How to take care of dyed/colored hair

While dying your hair can be fun; trying out colors and new trends, you can’t deny the fact that dyed hair needs a little extra love.

Here are the top 7 tips for dyed hair you need to follow to help keep your colored hair looking fresh and healthy.

1. Wait 72 hours before washing your hair

During the coloring process, your cuticles are lifted, making it easy for the hair dye to penetrate the hair shaft. It takes up to three days for the cuticles to fully close back, and washing your hair before the 3 day mark can lead to your color to be washed down. The longer you wait to wash your hair, the longer the color pigment gets soaked into the hair cuticle.
Use a dry shampoo during the 72 hours to prevent the greasy look.

2. Wash hair less often

By washing your hair everyday, you are stripping its moisture and natural oils which help keep your hair color looking fresh. Every time you wash your hair, you wash away a little bit of the hair dye.
Limit washing your hair to 2-3 times a week to keep that hair color on lock.

3. Use Sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner

Sodium laureth ether sulfate is what gives the foaming effect to your shampoo. And having sulfate in your hair products means you are stripping your hair from its natural moisture and oils, which leads to fading your colored hair faster.
Opt for sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to help maintain that freshly colored hair.

4. Turn down the hot water

Hot water opens your hair cuticles and exposes the hair dye to wash out while shampooing and conditioning.
Instead, shampoo with warm or lukewarm water, then rinse with colder water after conditioning your hair. This way, the warm water will be able to wash and cleanse your hair, while the cold water will seal the moisture in and prevent the color from fading by sealing the cuticle.

5. Go easy on the heat styling

Cut down on using heat styling tools, especially right after dying your hair. Your hair is most vulnerable to heat when it is dyed. Allow your hair to air-dry, and if you must use a styling tool, always use a heat protectant spray before you use your curling iron or straightener. When using the blow-dryer, use the cool setting and keep it at least 10 cm away from your hair.

6. Use conditioner specifically for color-treated hair

Dying your hair will likely cause it to become dry and brittle. This is why it is crucial to use a special conditioner to restore its moisture back. Color-treated conditioners are specially formulated to create protective barriers preventing your dye from washing out quickly.

7. Weekly hydrating masks

Once a week, use a conditioning mask or hydrating oil to restore its moisture and keep it strong. You can keep the mask on your hair for 30 minutes, or even better, overnight to get the best results.