10 Daily Habits to SAVE your Hair Colour

10 Daily Habits to SAVE your Hair Colour

So you’ve found the perfect shade for your mane and want to keep that colour looking vibrant until your next appointment. The secret to keeping your colour in tip-top condition comes down to how your locks are cared for after leaving the salon. Are you ready to take the fate of your colour into your own hands? Read on for some expert-approved tips for making your new look last!
 
1.     SUDS UP SANS SULPHATES
Lathering up with sulphates is a surefire way to expedite the fading process leaving you with dull, lackluster colour before your salon visit is scheduled. Swapping out shampoos that contain harsh sulphates for gentle, colour safe formulas is one of the fastest and easiest ways to minimize fadeage and protect that colour!

2.     PUT COLOUR ON LOCKDOWN
Mildly acidic products seal the hair cuticle, locking in the colour, resulting in smoother, shinier hair and longer lasting colour.  A low pH between 4.5 and 5.5, smooths, seals and protects the hair while healing and repairing the scalp.

3.  PREP HAIR PRIOR TO SWIMMING
Salt water and chlorine are some of the biggest culprits of hair colour fadeage but that doesn't mean you have to give up your daily dip. To keep colour fresh and to avoid mineral buildup, apply a deep conditioning masque to protect hair prior to swimming. 

4.     UNDO DAMAGE
Dry, damaged hair is more porous, and hence, vulnerable to colour loss. To boost your hair's health and maximize colour longevity, treat brittle, damaged, over-processed hair with a weekly at-home hair treatment or ask your stylist about in-salon options to bolster hair's health during your next visit. 

5.     SHINE ON
Smooth, shiny hair is the perfect canvas for showing off beautiful colour. Maximize your hair's light-reflecting abilities with a shine-enhancing products that repairs while adding shine with zero oily residue. 

6.     BOOST YOUR BLONDE 
Not born blonde? Adding a toner is great for salon visits but maintaining your clean blonde at home can be as simple as incorporating a violet-based wash and rinse into your hair care routine. These formulas brighten and tone, keeping warmth and brassiness at bay for a clean, shiny and natural looking (read: not yellow) result.

7.     LATHER UP LESS FREQUENTLY
Skipping your daily shampoo could be one of the best tricks in the book for prolonging your colour. To keep second (or third) day hair feeling fresh while avoiding washing your colour down the drain, mist roots with a dry shampoo which will absorb excess oils and deodorize for an instantly refreshed 'do.

8.     GET SAVVY WITH STYLING 
Hot tools like your flat iron or curling wand suck moisture and colour from your hair. Protect your tresses against thermal damage and colour fading by spritzing a heat protection spray prior to styling and choose a heat setting accordingly.

9.     BE SUN-SMART
Seems ironic, but one of the best ways to maintain those just-got-home-from-vacation sun-kissed highlights is to avoid the sun. Exposure to the sun's harsh UV rays leaves hair warmer, and a little brassy and bleached looking. Keep your colour undercover as much as possible by wearing a hat when spending long periods of time in direct sunlight.

10.     KEEP CLOSE TO YOUR NATURAL SHADE 
For maximum colour impact for the minimum amount of maintenance, stay within one to two depths of your natural colour. This will provide a more forgiving fade and the least noticeable new growth.