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Whether you have your hair professionally colored or you do it yourself at home (no judgement, this is a safe space), you want your hair color to last as long as possible. If your gorgeous, vibrant color looks dull after a few weeks, don't worry, we're sharing 5 easy ways to keep your hair color from fading.
1. Wait to Wash Your Hair
When you dye your hair, the color needs time to settle in and bond to your hair shaft. Washing it within 24 hours stops that process and prevents it from fully settling. Thus, it will fade more quickly.
Instead, wait about 24 hours or so to wash your hair after you color it to stop the hair dye from fading. Added benefit: you're less likely to stain your towels with dye.
2. Avoid Sulfates to Keep Your Hair Color from Fading
Check your shampoo ingredients. If you see:
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
- Sodium laureth sulfate (SLeS)
- Sodium coco sulfate (SCS)
- Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS)
These are harsh detergents and while they'll definitely get your hair clean, they get your hair cleaner than they need to be, stripping your natural oils along with your hair color. We recently did more of a deep dive on whether sulfates are bad for hair and skin if you want to learn more.
Instead, look for shampoo that is made with gentle ingredients, like:
- Sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI)
- Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (SLSa) - This has a larger molecule then sulfates so it's not as harsh nor stripping.
- Cocamidopropyl betaine
- Decyl glucoside
- Sodium lauroyl methyl taurate
These are less drying and stripping to your hair, so your hair color lasts longer.
3. Avoid Super Hot Water
Look, I basically boil myself in the shower, but we all know it's bad for us, drying out our hair and skin. And, of course, dry hair looks drab and dull, which makes your hair color look drab and dull, even if you just washed it a few weeks before.
Try to keep the water warm but not hot when you wash and condition your hair to avoid the heat damage and if you have to boil yourself, cover your hair in a shower cap or towel.
4. Use The Right Conditioner to Keep Hair Color from Fading
Color treated hair is a bit more delicate and needs some extra love (not unlike myself), so you want to use a high-quality, deep conditioner after washing your hair that has really rich oils and ingredients that coat and protect as well as penetrate the hair follicle.
I look for:
- Rich emollients like cetyl or cetearyl alcohol
- Cationic conditioners that smooth and coat hair strands, like behentrimonium methosulfate
- Natural oils like sunflower, avocado, coconut, jojoba, argan, rice bran, or castor.
- Proteins to strengthen hair, like quinoa, rice, baobab, hemp, wheat, or oat
The right conditioner will keep your hair smooth and moisturized, allowing your color to pop for a longer period of time.
5. Apply Hair Masks or Hair Treatments Regularly
In addition to regular conditioner, you will want to use a hair mask or oil treatment that will restore moisture and nourish your hair from root to tip. While you can purchase a hair treatment or even go to the salon, you can also go for a DIY hair mask. How often should you use them depends on you. At least once every month is a good start.
DIY Hair Treatments
If your hair is dry, thick, coarse, or curly, try equal parts coconut oil and olive or avocado oil warmed to liquid and massaged into your hair.
If your hair is oily at the roots or thin, a lighter treatment like jojoba oil, argan oil, or fractionated coconut oil applied away from the roots will offer the extra moisture you may need.
Apply warm (NOT HOT) oil to your hair, massaging it in gently and focusing on the ends. Wrap it in a towel or shower cap and chill for at least 30 minutes, but you can go for a few hours if you want. Relax, put your feet up, etc. Then, rinse with warm water and shampoo with your sulfate free shampoo.
Shop Our Shampoo and Conditioner Bars to Keep Your Hair Color Healthy
At Tulip Tree Soap Company, we create sulfate free shampoo bars and conditioner bars that are ideal for colored hair and a better option for the planet. Shop our hair care line today and see how your color lasts!
