When our clients walk into the salon and are looking for a big change, one of the first questions we ask is “what maintenance level are you comfortable with?” Achieving a gorgeous fiery red or beautiful pastel pink can be done, but once you leave the salon, it’s completely in your hands as to how long your colour will last. How you look after your colour will have a big impact on how long your shade lasts, how well it wears and how healthy your hair strands remain.
While not every hair colour requires the same amount of maintenance, it’s helpful to be aware of how much effort you should be putting in. If you have blonde hair, check out our tips on maintaining gorgeous blonde hair here. For all other hair colours, we’ve compiled a list of our top maintenance tips.
Pre-Colour Preparation
For maintaining beautiful healthy hair after you colour it, it’s a good idea to start preparing your hair for the damage in advance. Keep your hair well-nourished and hydrated by applying masks once a week and avoiding heating tools whenever possible. The healthier your hair is before you colour it, the longer the shade will last.
Colour Treatment
Treating your hair during the colour service will help promote bond integrity, resulting in softer, smoother hair while preserving the health of hair during each salon visit. While you may have heard of Olaplex, we highly recommend our Redken pH-Bonder treatment during your colour service – it provides the same results as Olaplex, but at a more affordable price!
Wait to Wash
We recommend that you wait 48 hours after your colour before you wash it – this will help the colour to set in and will also minimize colour bleeding. It will also help to oil your hair before you wash it – the oil will form a protective layer around your hair shaft, minimizing fading. The less frequently you wash your hair, the better – and try to use cold/luke warm water to rinse your hair in the shower.
Cut off the Damage
When your hair has been through any kind of processing, it’s always beneficial to trim it then and there. Damage after colouring is inevitable, but trimming off the ends will keep this damage from spreading. Regular trims in-between colouring will also help maintain healthy hair.
Find the Right Products
As freshly coloured hair is vulnerable to bleeding and damage, it’s important to invest in quality colour-protecting products, to prolong the colour and health of the hair. There’s no point spending money on a beautiful new hair colour, only to then use supermarket hair products (some of which tend to strip the hair of colour faster)! Sulfate-free shampoos are the best option, as they don’t strip the hair of its natural oils.
If you’re not sure which products are best for your locks, our stylists are more than happy to help recommend the right products for your hair. If you’d like to have a chat to our stylists about products or about transforming your hair colour, give us a call on 04 471 1020.