I love my red hair, but keeping the colour looking fresh is pretty hard. Especially due to the comparatively large molecules in red hair dye, which prevent the dye from taking hold. So here are my "tried and true" tips for keeping colour Vibrant.
1) Get your hair coloured professionally.
Besides a general lack of quality, most drugstore dyes contain Aluminium. Aluminium actually prevents your hair colour from lasting. A hairdresser can also help you get the exact colour you want. Because believe me, I have been through my share of drugstore brands that just turn out a weird shade of orange or pink.
2) After colouring, do not wash your hair for three days, and at least every other day after that.
Nothing seems to fade your hair colour faster then washing it. especially right after you colour. If you do not give the colour time to set, you can risk undoing your dye job. So do not wash it for at least 3 days.
After that first wash, make sure you do not wash your hair every day. this will preserve the dye, and prevent your hair from drying out.
After that first wash, make sure you do not wash your hair every day. this will preserve the dye, and prevent your hair from drying out.
3) Use colour safe shampoo and conditioner.
Look for sulfate free cleansing products. Sulfates are a harsh detergent that strip your hair of dye. I would suggest looking for a shampoo and conditioner that is specially formulated to colour treated hair. The ingredients in these will help prolong your colour. And generally make it more vibrant.
4) Rinse your hair with cold water after conditioning.
After rinsing the conditioner out of your hair, finish of with a cold rinse. This will close the hair cuticles and seal in the proteins from your cleansing products. I also find this makes my hair a little shinier.
5) Protect your hair against the effects of heat styling and the sun.
Heat styling will damage your hair. To help prevent this, use a heat protecting product before hand. The more damaged your hair is, the harder it is to hold on to colour.
Exposure to the sun generally lightens even non-colour treated hair. And like skin, can cause severe damage. So I use a UV protectent spray when I know I am going to be out in the sun for awhile.
Heat styling will damage your hair. To help prevent this, use a heat protecting product before hand. The more damaged your hair is, the harder it is to hold on to colour.
Exposure to the sun generally lightens even non-colour treated hair. And like skin, can cause severe damage. So I use a UV protectent spray when I know I am going to be out in the sun for awhile.
About my Hair colour
I get a full colour every 3-4 months by the lovely and talented Mackenzie, at the Curious Salon in North Hill Mall (Calgary, Alberta). The colour is 1/2 45RO, 1/2 5WC, 15 volumes and 5 orange shots. However, It has been a month since I last dyed my hair. So the initial colour you get, should be slightly richer then the colour shown in the photos above.
The products I use on a regular basis to protect my colour are: John Frieda Radiant Red Colour Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner, Moroccan Oil (For thermal protection), and Joico K-Pak Sun Therapy Protective Sun Milk (For UV protection).
The products I use on a regular basis to protect my colour are: John Frieda Radiant Red Colour Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner, Moroccan Oil (For thermal protection), and Joico K-Pak Sun Therapy Protective Sun Milk (For UV protection).
Please Leave your questions, comments or requests below.
Or send me an e-mail at beautybysmittenkitten@gmail.com
If I go to a place that sells professional dyes, can you recommend a colour that would make it go the red colour you have all over? I can't afford a salon!
ReplyDeleteIf they sell professional dyes, I would suggest telling them what I use to get my custom deep orange-red (1/2 45RO, 1/2 5WC, 15 volumes and 5 orange shots). And they should be able to point you in the right direction. Bringing a picture might help as well :)
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