For us color junkies, we know the damage we’re doing, but we’ll do just about anything to get that perfect shade. The bad news? Damage is dullness, which is why it’s so important to try to protect the hair from further damage, and restore some of the health that was lost when we went for the color. The hair is naturally transparent, which is what allows the core color to shine through. Unfortunately, damage done by coloring clouds this “window,” making the hair color appear less vibrant. Check out our survival guide for protecting color treated hair from further damage.
1. Unleash the power of your conditioner:
Instead of shampooing and conditioning at the end of your shower, do it in the beginning and leave the conditioner in for the duration of the shower to help improve hair texture and protect color treated hair. A deep conditioning hair mask, once a week doesn’t hurt, either!
2. Try an overnight hair mask:
Using a leave-on treatment while you sleep will smooth rough cuticles to help repair some of the damage done by color treating. Plus, waking up with deeply conditioned hair that smells awesome is pretty much the best thing ever.
3. Take a break from the heat:
Instead of busting out the blow dryer, curling iron, and straightener daily, consider taking a day or two off. Try an air dried look, or an awesome updo like the timeless topknot or a loose braid. Pro tip: no blow dryer necessary – the messier these updos look, the better!
4. Guard against heat damage:
If you must blow dry (it’s Friday night, of course we have to blow dry) always use a heat protecting spray. A heat protectant will help keep your strands from getting fried while adding some conditioning into the mix to enhance shine and manageability.