Hair color is one solution that can transform your look and boost your confidence by giving you a fresh and vibrant appearance instantly. It gives you the freedom to experiment with different shades and express your style. Whether you're covering grays or trying a bold new color that's trending, the right hair color can add depth to your facial features and skin tone. Whether you choose a subtle change or a dramatic new look, the right hair color can make you feel more confident and stylish. While everything sounds so beautiful, knowing how to take care of colored hair is most crucial. With proper attention to tips and regular care, you can enjoy the benefits of beautifully colored hair while keeping it healthy and strong. Here are the top tips on how to take care of colored hair and keep it healthy, strong, and looking its absolute best so you can radiate confidence with every colorful flip of your hair.
What Does Hair Coloring Do to Your Hair?
Hair coloring involves using chemicals and bleaching agents to alter your hair's structure. Permanent hair color often lifts the hair cuticle, allowing small dye molecules to enter the shaft and react with melanin, your natural hair pigment. The duration helps lighten or alter the melanin to achieve your desired shade. Once adjusted, the colored dye deposits its pigments, giving your hair a vibrant look. This process can stress your hair, causing dryness, breakage, and loss of shine without proper care. Temporary color sits on the shaft and washes out after a few shampoos, while permanent color alters hair for a lasting effect, requiring touch-ups as hair grows. Understanding how to take care of colored hair and how hair color works can help you make informed decisions to minimize damage.
Things to Know When Getting Your Hair Colored
Use Quality and Ammonia Free Color
When talking about how to take care of colored hair, the first thing is to choose the right hair color. Skip the drugstore dyes and opt for an ammonia-free color. While professional coloring products deliver superior results, ensuring they are ammonia-free is crucial. Ammonia is a harsh chemical that can lift the hair cuticle to deposit color but can also damage the hair. Ammonia-free color uses gentler alternatives to achieve similar results, minimizing the risk of breakage, dryness, and irritation. This makes it a perfect choice for those with sensitive scalps or dry and damaged hair.
Red Dye Fade Early
Red hair is truly eye-catching, but its vibrancy can sometimes diminish a bit faster than other colors. To help your gorgeous red shade stay stunning for longer, it is recommended to use color-depositing conditioners or hair color-preserving shampoos with red pigments. These will gently infuse your hair with color molecules, helping to maintain the richness and brilliance of your red in between your touch-up sessions.
Do Not Shampoo Before and After Hair Color
The coloring process can be stressful on your delicate hair, so give it a little TLC – tender, love, and care before and after the process. Avoid shampooing for at least 24 hours before getting your hair colored. This helps your natural oils to protect the hair from chemicals. After coloring, do not wash for 48 hours to allow the color to settle. Instead, focus on deep conditioning treatments to replenish moisture and keep your locks looking luscious.
Color Requires Touch Ups
Hair color requires touch-ups to maintain its freshness and vibrancy. Especially if you have grey hair, as the color fades or new hair grows, it will have a grey texture that needs touch-up. Regular touch-ups help prevent fading at the roots and maintain the overall consistency of your color.
Learn About Potential Damage
Be open and honest with your hairstylist about your hair health and history. Color contains harmful chemicals, and being aware of everything is vital. Certain coloring techniques or products might not be the best fit for you if you have previously damaged hair. A good stylist will recommend options that minimize damage and will even tell you exactly how to take care of colored hair to keep it strong and healthy.
Know How to Take Care of Colored Hair
A dedicated hair care routine is key to maintaining the vibrancy of your colored hair. Knowing when and how frequently to wash, what products to apply, how to handle colored hair, etc., are a few things to consider when getting your hair colored. In the article below, we will see what products you should use and how to take care of colored hair regularly.
Products to Use for Colored Hair
Rich Hair Oils
Hair oiling is not only healthy for the scalp but is also therapeutic and relaxing. Using hair oil correctly for maximum benefits helps cater to problems that colored hair can cause. Hydrating hair oil for colored hair rich in vitamins and antioxidants helps treat dry and brittle hair. Apply a small amount of warm color protect oil to your hair, to create a protective barrier and lock in moisture.
Chemical Free Shampoos
Say goodbye to regular color-fading shampoos! Your colored hair requires extra care to enhance and maintain the vibrancy of your color. Use a colour protect shampoo formulated to be gentle on your colored hair. Free from sulfates and parabens, these shampoos for hair color protection prevent further damage to colored hair and add shine to lock the vibrant hair color. Look for labels like "color-safe," "hair color protection," or color-preserving" when shopping for your new shampoo.
Hydrating Creams and Mask
Regular deep conditioning treatments are crucial for colored hair as it helps retain moisture and prevent dryness that the chemical agents in color cause. Hair masks for colored hair and hair cream are packed with hydrating and nourishing ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, or hyaluronic acid that deeply nourish your locks, restore moisture balance, and keep your color looking vibrant for longer. Go for a weekly colour protect hair mask and regular hair cream application for best results.
