You can maintain the shine and vibrancy of your color-treated hair with the right maintenance and a little imagination. The fact that 70% of American women dye their hair is fantastic news! The experts at Matrix provide these 26 recommendations to assist you to take care of color-treated hair in order to help preserve your hair color and keep it looking lovely:

25 Tips to Help Protect Color-Treated Hair

Well-Conditioned Hair is Required for Long-Lasting Hair Color

Hair that has been colored may become more porous, which makes it easier for it to absorb and release moisture. Every time your hair gets wet from this, color molecules may start to fade. Here are some suggestions for preserving your hair in the finest condition to preserve as much moisture as possible.

1. Request that your stylist only use conditioning, high-quality hair colors.

To start, request that your hair colorist use a professional hair color that has conditioning ingredients so that it will continue to condition the hair over the course of several weeks.

Your color-treated hair will look lustrous and healthy after receiving herbal hair colors with natural oils to help keep moisture. Another fantastic professional alternative that gives hair TLC is ammonia-free hair color.

2. Keep in mind that red hair dye is most susceptible to color loss because it has the largest molecules.

Red colors evaporate more quickly since they can't penetrate the hair deeply due to the larger molecular size. Make sure your hairdresser uses hair color that maximizes high-definition color results with the least amount of stress to the hair's cuticle if you want to go for a red shade.

3. Reduce How Often You Shampoo Color-Treated Hair -

The solution is straightforward: wash your hair less frequently to avoid water from erasing your brilliant color. Shampoo only twice or three times a week, and never more than every other day, to preserve the natural oils that help condition your color-treated hair. This will extend the life of your color and keep the health of your colored hair.

4. Use a Color-Safe Dry Shampoo on Color-Treated Hair Between Days –

Flip your hair over and spray dry shampoo at the roots to soak up oil to help color-treated hair seem fresh.

5. After Coloring, Wait 2 Days Before Shampooing –

If possible, wait at least 48 hours after coloring your hair before shampooing. Better still, wait three or four days before shampooing. The color will have plenty of time to set as a result.

6. When You Don't Shampoo, Keep Your Hair Dry in the Shower –

On those off days, cover your color-treated hair with a shower cap to prevent it from becoming wet while you're in the shower, as this can cause some color to fade. Or, to prevent it from getting wet, tie your hair up into a loose bun or a ponytail.

7. Use Cooler or Lukewarm Water When Shampooing Color-Treated Hair –

When shampooing, use water that is no hotter than lukewarm. Because it opens the surface of the hair strand and allows the dye molecules to escape, extremely hot water quickly removes color from hair and strips it of its color.

8. Skip Shampoo Occasionally Try Applying Conditioner Alone to Color-Treated Hair –

If you can, think about applying hydrating conditioner only to your color-treated hair. The shampoo has a greater potential to remove the color from your hair than conditioner.

9. Condition Color-Treated Hair After Every Shampoo -

Make careful to condition your colored hair with a color-protecting conditioner after each shampooing if you have colored hair. Your color will appear shinier and more even if your hair is conditioned. Even if you have fine hair, condition the tips because they are the oldest and most damaged hair on your head. Work your way down to the ends, starting at your ears.

Use of Products Affects Color-Treated Hair

The duration of the color and the long-term health of your hair will depend on what you put on it. Invest in salon-quality products designed specifically for colored hair because dyed hair needs extra care. On color-treated hair, using color-protecting shampoos and conditioners can help preserve color and enhance shine, volume, and luster.

Here are some ideas:

10. Use the Best Shampoo on Color-Treated Hair –

Use a color-protecting shampoo when washing color-treated hair. Your color will last longer, and your processed hair will remain healthy if you use a good shampoo.

11. Don't use Sulfates on colored hair-

Sulfates can remove the color from hair, so opt for a shampoo that is sulfate-free. One of the main reasons for color fading is moisture loss, which is caused by sulfates' ability to extract moisture from materials.

12. Prior to coloring, only use clarifying shampoos on color-treated hair.

Avoid using clarifying shampoos unless it's immediately before you're getting your hair colored because they include a high degree of detergent to deep clean and eliminate the build-up of grime and hairstyling products.

Look for a clarifying shampoo that removes hairspray resins, silicones, and waxes if you have grey hair that you want to hide.

