| Haircolor: Tips To Make It Last |
| Karen Marie Shelton |
| Date: 7/11/2003 |
Introduction
 Whether
you invested a lot of time and money visiting a professional colorist
or bought a hair color kit for less than $10.00 at the drugstore, you
probably want to maximize your color results and keep if fresh and
vibrant looking as long as possible. Although it is inevitable that
colored hair sprouts roots or the color will fade, it has been
proven that there are several things anyone can do to help extend the
life of their hair color or highlights. Keep in mind that all of the
red hues will fade the fastest with the darker colors fading the
slowest. (Image above from Goldwell - Orbital Color - all rights
reserved - GoldwellUSA).
Follow these easy tips to maintain your hair's
gorgeous new color:
1. Wait 24-48 hours after your last shampoo
before the color is applied. The natural buildup of hair oils
will help the color grab better for a deeper and longer lasting hue
concentration.
2. Allow 48 hours or longer to pass after the
color is applied and washed out to resume your normal shampoo
cycle.
3. Avoid shampooing colored or highlighted hair
in hot water. Cool water is best for colored hair followed by a
cuticle closing colder water rinse. If you can't stand cool or cold
water, use lukewarm water.
 4. Whenever possible, use gentle shampoos, rinse
out and leave-in conditioners and styling products that are
specifically designed for
color-treated
hair. Consider using the color shampoos made by
Mine,
Aveda and Paul Mitchell on a rotating basis. (Photo from
Paul Mitchell - Extra Body - see
credits at the end of the article - all rights reserved).
5. Shampoo only as often as necessary.
Keep in mind that each new shampoo treatment can potentially speed up
color fading.
6. Minimize the use of hot styling tools (blow
dryers, hot irons or curlers) to
avoid heat damage to your new color.
When possible let your colored tresses air dry.
 7.
If you are a slave to your blow dryer, use a heat protecting leave-in conditioner or
protectant
product. Another option is to use a cooler air setting.
(Photo from Paul Mitchell - Juxtapose
- see credits at the end of the article - all rights reserved).
8. Limit or avoid the use of intense volumizing,
clarifying and oil reducing shampoos that are designed to blow open or
strip the hair's cuticle. These types of products may inadvertently strip and/or fade
your hair color. When in doubt, check before using any products
that may steal away your hues.
9. Minimize hot oil treatments that use highly
acidic ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, that may also strip
your color.
10. Deep condition at least once a week with
products designed specifically to help maintain and strengthen color
treated hair.
11. Avoid application of other chemical
treatments like perms or straighteners which may damage or cause hair
to become weakened and less vibrant.
 12. Stay out of salt water and chlorinated
pools that can quickly fade or leech out your prized hues. In
some cases the chemicals in the chlorinated pools may even add an
unwanted tinge of green, pink or other unnatural color.
If you
must swim and can't wear a bathing cap, rinse hair immediately before
and after entering the water with distilled water. Shampoo as
soon as possible to remove any lingering chemicals that can leech out
color. (Image from Paul Mitchell
- Smoothing - 2003 - all rights reserved - Paul Mitchell)
13. Wear your hair covered with a cap during
the sun's brightest times of the day or invest in a good sun screen
for your precious locks.
14. Alternate wearing your hair parted on
different sides to expose different sections of your hair to the
elements. This will prevent natural fading in just one area of
your strands.
Be conscientious and use extra special care for your
colored tresses and your hot hues will last as long as possible.
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