How to Stop Hair Color From Fading: 7 Expert Tips
Just got your hair colored and want to keep it as long as possible? Before you jump back into your usual routine, it’s important to know that some daily habits could be causing your hair color to fade faster. In this post, I’ll share with you 7 effective ways to stop hair color from fading and keep it looking fresh for longer.
Understanding that different hair colors will fade faster than others is important. This post will give you tips on making any color last longer, but if you’re interested in learning what hair colors will fade the quickest, see this post here.
Stop hair color from fading
I want to start by saying that you can’t completely stop hair color from fading. Even though it may be a “permanent” dye, it will still fade. To learn the differences between permanent, demi, semi, and temporary dye; see this post here.
Now that being said, the amount of time your color will last before it fades is dependent on several factors.
***Since I’m sharing the products that I love to use with you guys, this page includes affiliate links to these products. If you take action and purchase a product through clicking one of my links, I’ll make some commission money from it at no extra cost to you. This enables me to be able to continue giving you awesome hair tips, so thanks! ***
1. Wash your hair less to prolong hair color
Hair dye fades a little bit each time we wash our hair. When you use shampoo, the color molecules are gradually washed away with the dirt and oils in your hair. This causes your color to lighten up and dull out, exposing the underlying pigment.
Depending on the color, it may lighten up significantly each time you shampoo it. Reds and bright hair colors have very large color molecules and cannot penetrate the hair strand as well as more natural colors do. This means it’s easier for bright and more vibrant colors to fade out of your hair with each shampoo.
To extend the fading process, you’ll want to do your best to go as long as possible between each shampoo. Using a dry shampoo can be life-changing for skipping more days between washes. It helps you push washing your hair out further by absorbing oil and neutralizing any odor.
If you’d like to read more about the benefits of dry shampoo check out my post here. Below I’ve listed my favorite dry shampoos in order of how strong they are; with number 1 providing the least oil control to number 4 providing maximum oil control.
2. Use professional quality, color protect shampoo
When the goal is to extend your hair color longevity, using quality products is a MUST. I cannot stress this enough.
When you pay a pretty penny to have your hair colored, you should do everything in your power to make the color last as long as possible. This is why it doesn’t make sense to use cheap products on expensive hair. That would be like using great value ranch dressing on a 5-star gourmet meal.
The reel in this link shows the difference between low and high-quality shampoos, after just ONE shampoo. Check out what a difference! All of these shampoos claim to be color-safe, but it’s clear that the professional shampoo held up the best.
I recommend getting your products from your hairstylist directly, or I’ve included links to my favorite brands that are sold through Amazon throughout my blog posts. You can check out my favorite brands that I recommend here.
3. Use cold water on freshly colored hair
If you’re washing your hair in the shower, make sure you use cool water on your hair. For maximum hair color longevity and bright and vivid colors, I actually recommend not washing your hair in the shower at all. I know, shocker right?!
Even if you use cold water while rinsing your hair, the steam and heat from the warm water on the rest of your body will open up the outer layer of your hair. This makes it easy for shampoo to pull the color right out of your cortex.
It’s the same process that happens when you steam your face to cleanse deep inside your pores. Only, you don’t want to do that to freshly colored hair.
It’s best to shampoo in cold water before you even get into the shower. Then after your hair is clean and conditioned, wrap it up and take a nice warm shower. Try not to let warm water run through your hair at all.
4. Coloring shampoos and conditioners to replenish faded color
If your hair is one solid color, you can use a coloring shampoo or conditioner to add color into your hair every time you wash. These are great because your hair actually gets more vibrant the more you shampoo, and you no longer need to wash in cold water!
Celeb Luxury makes my favorite color-depositing shampoos and conditioners, and you’ll see me use them often on my Youtube channel for tutorials.
Keep in mind that you DO NOT need to use both the shampoo AND conditioner, only one is necessary. I prefer to use the conditioner as a treatment and leave them on for 15 minutes or so to get a combined conditioning treatment AND toner at the same time!
But they do make different colors in their shampoos and conditioners, so it’s best to check both to get the color that matches your hair the best.
5. Keep your hair out of the sun, pool, and ocean to stop the color from fading
Unfortunately, summertime comes along with activities that aren’t the greatest for our hair. The sun, pool, and the ocean all cause fadage and will significantly reduce your hair color longevity. Now, I’m not telling you to be a hermit and stay inside all summer, I’m just saying to take extra precautions when you’re outside.
Not only will the sun fade your color, but it is damaging to your hair as well. Always use a product that contains a UV protectant, and try to cover your hair in a hat or hair wrap. You should also never lay out in the sun with your hair exposed. I usually lay a small towel or shirt over my hair while laying by the pool.
Now, if you can’t avoid getting it wet in the pool or ocean, then make sure you douse it in conditioner before going in WITHOUT rinsing it out, and shampoo it as soon as possible afterwards. When the hair has absorbed conditioner before going into the pool, it won’t absorb as much chlorine.
The UV protectant I mentioned earlier works as a leave-in conditioner, UV protectant, and also minimizes chlorine damage. It is my ultimate go-to for summertime. You can find it below:
- Pravana Intense Therapy Leave-In (Leave-in conditioner, UV protectant, thermal protectant, etc.)
If you’d like to learn more about how to care for your hair in the summer months, check out my post here.
6. Avoid using heat tools to prolong hair color
Probably the most overlooked habit that fades hair color is using heat tools on it excessively. This is the most important topic on this post, yet probably the least talked about.
Heat in general is not good for your hair, especially your hair color. Watch this video where I pull color directly out of freshly colored hair with a flat iron! It’s crazy to see it happen before your eyes.
Now I’m not saying you have to stop using heat on your hair altogether. You just need to be cautious and aware of what can happen if you aren’t careful.
Always use a heat protectant and turn your irons down. Check out my guide to heat tools here for tips and temperature recommendations based on your hair type.
7. Keep your hair healthy
The condition of your hair actually plays a crucial role in how long your hair color will last. Damaged hair does not hold on to hair color very well at all. When the outer layer of our hair gets damaged, it cannot protect the second layer which contains the color molecules.
Color can come immediately out of porous or over-processed hair because there is no cuticle present to protect it. So it’s crucial to make sure you’re keeping your hair healthy.
My post here on maintaining long and healthy hair is full of helpful tips on how to keep your hair healthy. But I recommend performing regular deep conditioning treatments on your hair to ensure it’s staying moisturized and that outer layer is strong.
- Olaplex no. 3 Strengthening Treatment
- Olaplex no. 8 Moisturizing Treatment
- K18 Molecular Repair Leave-In Protein Mask
Conclusion
Extra precautions should be taken after getting your hair done to stop hair color from fading.
Unfortunately, every time you wash your hair, the color will fade a little bit. Try to push it as long as you can by using dry shampoo in between washes. When you do wash your hair, you should always use professional grade color protect shampoo as well as cold water.
Another option is to use a color-toning shampoo or conditioner. This will help you to skip the cold water. They deposit color as they wash/condition your hair.
You should also be mindful of your color in the summertime. The pool, ocean, and sun all will drastically fade your hair color. Keep your hair covered from the sun as much as possible, and try to avoid it getting wet in pools and the ocean.
When styling your hair, keep in mind that heat tools will fade your hair color. Try to avoid heat styling as much as possible. And when you do, make sure to use thermal protectants and keep the temps turned down to the lowest possible setting.
The most important tip is to keep your hair healthy. Damaged hair will not hold on to hair color very well. And besides, what does the color matter if the hair itself is in bad shape?
If you have any questions, leave them for me in the comments. And be sure to subscribe below if you want to make everyday a good hair day!
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