What You’ll Learn From Hair Care Tips After Coloring

In this post about caring for color-treated hair, we’re going to discuss:

• How to maximize the health of your hair after coloring
• How to keep your color vibrant for as long as possible
• Information about the best products for color-treated hair, plus tips for how to properly style, condition, and wash your hair after it’s been colored

Coloring your hair is a fun way to change your style and freshen up your look, opening up an entire world of vibrant possibilities. From a subtle shade shift to a total transformation, there’s virtually no limit to what you can achieve - with the help of a professional colorist, of course.

But if you have color-treated hair, it’s important to remember that your tresses need a little extra TLC. Maintaining your color and keeping your hair healthy requires proper care, specifically tailored for colored hair. With the right approach and top-quality products, you can protect your hair, make the color last longer, and keep your hair happy, healthy, and gorgeous.

No matter what shade you dye your hair - from platinum blonde to jet black and every shade of the rainbow in between - we have you covered with our top hair care tips for color-treated hair.

How to Maintain Your Color-Treated Hair

There’s nothing like the feeling of fresh-from-the-salon color treated hair, giving you a boost of confidence and an extra bounce in your step. And if you take care of your hair properly, you can make sure that feeling lasts as long as possible.

From the moment you leave the salon chair to the last days before your next color appointment, here are our expert tips for long-lasting color and your healthiest hair ever.

1. Make sure you’re prepared for your specific hair color maintenance needs.

Depending on the color, your hair probably has specific needs when it comes to care. Before you undergo any major transformations, it’s a good idea to double-check that you’re ready to undertake any special maintenance for your chosen shade.

For example, red hair colors have a tendency to fade faster than other shades. The larger molecule size makes it more difficult for red hair dye to penetrate into the hair shaft’s deepest layers. As a result, the molecules dissipate faster, which translates to faster fading. If you’re already prepared for this, then you’ll know to put extra effort into avoiding anything that will strip away color even more.

Another example is the unwanted warmth that can quickly build up on gray or blonde hair. For blondes, a specialized “purple shampoo” is a must, with a violet base that brightens the hair by removing yellow tones.

If you aren’t sure if your new color will need certain products, you can always ask your stylist.

2. After you’ve colored your hair, try to wait at least two days before shampooing.

Ideally, you should give your hair color at least 48 hours to set before you shampoo it. If you can stretch it to three days (or even four!), that’s even better.

3. Aim for washing your hair less frequently.

For hair that’s been colored, daily washing is a fast track to fading, moisture loss, and even potential damage. Even if you don’t dye your hair, washing it less often can be an excellent way to help it get healthier.

Your hair produces oils that serve as a natural conditioner, keeping your locks lustrous, soft, and healthy. These natural oils are even more important for colored hair because they help to preserve color. A good rule of thumb is to start by washing your hair every other day, then space out shampoo days to two or three times per week.

4. When you do shampoo, stick with color-safe products and pair it with a good conditioner.

There’s a reason that only certain products are labeled as safe for colored hair - and if you want to get the best results, it’s important to avoid using any products that don’t fall within this category. Shampoo, in particular, can put your color at risk, especially if it contains harsh sulfates.

Look for a salon-quality shampoo for color-treated hair, like our Keratherapy Color Protect Shampoo. It’s a sulfate-free shampoo and free from sodium chloride, boasting a unique formulation to remove the buildup gently that can dull your color. Plus, because it includes natural UV protection, it safeguards against the sun’s damaging rays to protect your hair. We always recommend using it in tandem with our Color Protect Conditioner, a rich, moisturizing formula that is perfect for highlighted and color-treated hair.

5. On no-wash days, freshen up with a color-safe dry shampoo.

Just because you’re washing less often, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on full, voluminous hair. A professional-grade dry shampoo will absorb excess grease, keep your hair fresh, and bump up the volume in seconds.

The Keratherapy Keratin-Infused Dry Shampoo is completely safe for colored hair, and it even reinvigorates your hair’s natural protective layer to keep heat damage and environmental stress to a minimum.

6. Make sun protection a priority.

One of the biggest sources of damage for colored hair is the sun, especially during the warm, bright spring and summer days. As we head into the seasons when you’ll be spending more time outdoors, it’s important to take extra measures to protect against UV damage.

Choose products specifically formulated with UV protectors, such as those from Keratherapy. In addition to an outstanding shampoo/conditioner combination, look for styling products that don’t just make your hair look good but also protect it. If you are in the sun for an extended period of time, wear a hat for extra protection.

7. Avoid heat styling when you can.

We all know that the blow dryer, flat iron, and curling iron can take a toll on our tresses - but the risk that hot stylers pose to colored hair is especially intense. Try to let your hair dry naturally whenever you can, and when you do use the blow dryer, stick with the lowest setting.

When you do use heat for styling, you need to be using a high-quality protectant like the Color Protect Perfect Blowout. This innovative product protects your hair from heat, all while keeping it looking incredibly shiny, smooth, and bright.

8. Stay away from water with chlorine.

The chlorinated water in swimming pools contains chemicals that can affect your hair color, especially if you’re a blonde. If you plan to spend a lot of time at the pool this spring and summer, try to wear your hair up to avoid getting it wet. A leave-in conditioner applied before swimming is another way to protect it from chlorine’s color-changing effects.

Color-Safe Hair Care Products from Keratherapy

When you color your hair, it can be a major investment of time and money - so why wouldn’t you do everything possible to keep it looking its best? Don’t sacrifice your hair health and color quality to subpar products; instead, trust your tresses to the salon-grade selection of hair care from Keratherapy.

We’ve formulated a variety of hair care collections specifically designed to suit individual hair types and concerns, including the Color Protect series for colored hair.

Stop settling for color that fades faster than it should: upgrade your color care routine with the Color Protect collection from Keratherapy today.

 

Featured Image: By UfaBizPhoto