How to stop your hair color fading so fast should be an important factor in your hair color after care regime.
You have just spent the time sitting in the salon chair maybe even for several hours. To achieve that shiny vibrant color. Unfortunately for you that beautiful hair color will not stay that vibrant way forever.
Even though you wish it would.
No matter how you have colored your hair or which one of the many coloring techniques you have used.
Those glamorous red brown shades can soon turn to an unwanted orange brown. Whilst that shimmering platinum blonde will soon start to take on a yellowish tinge.
Now a certain amount of your colored hair fade cannot be helped.
As this is due to an oxidization that takes place by just being in the atmosphere.
Why Your Hair Color Fades In The Atmosphere.
Sunlight does have a direct effect on your hair color whether it is natural or chemically treated.
That is why it is important to take care of your colored hair when you go to the beach.
Because UV light from the sun will degrade the melanin pigment within your hair shaft and bleach the hair fibre.
Oxidization in your hair color will take place when excessive oxygen from water or the atmosphere enters your hair.
This oxygen will then attach itself to the artificial hair color molecules within your hair. Causing them to fade.
So it is important to keep your colored hair in great condition.
As this will help play a very large part in slowing down the oxidization processes which leads to your hair color fading.
When your hair is in great condition your hairs cuticles lay flat. Making it more difficult for the oxygen to enter into the inner layer of your hair and effect the color pigments.
5 Steps That You Can Take To Stop Your Hair Color Fading Fast.
You cannot do a lot about the atmosphere and your hair color fading.
But you can avoid a few of these pitfalls and that will definitely help improve the life of your hair color.
They don’t even have to cost you a lot of money.
Step 1. Do Allow Your Hair Color Full Processing Time.
If you are someone who applies their own hair color. Don’t be in a rush to shampoo the color off before the time stated
When going to a professional. Don’t hassle the stylist to take off the color because it seems to have been on your head for to long.
A common reason for hair color fading fast is an insufficient processing time. In other words not leaving the hair color on your hair long enough.
This is especially so if you happen to have gray hair. As the hair cuticles on grey hair tend to be more tightly packed down.
This will have a tendency to make your hair more resistant. Meaning that the hair color will take a longer time to open those cuticles and allow the artificial color pigments to enter your hair.
Step 2. Don’t Shampoo The Day After Your Color.
Shampooing the day after you have had your hair colored is a big No No.
Yet it is probably the number 1 common mistake that people make.
Now I have heard a lot of people say “I always wash my hair the next day because it doesn’t feel clean” or “I always wash my hair at least once a day as part of my routine”
Fine great so you like clean hair.
But think of your fresh new vibrant hair color.
Do you really want to wash your hard earned money down the drain?
It takes your hair cuticle layers up to 3 days to close so trapping the color molecules in your hair.
If you wash your hair the next day when your hairs cuticle layers are still open.
You will be washing some of those precious color molecules straight out of your hair.
This is a major mistake. So make sure that you don’t make it. Wait at least 48 hours before your first shampoo.
Step 3. Do Prepare Your Hair For Color.
The key to getting a great looking color is having great condition hair.
The better your hair condition is the longer your color will last.
Good hair condition also makes the results of your hair coloring far more predictable.
Think of prepping your hair a few days before your next color appointment.
Take the time to give your hair a treat. A night in with a deep conditioning treatment can help slowdown that color fade.
Step 4. Do Remember Water Is Your Hair Colors Enemy.
Believe it or not water is your hair colors worst enemy.
Try to shampoo your hair only every two or if possible every three days.
I know if you are used to washing your hair every day that seems an impossible task.
But believe me it will help to prolong the vibrancy of your hair color.
If you really need to liven your hair up on the second day. Maybe due to an oily build up on the scalp try using a dry shampoo as a pick me up for your hair just to help you get by.
When your hair gets soaked in water the hair shaft swells so forcing the cuticle of your hair to open. This then allows the color molecules to escape down the drain.
The truth is that the less that your hair touches water the longer your hair color will last.
Do also keep in mind. The hotter the water the quicker the color fade will be.
Step 5. Hair Color Fading Fast Check Your Shampoo.
Hair shampoos are not all created equal.
After spending your hard earned cash at the hair salon to achieve the hair color of your choice. Don’t cut back on the budget when it comes to buying a shampoo and conditioner if you want to prolong that vibrant look.
Harsh shampoos do not tend to help when it comes to hair color fading as they contain sulfates. These sulfates are included in many other cleaning products where a foaming action is required.
And we all believe that seeing a lot of foam when we shampoo our hair is a good sign that it is clean.
Wrong.
Unfortunately sulfates are also a big enemy of your hair color as they are capable of stripping your hair of its essential oils and moisture.
Shop for a sulfate free shampoo and know why you should.
Most of the labelled color safe shampoos and conditioners are sulfate free. As these products are especially suitable for your colored hair.
But do check the ingredients list. Make sure that none of these 3 sulfates are included.
1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate ( SLS )
2. Sodium Laureth Sulfate ( SLES)
3. Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate ( ALS )
Hair Color Fading It’s Up To You.
Your hair will need your help if you want to keep your hair color at its best for as long as possible.
By knowing that the major enemies of your hair color are water and sulfates.
You can make sure to avoid them as much as possible which will stand you in good stead to keeping your hair color vibrant for a longer time.
Thank you for reading my post. If you found it useful please share it with a friend.