How to stop your hair colour from fading

Colour plays a major role when it comes to obtaining an exceptional mop of hair. Dull, faded locks can often look a little drab, even if the strands are in tip-top condition. Vibrant and healthy strands are what you want.
RELATED: How to choose the right hair colour for your skin tone
RELATED: 7 unhealthy hair habits to avoid
But how does one actually maintain that freshly dyed finish beyond two weeks? Arm yourself with these foolproof tips and you’ll be looking like you just stepped out of a salon for a whole lot longer…
#1 Clarify before you colour
It doesn’t matter if you’re using an at-home hair colour kit or heading to the salon, washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo one day prior to colour is a smart idea. Doing so will ensure all product build-up is removed, allowing the colour to penetrate deeper into the hair follicle, which means longer lasting results.
Try: Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo, KMS California HAIRSTAY Clarify Shampoo, Shu Uemura Art of Hair Clarifying Astringent Cleanser Cleansing Oil Shampoo
#2 Don’t shampoo straight after you colour
It might be tempting to give your strands a thorough clean after they’ve been dyed, however, waiting at least 48 hours is wise. This allows the molecules in the dye to really penetrate and set into your strands.
Try: Paul Mitchell Colour Protect Daily Shampoo, L'Oreal Paris Colour Protect Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo, Yes To Cucumbers Colour Protection Shampoo, John Frieda Brilliant Brunette ® Colour Protecting Moisturising Shampoo, muk VIVID MUK Colour Lock shampoo, Kiehl’s Colour Preserving Shampoo
#3 Use products that actually focus on your hair’s needs
You’d never cleanse sensitive skin with a product designed to tackle severe acne, would you? Nope. Well, the same rule applies to your hair - you should use products that actually target your hair concerns. (Read: a shampoo and conditioning duo that contain colour-protecting ingredients.)
Try: Cosmecology HAIR SHAMPOO for Coloured Hair, John Frieda SHEER BLONDE ® Everlasting Blonde Shampoo, Dove Colour Radiance Daily Treatment Conditioner, TIGI BED HEAD Colour Combat Colour Goddess Conditioner
#4 Embrace dry shampoo
Dry shampoo is possibly one of the best beauty inventions. It not only gives you extra time in the morning (hello, sleep in!), it also prevents your shiny new hair hue from washing prematurely down the drain. Simple spray it onto your dry roots in the AM in lieu of using liquid shampoo, and you’ll see dirt and oil instantly disappear.
Try: Batiste Coloured Dry Shampoo in Brilliant Brunette, Polished London Dry Shampoo in Bonny Blonde, Ambiance Red Tinted Volume Styling Dry Shampoo
#5 Don’t stand directly under the showerhead
Yes, we do realise you need to stick your head under the water to rinse your hair, but keep it to a minimum, please. Water is one of the main culprits of colour fade, so don’t pop your head under the water unless necessary, and keep the water temperature turned to warm. Adding a filter to your showerhead can also minimise the amount of minerals in the water, which can contribute to colour fade.
#6 Never skip the SPF
Sunscreen isn’t just for your skin – your hair needs protection from sun damage, too. UV rays are able to penetrate the cuticle of your hair, which can breakdown or bleach your hair hue. Apply a protective product each day, or on days you’ll be spending hours upon hours in the sun at the very least.
Try: Clairol Professional Sun Spark Conditioning Lotion, Wella Professionals SP Sun UV Spray
#7 Thermal protection is a must
Don’t even think about styling your hair without protecting it first. Just don’t. Heat breaks down the dye molecules in your hair, causing the colour to fade, so apply a thermal protectant to damp strands before blow-drying, and dry hair before straightening.
Try: Kevin Murphy YOUNG.AGAIN, L'OCCITANE Aromachologie Heat-Protective Control Mist, BedHead Dumb Blonde Toning Protection Spray, Schwarzkopf Essence ULTÎME Crystal Shine 220 ° Heat Protection, PPS Hot Iron Spray Straight
#8 Treat your hair with care
Everyone should aim to keep their hair in tip-top shape, but it’s essential for those with coloured strands. Dry, damaged hair isn’t able to retain added colour as well as healthy hair, so if you want your hair to remain fresh for longer, use extra nourishing conditioners and hydrating masks at least once a week.
