With proper care and the right advice (that’s where we come in) maintaining your hair colour whilst you #stayathome will become second nature. If you follow our stylist’s advice that is! Don’t believe us? Read on!
We know that whilst our salons are closed, we have a duty of care to our salon guests (and everybody else for that matter) to help maintain their hair colour at home. Choosing to colour your hair goes far beyond the colour itself – we believe it has the power to boost confidence. That’s why we know how important it is to maintain your colour at home.
We also feel like it’s our duty to inform you there is no need to resort to drastic measures (which might include box dye and a stained bathroom). If you want to know why you should avoid DIY box dye stints at home, read our article ‘Let us prove there’s no colour like a salon colour’. For those who know the perils of box dye already, read on to find out how to maintain your salon professional hair colour at home.
HAIR COLOUR TIP #1
PREVENT COLOUR FADE BY WASHING YOUR HAIR LESS OFTEN
This might seem icky to you if you tend to wash your hair daily. But trust us, if you want your colour to last longer, you may need to take heed. Daily shampooing speeds up the process of stripping away colour, so try and use a dry shampoo instead for those in between days. You may also find that while you are spending loads more time indoors, your hair will require less washing anyway. This is due to less exposure to the elements and road pollution. So there are some benefits to #stayingathome!
It might also be good to point out that red hair colour tends to fade faster than any other shade because they contain the largest hair molecules. The molecule size makes it more difficult for red pigments to penetrate into the hair fibre, thus they dissipate more rapidly. So shampooing less often is a must for red heads in particular.
During those days off, try and wear a shower cap to keep your colour-treated hair from getting wet as this can also cause some colour to fade. Or, pull your hair up into a loose bun or a ponytail to protect it from getting wet.
HAIR COLOUR TIP #2
TURN DOWN THE WATER TEMPERATURE WHEN SHAMPOOING
When you do shampoo colour-treated hair, stick to lukewarm or cooler water temperatures – if you can bear it. Super-hot water drains dye out of hair much faster and strips away the colour because it opens up the hair cuticle. This causes the colour molecule to escape. And if the thought alone of a cold shower is simply unbearable? Try finishing your shower with a blast of cool water instead to help seal your hair cuticle up before you start to dry.
HAIR COLOUR TIP #3
SKIP SHAMPOO AND REACH STRAIGHT FOR YOUR CONDITIONER INSTEAD
Whenever possible, consider using only a moisturizing conditioner when washing your hair. Why? Shampoo has the power to strip more colour from your hair than conditioner. This is great for when you have no or little hair product in the hair. It may feel strange at first, but if you’re using the right products, your hair will feel soft and supple afterwards, we promise. And you’ll probably be surprised at how clean your hair can feel after only using conditioner. But of course, we don’t recommend doing away with your shampoo on a permanent basis. Our stylists recommend adopting a ‘conditioner-only’ regime after every 2 washes – or simply on the days when your hair doesn’t need a deep cleanse.
HAIR COLOUR TIP #4
USE CONDITIONER EVERY TIME YOU WASH YOUR HAIR
When you do shampoo, be sure to condition your colour-treated hair every time with a colour-protecting conditioner. Conditioned hair will help your colour look even, shinier and more vibrant. If you have fine hair and have avoided conditioner thinking it will weigh your hair down, condition the tips of your hair only. The ends are the oldest part of the hair and thus contain the most damage. For those with medium to thick hair, start gently conditioning your hair from your mid-lengths (around your ears) and work your way down to the tips. Ensure you leave the conditioner on your hair for the duration stated on the bottle for best results. If you wash the conditioner out too early, you won’t give enough time for the formula to penetrate your hair fibre. This means you won’t see the results you had hoped for – and you probably would have wasted your product! These are definitely not times to be wasting hair product…
HAIR COLOUR TIP #5
CHOOSE PRODUCTS SPECIALLY FORMULATED FOR COLOUR-TREATED HAIR
What you apply to your hair will make a huge difference in the longevity of the colour and the long-term health of your hair. Colour-treated hair requires special attention, so invest in salon-professional products that are specially formulated for coloured hair. Using colour-protecting shampoos, conditioners and treatments can help protect the colour and add shine, volume and lustre. Avoid products that contain sulfates or describe their formula as ‘clarifying’ as it’s likely to contain agents strong enough to strip your colour. Other than your hair colour, the condition of your hair as well as your hair type should also help influence your choice of product.
STAY SOCIAL
We hope these simple tips will help you care for your coloured hair at home. We are #InThisTogether! If you have any follow up questions about your hair care routine, why not tweet us @regisuk? #StayHome #StaySafe and #CareForYourHair
