How to Make Your Haircolour Last Longer

Hair colour always looks best when it has been recently applied; it looks richer and more vibrant. Unfortunately it can fade rather quickly, there are ways to prevent this and keep your colour looking fresh for longer.

1. Choose the right dye.

This may seem obvious, but so many people choose a hairdye without thinking about their hair really needs. For longevity you will need a permanent dye, but try to pick one that has conditioning properties, these will help you to get shiny, longer lasting colour. Hairdyes that don't condition your hair will leave you with a flat, lifeless colour that will look faded almost immediately.

2. Shampoo.

One of the most effective ways of keeping your colour for longer is choosing the right shampoo. Use a shampoo that is specifically designed for coloured hair. They are readily available in most stores and chemists now, and they are also a lot cheaper than they used to be. They do not lather as much as normal shampoos as it is the lathering process that strips the colour from your hair. Use a small amount and lather gently. There are shampoos available that contain a small amount of hairdye, these are called colour-depositing shampoos. These are good for occasional use, but if you use them everyday, your hair colour will start to look flat and unnatural.

3. Washing.

Don't wash your hair everyday, quite simply the more you wash it, the more you wash the colour out. When you do wash it, be gentle, don't scrub at it and don't use too much shampoo. If your hair gets a bit greasy between washes, try a dry shampoo; this will keep your hair fresh without stripping the colour.

4. Products.

There are many hair care ranges available now that have a selection of products specifically designed for coloured hair. They have everything from hair protecting serums to wax. Again, I would avoid colour-depositing formulas as these using the entire range of their products would have a very unnatural effect.

5. Protection.

Your hair needs to be protected from your heated appliances. Apply a heat protection spray to towel dried hair (it should be about 70% dry) comb through with a wide tooth comb. Blow dry on the lowest setting and keep the hairdryer moving down the hair, this will help the cuticle lie flat, making your hair look shinier. Do not apply any kind of product to your hair immediately before you straighten or curl it. When you have moisture on your hair and you then straighten it, what you are essentially doing is putting boiling liquid onto your hair.