Hair color care: what to do (and what to totally avoid)

Your hair color is an expression of your personal style, and keeping it radiant and healthy is actually easier than you might think. Whether you’re worried about a quickly fading color or dry ends, we’ve got you covered. 

We’ll look at what might be getting in the way between you and long-lasting hair color, what you need to create a healthy haircare routine, and products that can help with maintaining vibrant hair color for as long as possible. 

The essentials for colored hair maintenance

In addition to protecting against hard water, heat styling, chemicals, and other factors, how you care for colored hair day-to-day is even more important. With the right routine, your coppers will stay rich and your blondes brilliant. 

A color-protection shampoo and conditioner is the first step to healthy and vibrant hair color. Specifically designed for colored hair, they’re gentler than other products and can help lock in pigments longer. Once you’ve got your wash routine down (we recommend two to three times a week), consider adding a weekly deep conditioning treatment into the rotation and using color-depositing products for one wash day to refresh and revive your color. 

Dyeing your hair takes a toll on your strands, so they need all the love (and hydration) they can get. A rich conditioner can make your hair more manageable and less prone to breakage, while a deep conditioning mask can provide intense moisture to a dried out ‘do. If you significantly lightened or processed your hair, a bond-repair treatment can rebuild the internal structure of your hair, making it more resilient.  

Shopping tips to care for colored hair

When it comes to treating ourselves, we tend to reach for a new lip color or skin serum, but our hair needs love, too. From using a shampoo designed for colored hair maintenance to letting your locks soak up a rich, hydrating mask, there are lots of ways (big and small) to care for your hair. The right tools and products are essential for colored hair, and we’ve got a few suggestions for what you should keep in your vanity.   

• When it comes to maintaining vibrant color hair, look for products that are sulfate-free, color-safe, or offer UV protection. Ingredients like argan oil, keratin, panthenol, and botanical extracts can also be beneficial in helping seal the hair cuticle, locking in the hues, moisturizing and strengthening strands, and counteracting any potential dryness or damage from the coloring process.  

• Just like you use sunscreen for your face, your hair needs UV protection, too. Before heading to the beach or on a hike, throw a protective scalp and hair mist in your bag and be sure to reapply often. 

• Quality heat styling tools and brushes can make a big difference when it comes to colored hair maintenance by helping to minimize damage and maintain vibrancy. And don’t forget to apply a heat protecting product before you turn up the temp on your hair.  

• To keep that fresh from the salon shine, invest in nourishing masks, hydrating oils, and other colored hair-focused treatments. 

Why maintaining vibrant hair color can be hard

After investing time and money into your hair color, you want to make sure it lasts. But, where you live (or vacation) and your day-to-day routine could be causing your locks to lose their luster faster than expected. Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to care for colored hair. 

• Hair Texture: If you’ve got fine hair, your locks soak up color faster than other textures, but it’s also quicker to let it go. 

• Environment: If you live in a warm place or spend a lot of time under the sun, UV rays could be fading and dulling your color. Humidity, while not a factor for fading, can alter the way your hair holds color, leading to frustrating frizz that flattens the glow of your tresses.  

• Water: Hard water can contain minerals that dull your hair color over time, and hot water (as good as it feels) can lift hair cuticles, causing color to fade faster. Try a filter for your shower, and aim to rinse your hair with cool (or even lukewarm) water. 

• Overwashing: Every wash, even with color-safe shampoo, can strip away some of your hair’s natural oils, leading to dryness, which can impact color retention. Try to stretch out your washes as much as possible.  

• Heat styling: Blowdryers, flat irons, and curling wands can help create incredible looks, but the heat can be a major culprit in color fading. Use heat protecting products before styling. 

• Chemicals: Chlorine can kill a brilliant hair color by altering or stripping it. Before diving in, wet your locks with clean, fresh water followed by a leave-in conditioner. This helps saturate your hair cuticles, making them less absorbent to the chlorinated water. Also, don't forget your swim cap.  

• Split ends: There’s a reason your stylist is always telling you to come in for a trim. Split ends can make it hard for hair color to take, and once it does, the color often fades faster and looks uneven. Regular trims keep your hair healthy, so color goes on smoother, lasts longer, and shines brighter.