Maybe you have been coloring your hair for a while or perhaps you are a newbie to the color scene. In either case washing colored hair the correct way will make a big difference as to how long your hair color stays looking fresh.
You may have lightened, darkened or added a new tone to your hair either at the salon or by yourself at home. The new color looks vibrant shiny and healthy and you are very happy with the result.
In your mind you are wondering” how can I keep the color looking this good for as long as possible”.
Believe me it is so easy to ruin your new vibrant hair color especially if you happen to have an over eager washing routine. Or do not make use of the products that are especially formulated for your hair color needs.
How Soon Should You Be Washing Your Hair After Coloring.
Now this is a question that not a lot of people ask when they are coloring their hair. Yet knowing the answer and the reason why can help you to prolong the rich tone of your new hair color.
After coloring your hair you should never ever get up the next day jump in the shower and decide to wash your hair. Because it is the quickest way to turn your hair color from fabulous to faded.
Unfortunately it happens to be one of the most common mistakes that people make after having a hair color.
Ideally you should leave your hair unwashed for 48 to 72 hours after your color process. As this allows the outer layer of your hair known as the cuticle to fully close. So trapping the color molecules in your hair. Leading to a longer lasting hair color.
Washing Colored Hair How Often Is Too Often.
To keep your freshly colored hair vibrant for as long as possible do not over wash your hair.
Think in terms of once every two or three days rather than that daily regime you may have had before.
This goes for all hair colors from blondes to very dark shades.
As one of hair colors biggest enemies that can cause fade faster than any other factor is water.
And this matters even more so if you have plumped for a color that has a lot of red pigment. Such as a burgundy or fiery red shade.
The same can also be said for strong auburn colors like a bright copper or a red copper.
This is because these red pigments tend to fade very fast making your once vibrant color look dull.
The reason for this fast fade on red shades is due to the red molecule being larger than any other color molecule. Because it is larger it cannot penetrate so deeply into your hairs cortex or middle layer so sits nearer the surface.
Which means that those large red pigments will wash away more easily.
Why Water Type & Temperature Matters.
When it comes to washing colored hair the water coming out of your shower head plus the temperature of that water. Will make a difference as to the amount of color pigments you retain.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency drinking water PH levels should range from 6.5 to 8.5.
Therefore the water in your area will generally have a higher PH level than that of your hair.
Which means that the cuticle on your hair shaft will hinge open when wet. So allowing color to leach out.
You may also find that if you live in an area where the water has been heavily treated some discoloration in your hair color may also occur.
And yes unfortunately hot water and the steam it produces will exaggerate this whole process.
I know you probably don’t fancy a cold hair wash over a hot one.
But do try to use only warm water so less steam. Then finish with a quick cold-water rinse to help seal back the cuticle.
In fact the old saying that rinsing your hair with rainwater was good for the hair. Because it was slightly acidic was not far from the truth.
Unfortunately with today’s environmental issues this is now far from the case.
A point to remember – The more time that you spend rinsing your colored hair under hot water the more your color will fade and loose it’s vibrancy.
Do The Correct Products Matter When Washing Colored Hair.
The use of the correct type of shampoo for your hair type has advantages when it comes to colored hair.
Using a regular harsh shampoo a dandruff shampoo or a clarifying shampoo can strip your hair color faster.
Whilst a color safe shampoo will help to slowdown the vibrancy fading from your hair color. Unfortunately it will not stop it completely.
All shampoos for colored hair should not contain sulfates. Or any other harsh ingredients that can affect your chemically pigmented hair. So make it a point to have a quick look at the ingredients list when you next purchase your shampoo.
Here are some of the benefits when you use products that are safe for your hair color.
- Good color protective shampoos and conditioners include more moisturizing ingredients.
- The shampoos contain sunscreens and PH adjusters.
- To help prevent your color pigments filtering out. These products contain antioxidants and proteins to strengthen your hairs cuticle.
You will also see many color depositing shampoos and conditioners that can be very helpful in keeping the brassy tones from light blonde hair.
As well as ones formulated to give your red or brown hair a small boost.
They work by depositing a small amount of pigment onto your hairs outer layer with each wash or application.
Working more in a cosmetic way to help you keep the vibrancy of your hair color longer.
Thank you for reading my post I hope that you found it informative.
PS. here is. Hair toners are great to help keep your hair color vibrant.
