You have spent hours sitting in the chair at the hair salon so that you can achieve the beautiful hair color you desire.
So let’s work on keeping that colored hair safe from its biggest nightmares. The sun and water.
The colored paint work on a car fades over time. The fabric on a sofa or a piece of furniture placed near a window will fade over time.
Just imagine the effect the sun will have on the chemicals used to achieve your beautiful hair color.
Colored Hair Nightmare 1 – The Sun.
The power of the sun’s rays will lighten anything.
For hair that has not been chemically treated over exposure to the sun will definitely take its toll.
Your hair will slowly lighten and dry out.
Because over exposure to the sun damages your hair’s cuticle which is the outside layer of your hair.
So imagine what happens when you have colored hair. Or chemically treated hair such as a perm or re-bonding.
Yes you are right. It will be affected at a far faster and greater rate.
The sun not only fades your color it also exposes any natural remaining pigments. Which generally happen to be brassy looking tones.
We have all learnt to put a high factor tanning cream or a sun block on our skin when exposed to the sun.
We also need to look at doing the same for our hair. In fact the best thing to do for your hair is
KEEP IT COVERED.
A big floppy hat can work.
Take Care Of Your Scalp.
If you are going to sit in the sun and hats are really not your thing.
Firstly make sure you apply sunblock where your hair parts and in any area of your scalp where your hair is thinning.
Because skin is skin no matter where it is.
And sunscreen will stop your scalp from getting sun burn and becoming sensitive.
In the parts that are exposed to the strong rays of the sun.
Pack A Hair Sunscreen For Your Colored Hair.
Shop for hair sunscreen in the same way as you would shop for your normal sunscreen
Look for a high level SPF 30 of UV protection or above.
They come in many forms from spays and mists which tend to be a bit lighter than the oils and creams.
Which you may find are a little heavy for your liking.
Always apply your hair sunscreen on damp hair by working the product through from your roots to the ends of your hair.
And just like sunscreen for your body make sure that you apply it frequently.
Colored Hair Nightmare 2 – Chlorine And Saltwater.
These two chlorine and saltwater are a big disaster for your colored hair.
Especially if combined with nightmare number 1. The sun.
Think about it this way would you dip your favorite dress or piece of clothing in saltwater or chlorine.
Then leave it laying out in the sun for a few hours.
No of course you would not you say “the color would fade and the fabric would damage”.
With the hair being like a sponge.
The moment you jump into the sea or a swimming pool the water is sucked up into your hair and chemical actions start to take place.
Chlorine has a chemical reaction on the hair it removes the natural oils covering your hair.
This will result in the loss of shine and flexibility.
It will also create a mild bleaching effect on your colored hair.
Combine this with the sun and hey presto you have major hair color fade.
The reaction of chloride on keratin (of which the hair is made of) will weaken the chemical bonds between the fibres.
Which form the hair shaft.
Hence your hair will become weak and the ends of the hair split.
The cuticle of your hair will also get affected. As the chlorine will seep between the cuticle scales so pushing them up.
This in turn will make your hair feel rough and prone to damage and breakage.
Sea water on the other hand has a high salt content.
This causes moisture to drain from your hair so that it tends to becomes dry and brittle.
You can find that your hair can become very difficult to comb out.
If your hair happens to be colored the salt water damage will make it feel hard to the touch.
If Going For a Dip Think Of Your Colored Tresses.
At the least soak your hair under a shower before entering the sea or swimming pool.
Remember your hair is like a sponge and if it sucks in the water from the shower first it means the less chlorine or salt water will be absorbed into your hair.
Or go with natural oils like Argon, Avocado or Coconut and sleek back your hair. And if these are not available use some conditioner or hair mask.
Because these will coat and smooth your hairs cuticle and in doing so will give your hairs cuticle protection.
Which in turn will help protect your colored hair.
How About A Swim Cap.
Firstly swim caps are not designed to keep your hair dry.
But for making a swimmer more sreamlined in the water.
Yes they will help to protect your hair to a certain degree.
Because they will add a barrier between your hair and the water. Which will help to reduce the harmful effects of chlorine or salt water.
Although water will still sneak in. So applying a hair sunscreen or a natural oil before putting on the swim cap would be a good idea.
Help Your Hair Color Survive At The Beach.
Always be sure to rinse your hair with fresh water directly after getting out from the sea or pool.
Because this will get rid of as much of the salt water or chlorine as possible.
So reducing the effects of the chemicals and salt on your colored hair.
If you sit and enjoy the sun and allow your hair to dry before you rinse it.
The chlorine and salt particles will bond to your hair shaft.
Thus making it a lot more difficult to remove them.
Then as soon as you have the time to shampoo your hair I thoroughly recommend putting on a hair mask.
As like your skin your hair after being exposed to sun and the sea or pool water will be in a fragile state.
Therefore it is important to nourish it with a hair mask so making sure to put back any moisture your hair may have lost during your day at the beach.
Now if you happen to have spent all day jumping in and out of the pool you could find that chlorine deposits are making your hair look dull.
A great way to refresh your hair is to use an apple cider vinegar rinse after you shampoo yet before your final rinse.
As this is a natural clarifier and will remove any chloride deposits that happen to be left in your hair
For the apple cider rinse mix one part apple cider vinegar to four parts of water.
To find more tips on how to keep your hair color for longer. Visit my post 5 tips to stop your hair color fading fast
So work on keeping your colored hairs nightmares at bay. Remember healthy hair does hold your hair color longer.