Leave-In Treatments
Leave-in liquid color protect conditioners and hair serum for colored hair are your daily shield against environmental factors and color damage. These lightweight formulas provide continuous hydration, detangle hair, and add a touch of shine. Learn how to use a leave-in conditioner to allow your colored hair to look shiny and bouncy. Apply color protect serum followed by leave-in conditioner.
Heat Protectants
Heat styling can be a lifesaver for bad hair days, but it can also damage your hair, especially the chemically treated hair. Color compounds when treated with heat can turn your hair straw-like. Using a heat protectant spray is vital before you go for any heat styling. It will help create a barrier for heat to directly contact your hair locks.
Styling Products
Styling your rich hair color in trending looks can make your entire outfit glow up. Ensuring to protect the colored hair while styling is essential. Using hair mousse before styling will help keep your hair protected and soft. Look for lightweight formulas to prevent product buildup and breakage.
Tips on How to Take Care of Colored Hair
1. Watch Your Wash Cycles
One of the most crucial tips on how to take care of colored hair is to watch your wash cycles. Frequent or daily washing can strip your hair of its natural oils and fade your vibrant color. This can even lead to dryness and brittle hair that will fall or break with time. Reduce your wash cycle as and when needed. 2 to 3 times a week is ideally enough to prevent your colored hair. When you do wash, use a sulfate-free colour protect shampoo to preserve the color and nourish your strands.
2. Choose Dry Shampoo More Often
While it can be difficult to reduce the wash cycle, especially when you have an oily scalp, using dry shampoo is a magic solution. Dry shampoo absorbs excess oil and gives your hair a fresh, clean look without washing out your color. Spray dry shampoo onto your roots, let it sit for a few minutes, and then brush it through your hair. It’s an excellent way to keep your hair looking good and feeling fresh without compromising your color. Plus, it adds volume and texture, perfect for those busy days when you need a quick hair fix.
3. Keep an Eye on the Water Temperature
Hot water might feel relaxing, but it’s not a friend to your bright-colored hair. High temperatures of water can open up the hair cuticles, causing the color to fade more quickly and even rip off the natural oils causing dryness. When learning how to take care of colored hair, always consider the temperature of the water. Wash using lukewarm water while shampooing and cold water after conditioning. This helps to lock in the color and adds extra shine to your hair.
4. Regular Deep Conditioning Treatments
Colored hair needs extra moisture and care. Add regular deep conditioning treatments to your hair care routine. Use a deep conditioner or a color protect hair mask once a week. The deep nourishing treatment penetrates deep into the hair shaft, replenishing moisture and repairing any damage caused by the coloring process.
5. Avoid Damage Causing Chemical Products
Chemical products can be harsh on colored hair. Avoid using any regular shampoos and conditioners that contain sulfates, parabens, and alcohol as they can strip your hair color and moisture. When the question is how to take care of colored hair, the answer is always using chemical-free, color-protection shampoo and conditioner. Go for vegan products to help gently care for your colored hair.
6. Limit Heat Styling
Heat styling equipment like hair dryers, flat irons, and curling machines can cause significant damage to colored hair. The heat can make your hair dry, brittle, and prone to breakage, leading to faded color and unhealthy hair. Whenever possible, let your hair air dry and embrace its natural texture.
7. Keep Hair Covered in Sun
The UV rays from the sun are harmful and can be harsh on colored hair, causing the color to fade and making the hair dry and brittle. Make it a habit to protect your hair when you’re out in the scorching sun. Wear a hat, or scarf, or use an umbrella to shield your hair from direct sunlight. Also, use a leave-in liquid conditioner or a colour protection spray with UV protection to create a barrier between your hair and the sun’s damaging rays.
8. Chlorine is a Big No
Chlorine can be damaging to colored hair and can strip off the color and natural oils and leave your hair dry and damaged. A reaction with chlorine can even change the color of your hair. If you’re planning to swim in a pool, make sure to protect your hair using a swimming cap. After swimming, rinse your hair with fresh and clean water to remove any chlorine buildup.
9. Have a Trimming Routine
Regular trims help maintain the health of colored hair. Trim your hair in 6-8 weeks to remove split ends and prevent any damage. This not only keeps your hair looking fresh and healthy but also helps prevent fading of your color due to possible damage. When considering how to take care of colored hair, remember that healthy hair holds color better and looks more vibrant.
Taking care of colored hair is essential to maintaining its health and vibrancy. Hair coloring can transform your look and boost your confidence, allowing you to experiment with different shades and styles. Whether you're covering grays or trying a bold new color, the right hair color can make you feel more confident and stylish. But, how to take care of colored hair is crucial to prevent damage and maintain the bouncy and beautiful texture of your hair. Give your colored hair the pampering and care it deserves with Barcode Professionals‘ range of hair color protection products. Every product formulated is free from sulfates, parabens, salts, pesticides, and other chemicals. Being vegan and 100% biodegradable, it is a perfect choice for your freshly colored hair.