectant spray to protect your hair from the harmful effects of heat.
5) Lower the Water Temperature
Credit: Envato Elements/ KarinaBost
Use lukewarm or colder water temperatures when shampooing. Hot water breaks the surface of the hair strand, allowing dye molecules to escape, it drains dye out of hair faster and strips the color.
6) Avoid Shampooing Your Hair Frequently
Credit: Envato Elements/ LightFieldStudios
If you wash your colored hair frequently, the dye will seep out and the color will fade. Washing your hair frequently drains it of its natural oils, leaving it dry, dull, and lifeless. Wash your hair less frequently to avoid this. This will also keep the hair color vivid.
If you notice that your hair becomes greasy after you've just washed it, dry shampoo is a great solution for you. Dry shampoo does not need to be washed out of your hair and can provide the appearance of freshly washed tresses.
6) Use Leave-In Treatments
Credit: Envato Elements/ yurakrasil
Colored and chemically treated hair requires additional hydration and sun protection to avoid damage and nutrient loss. Leave-in treatments like leave-in conditioners will keep your hair silky and moisturized. It's vital to look for one that has UV protection to prevent your hair color from fading.
7) Follow a Healthy Diet
Credit: Envato Elements/ RossHelen
What you eat has a significant impact on the health and appearance of your hair. The energy that stimulates hair growth and luster comes from the minerals found in a healthy diet. Iron-rich protein-rich foods nourish your scalp and hair by promoting the formation of strong keratin, a protein that strengthens hair, enhances texture, and promotes growth.
To keep your color-treated hair looking its best, consume lean meat, fish, egg whites, and spinach. Snack on fruits, nuts, veggies, and grains in between meals.
8) Don't Forget to Condition Your Hair
Credit: Envato Elements/ SkloStudio
Use a conditioner every time you shampoo your colored-treated hair. Make sure the conditioner is color-safe.
Color-safe conditioners provide a protective barrier ensuring that your hair color doesn't fade away. They seal the cuticles and trap in moisture, giving your hair more gloss, volume, and luster. As a result, your hair will be soft, healthy, and lustrous.
9) Take a Break From Coloring Your Hair
Credit: Envato Elements/ dekddui1405
Avoid constantly bleaching or dying your hair. The more you bleach or dye your hair, the more porous it becomes, making dye retention difficult. It's time to take a break if you find that your hair color is fading or that your hair is starting to look fried. Allow your hair to return to its original state.
Instead of re-dying your hair, use a root touch-up kit if your roots are starting to show.
10) Supplements Can Help Color-Treated Hair Stay Healthy
Credit: Envato Elements/ yanadjana
Vitamins are important for maintaining the health and gloss of color-treated hair. Vitamin C supports hair follicles and keeps blood vessels in the scalp healthy. Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron from plant proteins. Biotin, a vital B vitamin, strengthens and enhances the texture of damaged hair. Vitamin supplements can help maintain your hair health and restore color-treated hair.
11) Avoid Sleeping With Wet Hair
Credit: Envato Elements/ valeriygoncharukphoto
Going to bed with wet hair can cause damage and breakage, so wash your hair ahead of time. Before going to bed, make sure your hair has had enough time to dry. However, in case you do go to bed with wet hair, make sure you braid it beforehand.
Even if your hair is dry, don't put it in a bun or ponytail before going to bed. Your hair will be further damaged as a result of this.
12) Avoid Chlorine
Credit: Envato Elements/ YouraPechkin
If you spend a lot of time in the pool, wet your colored hair and apply a protective leave-in conditioner on your hair shaft before getting in to help prevent chlorine from ruining your color. Chlorine's chemicals can build up and cause hair color—especially lighter colors—to shift to an unpleasant green hue. Alternatively, keep your hair dry by using a swim cap.
13) Get Regular Trims
Credit: Envato Elements/ YuriArcursPeopleImages
Your hair may be damaged if your colored locks appear to be frizzy. The easiest approach to keep your color-treated hair looking healthy is to have regular haircuts or trims. You don't need a super-short haircut; just enough to avoid frayed ends.
14) If You Have Multicolored Hair, Wash and Rinse Each Colour Separately
Credit: Envato Elements/ valeriygoncharukphoto
If you've just colored your hair vivid colors like blue, green, or purple, this is very vital. You face a risk of the colors mixing if you try to wash your hair all at once. To avoid color transfer, separate the colors in your hair and wash and rinse them separately.
Summary
We hope that we've answered your question on "how to take care of your colored hair at home". Coloring your hair can be fun and exciting, but it also comes with a lot of risks. However, if you take the necessary precautions, your hair's health will not be jeopardized. Go ahead and experiment with a new hair dye now that you know how to care for it.