Try: Molton Brown Mer-rouge Deep Conditioning Mask, evo the great hydrator moisture mask, Morrocanoil Weightless Hydrating Mask
#9 Perfect your drying technique
We're all guilty of commiting one blow-drying mistake or another, and one of the biggest consequences of neglecting to dry your locks safely, is colour fade. To stop fading locks dead in their tracks, be sure to keep your dryer at arm’s length at minimum, rather than applying the heat directly against your hair. A good indication of whether it's too close is your scalp. Ideally, 10-12cm is safe, and just be sure to keep it moving at all times. Focusing the air on the one spot for too long is a surefire way to speed u the colour fading process. Lastly, invest in a good dryer that'll work to protect your hair, not damage it.
Try: Remington Pro-Air Turbo, EVY Professional InfusaLite Dryer
#10 Alternate between visits
To save you money and time, try spacing pricy salon splurges out by alternating with an at home hair colour kit in between. A single process is simple and effective, so long as you stick to a similar shade to your current hair colour. For a DIY kit that will last for weeks at a time, opt for a moisturising formula that will help condition the strands for a healthier shine.
Try: Schwarzkopf Nectra Colour, Clairol Nice ‘N Easy
Do you colour your hair? Do you struggle to maintain your freshly dyed hue? What colour savings tricks do you use?
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
Review them now to earn points that you can swap for free beauty products in RewardsRoom.
171 Member Comments
The purple conditioner from Evo is wonderful for lighter hair
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I always home colour my hair because i can't afford to have it done at a Salon. I use a colour protect shampoo and once a week a colour protect treatment. I only shampoos my hair every 3rd day and I do wear a shower cap in the shower on the days that I don't. I also use a colour protect spray with UV filters. I think I'm doing the right things as I only need to colour my hair after 4 weeks.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Oh dear...I have really been doing this all wrong... I always give my hair a really good wash straight after it's been coloured! And I am yet to try dry shampoo... It freaks me out haha I love washing my hair! It feels and smells so lovely. I too miss my natural hair colour Makeupcatx ! It's so hard to get it back! And I'm not sure if I completely know what it was haha
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
good tips!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
The hardest part for me is to not wash my hair the next day after having my hair dyed. I get so itchy and I feel like I have gunk built up on my scalp!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I've happily had natural colour for many years now - it was a must after a disastrous colour by a professional so I let the awful mess grow out and didn't recolour. Lousy way to decide to go natural though!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I have just started going to the hairdressers and getting my hair done professionally and what a difference it makes. I was colouring at home, but all I was doing was damaging my hair.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I usually colour my hair once or twice a year at home and usually just spray in some hair protectant with SPF in summer. I don't worry too much about it to be honest, but I think this is a great list of tips. Always protect hair when styling with heat.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
It's been a while since I've coloured it - may need to look at doing this again!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great article, my hair colour looks great after I get it done at the hairdressers but doesn't take long to fade despite using products for coloured hair.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Cold water and dry shampoo are coloured hairs best friend.. and a deep conditioning hair mask.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I think I will only colour hair for greys now when its time.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Number one scares me. I let my hair as greasy as possible before at home colouring and make sure it is in good condition at the time. (meaning regular hair masking and serums few weeks beforehand). Like this I get least damage, or none from bleaching ...i think
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great tips!!!!!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great tips. I will have to keep in mind not standing directly under the shower head even though I love it.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I never think to UV protect my hair.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Deep cleansing shampoo will strip colour out. Heat protection and uv is a must!
Lower heat on the irons is a must think of a iron and a shirt once it's burnt there is no return
Using a at home supermarket colour range can result in damage to the hair as most people don't need the extreamly harsh chemicals they have in them on their hair let alone the fact it's like a box of chocolates you never no what's colour you will get. Also it can result in not getting the perfect result at the salon due to the ingrediences in the products that clash with professional salon products resulting in a chemical haircut
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I don't want to sound like a know-it-all - but I have read most of this stuff before.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Also don't rinse your hair in very hot water either
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I'm going to get some highlights in my hair soon, so this article is really well timed for me!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great advice.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I always tell people to turn their straightener down because it can strip the colour and make the hair dull and brassy really quickly.
I agree about the clarifying shampoo, people load their hair up with all sorts of stuff that coats the hair shaft!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Some useful tips
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
The U.V protection tip was a good 'un! I'll do that in future. I actually use a hair mask every time I wash, but I do have dry, coloured hair. Another friend mixes her regular conditioner with a mask as her maintenance, but she has normal strands with colour. Hair oils are a great addition too, however, watch that it doesn't skew the colour of your hair in appearance afterwards....not permanently, just after you use it.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Great tips....
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0