Gone are the days when you go around with a mop of mousy brown hair or a drab premature gray head of hair.
Most of us at some point add some color to hair, maybe a richer shade of brown to light brown hair or add some streaks or highlights and at times go completely radical and change hair color from blonde to brunette.
We are aware that chemicals will take a toll on texture and shine of natural hair – so this is where we need to strike a balance and try not being very drastic about the change.
There are ways to keep colored hair from fading too rapidly.
- When you color hair 2 -3 shades darker or lighter than the original shade of hair color the coloring lasts longer.
- It is best to shampoo colored hair with cool water, as with hot water the color tends to fade.
- Wear a shower cap while showering so that you can keep out moisture.
- Water can drain out color molecules from hair, so wash hair with just enough water.
- Use a dry shampoo to limit the number of washes, and remove excess oil from the scalp.
- It is best to use a shampoo, which is especially formulated for colored hair as this will act as a sealant and prevent water from washing away color.
- Always use a conditioner – even if your hair is fine or thin.
- Touch up - don’t color entire lengths of hair, touching up the roots as hair grows will keep the hair from breaking due to chemicals.
- Exposure to direct sunlight will fade color, use a scarf or hat whenever possible.
- Use a cap for swimming as both chlorine and salt water will leech color.
- Avoid using hair dryers, hair tongs or hot irons as these make the hair porous, which will not hold color well.
- Use a towel to dry moisture from hair - after using shampoo and conditioner, leaving the use of a hair dryer only to style hair gently.
- Drink a lot of water and juices so that the body is hydrated keeping hair nourished and moisturized from within.
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- Avoid straightening or hair perms as they will be overkill on the chemicals used. Hair will take on a brassy and faded look - wait for two weeks after a hair color or before, if you absolutely need to perm or straighten hair.
- Look for coloring agents without ammonia, peroxide and alcohol – many of the newly launched products have been marketing gentler colors.
- Use a temporary rinse so that the period between your permanent hair colors can be stretched for a longer period.
Colored hair demands more care than untreated hair, but well worth it due to the transformation it can bring to our lives - hair.
Sources: www.essortment.com, www.goodhousekeeping.com
