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Ask Karen - March 2003


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Revised Date: 5/01/07 - Original Publication Date: March 2003
Fading Hair Color?

Question

Dear Karen,

I recently moved to a different part of the country. About one month after I moved I noticed that my hair color started to fade very quickly compared to how it faded in the past. Can you help me figure out what might be causing my hair color to change? Could it be the different environment? Any help would be appreciated.

JJ

Answer

Dear JJ,

There are several reasons why hair color might fade including the water you shampoo with, the cleansing and styling products you use on your hair and the amount of time you spend out in the sun. The environment may have an impact as well.

Make a list of any possible changes that have occurred with your hair since you moved. Have you changed the shampoo, conditioner or styling products you normally used in the past? Are you spending more time in the sun or surf? What about the water in your new home. Does it contain a higher amount of chlorine? Have you changed the brand of hair color that you use? What about medications. Have you recently changed or added medications?

One condition that could have a hand in your hair color loss would be the amount of chlorine or chemicals in your local water supply. You can check chlorine and other chemical levels by contacting your local water provider and asking for a report on the chlorine levels in your water. You might also contact your former water department and compare the two water supply chemical ingredients. Does this make a difference? Absolutely.

If you don't wish to contact your new water providers you can experiment with temporarily washing your hair with bottled water to see if that makes a difference. You can also consider installing a filter on your faucet or shower head.

When it comes to new behaviors in your hair it pays to spend some time and give some thought to what has changed in your normal routine. If you can't find an obvious cause then consider the possibility that your hormone levels may be changing. Hormones and health can impact hair in many ways ranging from subtle to obvious.

Finally, locate a hair color expert in your new area and book a paid consultation. Be sure to let the color expert know that you want to pay for their time to consult about your hair and that you want to formulate a long range plan, rather than take a new hair color action. During the consultation be prepared to talk with them about how your hair is colored, what products you use on your hair, including styling products, and the changes you have recently noticed.

A good hair color expert should be able to help you find some answers and offer some possible long term solutions.

Best wishes,

Karen


March 11, 2003
Fading Hair Color?

Question

Dear Karen,

Any tips on how I can make my hair color last longer? I pay so much at the salon I want to make sure that I care for it properly to make sure it lasts as long as humanly possible.

Deidre

Answer

Dear Deidre,

The best thing you can do to maintain your freshly colored, highlighted or low lighted tresses is to wait a minimum of 48 hours after your color before you wash. When possible wait even longer. This allows the color to fully penetrate deep into your cuticles.

One trick that works for those in the know is to get their hair colored on a Friday morning and then wait until first thing on the following Monday to wash. While some shampoo products like volumizing formulas (that blow open the cuticle) will speed up fading, plain tap water can also strip hair of added colors.

Washing your color hair less often will also stretch the color vibrancy cycle.

Selecting shampoo and conditioning products specifically designed to maintain color treated hair is another good plan. Opt for shampoo and conditioning products that are known for their color conservation and provide UV filters. The sun is another major case of accelerated color fading. Maintenance formulas that protect against ongoing solar exposure is very beneficial.

If your hair is known to fade quickly, investigate the possibility of having a clear or color appropriate glaze applied every four to six weeks as a color refresher. A glaze also adds shine and gives color treated hair an extended life.

If you find that your hair color fades quickly, discuss your options with your hairdresser. It's possible that your hair color is fading because your hair is extremely porous or doesn't hold the color well. Your hairdresser can explore additional options.

Best wishes,

Karen


By submitting your question, you grant HairBoutique.com permission to publish it. Due to the volume of mail we receive, Karen regrets that she cannot respond to every question. To Ask Karen your questions send e-mail to: askkaren@hairboutique.com



Daily Hair Tip
Always detangle wet hair with a good quality hair pick or wide toothed comb. Make sure the pick or comb's "teeth" are smooth to prevent snagging or ripping of delicate wet hair.


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