You know what’s a great feeling? Leaving the salon feeling so fresh and fab with your new hair color (it looks amazing, by the way).
You know what’s not such a great feeling? That amazing fashion hair color fading well before your next appointment. What a drag!
We’re all about hair color that lasts for as long as possible, which is why we thoroughly test a color product’s staying power before using it in the salon. But did you know color longevity is also influenced by your at-home care routine? It’s true! YOU have the power to extend the life of the color in those lovely locks.
Wondering where to start? Karina and Leia, two of our top fashion-color enthusiasts are here with a few quick tips to help you slow the fade so you can enjoy your perfect color even longer.
Use color-protective shampoo and conditioner
Products made for color-altered hair have a higher pH balance, which helps protect the integrity of your hair color. Ingredients found in color-protective shampoos and conditioners are also much gentler on the hair and keep everything moisturized.
KEVIN.MURPHY’s EVERLASTING.COLOUR WASH and RINSE are great options designed for color protection, and if you want an extra kick of moisture, HYDRATE-ME.WASH and RINSE are also color-friendly options.
Use cold water (as cold as you can tolerate!)
Hot water opens our hair cuticle, allowing the color to fall out, and as a result, start fading more quickly. Cold water is going to keep the cuticle closed. Think of shingles on a roof or the feathers on a bird—we want them to lay down so the water flows off instead of inside.
Avoid chlorinated pools at all costs
Okay, maybe not at ALL costs, but be mindful of the water you’re exposing your hair to. Chlorine damages the hair, causing it to dry out and the color to look faded and lackluster.
But before you throw in the towel on swimming altogether, know that the occasional pool dip is totally fine. Just wait as long as you can after your color service to get in the water (the longer you wait the better, but if you absolutely can’t stand it, about a week minimum). Also, if you are a frequent swimmer you can try soaking your hair with tap water first (bonus points if you have a showerhead filter!) so your hair absorbs less chlorine, OR for the ultimate hair-color protection, swim caps are great.
Wear a giant hat in the sun (aka the sun is a color thief)
It all comes back to heat! The heat from the sun can cause damage to your hair with extended exposure. Wearing a hat helps protect your hair (and also your face!) from its rays. If hats aren’t your style, though, consider a heat-protecting leave-in, such as KEVIN.MURPHY’s EVERLASTING.COLOUR LEAVE-IN (which is a color protectant as well, so it's a double whammy).
Limit hot tool use (and use a heat protectant!)
For the same reasons we avoid hot water and too much sun, we want to avoid overusing hot styling tools like curling irons, straighteners, and blow-dryers—too much heat will make our color fade faster! When you do use them, be sure to apply some heat protection beforehand to help maintain those beautiful, bright colors! We love KEVIN.MURPHY’s HEATED.DEFENSE!
Wash your hair no more than 2-3 times per week
Shampoo cleanses and strips away the oil and debris in our hair, and in turn, it also strips our color a little each wash. Thus, the more we wash, the faster our color will fade. KEVIN.MURPHY’s FRESH.HAIR is a great dry shampoo to keep your hair fresh between wash days without sacrificing your color’s longevity.
Keep your hair well-conditioned
When we do a vivid fashion color service, we almost always have to pre-lighten the hair to really get those colors to pop. This is going to create some dryness and minor damage to the hair. In general, too, environmental factors can lead to our hair drying out. And dry hair can bleed color, leading to quicker fading.
Aside from using conditioner after each wash, leave-in treatments and masques can help us go the extra mile to restore moisture, keeping the hair soft, shiny, and full of color. KEVIN.MURPHY’s LEAVE-IN.REPAIR is an absolute dream for this!
Finally, be sure to maintain a regular maintenance schedule with your stylist.
“Fading is going to happen regardless after some time,” Karina says. “Refreshing with your stylist about every two to three months will keep your hair color looking gorgeous.”