Why Does My Hair Color Fade So Quickly?
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Does it ever feel like you shell out a small fortune at the salon only to watch your new hair color fade away long before your next appointment? Maybe you’re trying to achieve a simple, sun-kissed look or possibly you prefer something slightly more dramatic. Either way, how can you make your color last?
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First, why does it fade? Hair color works by initiating a chemical reaction, which reforms the bonds already present in your hair to create new ones. Because of this, hair color always fades eventually, but there are a few things you can do (and stop doing) to slow the process.
Wait to wash your hair as long as possible.
One of the first and biggest mistakes you can make is to wash your hair too soon after coloring it. Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist Mitch Stone tells Tip ‘n Split "I always have my clients not wash their hair after color for as long as they can go—at least 24 to 48 hours.” And many stylists suggest you wait as long as 72 hours. Hair coloring involves altering your hair’s potential hydrogen, or PH. Giving your locks the time they need to re-balance will ensure your color stays vibrant longer.
One of the first and biggest mistakes you can make is to wash your hair too soon after coloring it. Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist Mitch Stone tells Tip ‘n Split "I always have my clients not wash their hair after color for as long as they can go—at least 24 to 48 hours.” And many stylists suggest you wait as long as 72 hours. Hair coloring involves altering your hair’s potential hydrogen, or PH. Giving your locks the time they need to re-balance will ensure your color stays vibrant longer.
If you’re desperate to get that clean-hair feeling, a dry shampoo will refresh your scalp and hair without pulling color.
Avoid hot showers.
A hot shower might feel good after a long day, but the high temperature and steam will open the outer layer of your hair, releasing your precious color – and moisture. It may not sound like a fun, but using cool water to wash your hair will help preserve your hair color and your hair hydration.
A hot shower might feel good after a long day, but the high temperature and steam will open the outer layer of your hair, releasing your precious color – and moisture. It may not sound like a fun, but using cool water to wash your hair will help preserve your hair color and your hair hydration.
In addition to avoiding hot water, try to avoid excessive rinsing. When you allow water to continue running through your hair after the shampoo and conditioner have been rinsed, you are slowly striping and dulling your hair color.
Consider a shower filter.
Like hot water, the chemicals, chlorine, and minerals in your shower water can also strip your hair color and your natural oils. There are a number of reasons Why You Should Be Using A Water Filter In Your Shower and you may be surprised to learn that most shower filters are inexpensive and easy to install.
Like hot water, the chemicals, chlorine, and minerals in your shower water can also strip your hair color and your natural oils. There are a number of reasons Why You Should Be Using A Water Filter In Your Shower and you may be surprised to learn that most shower filters are inexpensive and easy to install.
Use color-supporting shampoos and conditioners.
Shampoos and conditioners specifically formulated to support hair color are vital. Inexpensive over-the-counter products may smell good but they often contain salts, sulfates, perfumes, parabens, and detergents that wreak havoc on your hair color, compromise the integrity of your hair, and make it harder to achieve vibrant, consistent color from the start. If you’ve ever wondered Are Salon Products Really Worth The Cost?, the answer is yes!
Shampoos and conditioners specifically formulated to support hair color are vital. Inexpensive over-the-counter products may smell good but they often contain salts, sulfates, perfumes, parabens, and detergents that wreak havoc on your hair color, compromise the integrity of your hair, and make it harder to achieve vibrant, consistent color from the start. If you’ve ever wondered Are Salon Products Really Worth The Cost?, the answer is yes!
Some professional products even deposit trace amounts of hair color on your hair when used, essentially providing a micro-recoloring each time you use them.
*Avoid clarifying and dandruff shampoos because they can also strip color from hair strands and speed up the fading process.
*Avoid clarifying and dandruff shampoos because they can also strip color from hair strands and speed up the fading process.
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Blot your hair.
As you may have learned the hard way, towel drying colored hair is an easy way to ruin a towel. Roughly towel drying your hair, especially with an absorbent cotton towel, is basically the equivalent of exfoliating your hair and scraping all those beautiful color molecules away. Gently blot your hair, preferably with a microfiber towel. |
Don't overuse hot tools.
While blow-dryers and irons are often necessary to achieve your desired style, try not to overdo it. Heat expands your hair strands and speeds up the fading process. If hot tools are a must, use a lightweight oil or heat protectant prior to styling to create a protective barrier and support hydration for color longevity.
While blow-dryers and irons are often necessary to achieve your desired style, try not to overdo it. Heat expands your hair strands and speeds up the fading process. If hot tools are a must, use a lightweight oil or heat protectant prior to styling to create a protective barrier and support hydration for color longevity.
Also turn down the heat on your tools – very few people need maximum heat when styling.
And finally….Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
One of the biggest culprits of faded color is when hair becomes dry. Deep conditioning masks are designed to go deep into your hair to moisturize. If you’re not already scheduling treatments at the salon during your color appointments, talk to your stylist about the options available to you. If the options don’t suit your schedule or budget, ask about at-home options like Pureology Superfood Hydrate Treatment.
One of the biggest culprits of faded color is when hair becomes dry. Deep conditioning masks are designed to go deep into your hair to moisturize. If you’re not already scheduling treatments at the salon during your color appointments, talk to your stylist about the options available to you. If the options don’t suit your schedule or budget, ask about at-home options like Pureology Superfood Hydrate Treatment.
And remember, just like beauty, hydration come from within first! Drink plenty of water and take a food based biotin supplement.
*Stylist tip – It is especially important to protect your hair from sun, chlorine, and saltwater during the summer months to keep your color from fading. A product with SPF and sunflower oil like this one is great as it also has antioxidants to nourish your hair.
If you’re in a pinch, mix conditioner and water together in a spray bottle and spray the mixture over your hair before and after swimming in pool or ocean water.
