Color-treated hair is generally more vulnerable to damage because the coloring process weakens the hair strands, making them more porous and susceptible to moisture loss. Our stylists are here to help your color-treated hair stay vibrant and healthy longer with these helpful tips! 

Get a gloss!

A hair gloss is a semi-permanent treatment used on color-treated hair to enhance its appearance and provide additional benefits like dimension, extended color longevity, and enhanced shine. 

Check out our previous blog post on hair glosses to learn more about their many benefits.

Protect your hair just like you’d protect your skin

UV rays can cause color fading and damage to your hair. Whenever exposed to the sun for an extended time, consider wearing a hat or using hair products with UV protection, like Cezanne’s Leave-in Perfector Spray. You can also use leave-in conditioners or hair serums with UV filters for another layer of protection.

Reduce the use of hot styling tools

Heat strips moisture from hair, which leads chemically treated or colored hair to become more damaged and dull.

Heat styling tools like flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers can cause color-treated hair to fade faster. Minimize the use of these tools or apply a heat protectant spray before styling to minimize damage and color loss.

Avoid daily shampooing or overwashing your hair

Wait at least 72 hours to wash your hair after getting it colored by your stylist. Try to reduce the frequency of hair washing. Washing your hair less often helps to maintain the color longer. If you feel the need to freshen up between washes, consider using dry shampoo or opt for a gentle co-washing method.

Wash hair with cold water to reduce loss of color

Hot water can strip away color and natural oils from your hair. Instead, opt for cool or lukewarm water when washing your hair to help preserve the color and prevent excessive fading.

Stay away from hair products that can strip away color

Sulfates are a type of cleansing agent commonly found in many shampoos, soaps, and cleansers. The most common sulfates used in hair care products are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Sulfates are surfactants, meaning they have the ability to attract both oil and water, allowing them to lift away dirt, oil, and impurities from the hair and scalp.

We recommend sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, such as Evo’s Ritual Salvation Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner.

Avoid chlorine and salt water

Both chlorine and salt water can make hair drier and strip away its natural oils, leaving it brittle and prone to breakage. Chlorine can penetrate the hair shaft and weaken its protein structure. This leads hair to become more fragile and prone to splitting and breakage, especially in color-treated hair, which is chemically altered and can be weaker. Occasionally, chlorine reacts with copper found in tap water or other sources, creating a greenish tint on light-colored hair, commonly known as "swimmer's hair.”

If you're going for a swim, protect your hair by wearing a swim cap or applying a leave-in conditioner before entering the water. Rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water afterward.

Deep condition regularly

Treat your hair to deep conditioning treatments or hair masks regularly to keep it moisturized and nourished. Deep conditioning treatments help maintain the health of your color-treated hair while preventing dryness and breakage.

Avoid excessive brushing

Be gentle when brushing your hair, especially when it's wet. Wet hair is more fragile and prone to breakage. Use a wide-toothed comb or a brush with soft bristles to avoid pulling and tugging on the hair strands.

Schedule regular trims and color touch-ups with your stylist

Regular trims help to eliminate split ends and keep hair looking fresh and healthy. Removing split ends prevents further damage and breakage, which can help preserve the color.

Even with proper maintenance, hair color will eventually fade over time. Schedule regular touch-up appointments with your stylist to refresh the color and maintain its vibrancy.

Ready to have the hair color you’ve always wanted?

The highly trained team of professionals at Richard Nicholas Hair Studio can help you with advice and hair care services to keep you looking and feeling your best as the weather gets warmer. We’ve been helping clients tap into a sense of independence since 1971.

Call us at (215) 567-4790, visit us in person at 1716 Sansom Street in Philadelphia, PA, or book an appointment online.