Extending the Life of Your Colour

If you’re like us, you’re probably thinking the redder, blonder or browner (or pinker, or bluer, or ombre-er), the better. We’re love colour, which is why it’s so hard to see the colour fade once we’ve achieved the perfect shade of awesome. To truly understand how to protect hair from colour fading, let’s put our lab coats on and explore what colouring actually does to the hair.

WHAT HAIR COLOURING DOES TO YOUR HAIR

Hair colouring is an oxidative process that changes hair’s structure. In order to deposit the colour pigments inside of the hair, chemicals make the hair swell, making the hair more porous and able to absorb the colour. However, when your hair is more porous, water can also get into the hair, rinsing away your gorgeous colour when you shower. In fact, up to 80% of colour fade is due to water alone.

PROTECTING AGAINST SHADE FADE

When it comes to maintaining enviable colour, it’s all about taking care of your hair. Since the colouring process roughens the hair cuticle, causing damage and potentially dullness, it’s important to use a gentle colour-preserving shampoo and conditioner. The right hair products can help smooth the hair cuticle and boost shine.

RINSE WITH CAUTION

Rinsing with super hot water can make the colour fade faster. Try sticking with cooler water and using only enough water to rinse out the shampoo and conditioner to help your colour last longer.

BEAT DRYNESS

Coloured hair is rougher than non-coloured hair so it needs more conditioning for it to be smooth and shiny. Thankfully for colour addicts, there are certain shampoo and conditioner pairs designed especially for you. For example, shampoo specifically meant for colour-treated hair has a technology that will allow the matching conditioner to work on your hair strands, helping to restore and protect the hair’s surface. Bottom line? If you colour your hair, make sure you’re using the right shampoo and conditioner designed for colour-treated hair.