Our last post was all about the hottest hair color trends, and if you’ve recently color-treated your hair, you should know it now needs a bit of extra attention to keep that new color looking its best. Today, we’re here with a few of our top tips to keep your color looking vibrant and your hair looking healthy, especially during this winter season.
Wash less often. During the color treatment process, the outer layer of the cuticle is opened to allow the color to penetrate the hair shaft. If you wash your hair too soon after you color, this cuticle layer might still be opened which will lead to the color being washed straight down the shower drain. It can take up to three days for the cuticle layer to fully close, so wait at least that long to shampoo for the first time after your treatment. In addition to this initial waiting period, extending the time between regular washes will also help you avoid stripping the natural oils from your hair and keep your color vibrant. We recommend using a good dry shampoo in between washes to keep your hair looking and smelling fresh.
Use professional products. Your stylist is an expert in hair care and should be your first source of information regarding quality products specific to your hair. We recommend sulfate-free shampoo for color maintenance, and we have many sulfate-free options in our salons to help meet all your hair care needs.
Turn down the heat. Hot showers might be your favorite escape, especially when it’s cold out, but it is not good for your hair color. To prevent stripping your color, try shampooing with warm water and rinsing your conditioner out with cold water. The warm water will allow the shampoo to penetrate the hair shaft just enough to cleanse it, and the cool rinse afterward will help seal in the moisture from your conditioner. We also recommend you reduce your use of heat styling tools as much as possible, and when you do use heat to style begin with a heat protectant.
Keep up with your regular trims. Dead ends won’t hold color and fade much faster than healthy hair, so be sure to keep up with regular trims (we recommend every 6-8 weeks) to keep your color looking fresh from root to tips.
Is your hair in need of a little extra TLC? Come see us at Charles Ifergan, where our team of professionals can help you with all your beauty needs. With three locations to serve you, downtown Chicago on Oak Street, Deerfield, and Oakbrook, we’re never too far away. Schedule an appointment today at the location that’s most convenient for you. If you prefer, you can also use our mobile app to schedule the time and place that suits your needs. Download it for free on iTunes or Google Play.