13. When styling color-treated hair, use the best conditioner-

You won't achieve the outcomes you desire if you don't use a conditioner made specifically for color-treated hair. You must use a color-protecting conditioner because colored hair has a different chemistry than its virgin counterparts.

Conditioners with oils like Tahitian monoi and those from the Ojon nut can aid in preventing fading and forming a shield on hair that has undergone color treatment. There are also conditioners made expressly to stop color-treated hair from prematurely fading.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Color-Treated Hair at Home

Ask your salon professional for a low- or no-ammonia hair color that is made with pre-softening technology before dying your hair.

For long-lasting grey coverage, this is particularly crucial.

There are things you can take to guarantee gorgeous color and excellent hair health once your color is set.

You should use silicone free shampoo and conditioner made for colored hair, but you can also use at-home treatments to safeguard your tresses.

Here are some ideas:

14. Apply deep conditioning treatments to color-treated hair to smooth and add lustre-

Treat your color-treated locks to a thorough conditioning treatment once a week for more shine. Using a comb, work the treatment into damp hair from roots to tips.

Leave the treatment in your hair for 30 minutes by pulling your hair into a bun and pinning it in place or by wrapping it in a soft towel. You'll have softer, more brilliant hair after rinsing it out.

15. Use leave-in conditioners to shield color-treated hair-

Using a leave-in conditioner will help you untangle your hair and shield it from the sun, wind, and other potentially damaging elements.

To protect color-treated hair, look for leave-in conditioners that are specially developed for that purpose. If you routinely use blow dryers, curling or straightening irons, or if you spend a lot of time around heaters or in the sun, this is very crucial.

16. Apply a Hot Oil Treatment to Color-Treated Hair to Add Sheen-

Hot oil treatments are easy to perform at home and make colored hair shine. To clean, towel-dried hair, apply the treatment oil, then wrap your hair in a shower cap or plastic wrap.

Apply heat by sitting in the sun, using a heated towel, or by using a blow dryer. Allow the hair to cool to normal temperature after heating the oil, then rinse with cold water.

17. Use a clarifying shampoo to get your color-treated hair ready for the next color procedure-

Use masks and deep-conditioning treatments a few weeks before to your next hair color appointment to make sure your hair is healthy and prepared to take on color. Then, right before your visit, shampoo with a clarifying shampoo.

18. Use heat-protecting products to prepare color-treated hair for use with hot tools-

To prevent cooking from the inside out when using blow dryers and irons on your hair, make sure the hair is completely dry before applying heat. Finish by using a preserving hairspray after preparing the hair with a fortifying leave-in conditioner.

19. Eat Well to Keep Your Hair Looking Great-

Your diet greatly affects the condition and appearance of your hair. The vitamins and minerals in a balanced diet give hair the energy it needs to grow and shine.

Proteins high in iron nourish your scalp and hair by constructing keratin, the protein that fortifies hair, enhances texture, and promotes growth. To keep your color-treated hair looking its best, consume lean meat, fish, low-fat cheeses, egg whites, spinach, and soy products. Snack on fruits, nuts, veggies, and grains in between meals.

20. Supplements Can Aid with Color-Treated Hair's Health

Vitamins are another essential for maintaining the health and radiance of color-treated hair. By assisting hair follicles, vitamin C maintains the health of the blood vessels in the scalp.

You can absorb iron from plant proteins with the aid of vitamin C. A vital B vitamin called biotin strengthens brittle hair and gives it a better texture. Salmon, carrots, egg yolks, sardines, and other foods contain biotin.

When your diet is deficient in vitamins, taking vitamin supplements can maintain your body and hair healthy and strong.

21 suggestions to maintain color-treated hair safe and gorgeous

· Guidelines for Color-Treated Hair Misuse: When possible, use less heat on your hair. Because colored hair is more prone to damage, try to limit your use of blow dryers, curling irons, and straightening irons.

· Allow your color-treated hair to dry naturally whenever possible - If you're planning to utilize heat, use a heat-protecting style product after using color-safe shampoo and conditioner.

· Keep your blow dryer on the lowest heat setting if you must dry your colored hair

· Use the cool blast setting on your blow dryer in its place.

· Use UV-protective hair products to shield your hair from the sun.

22. The sun's rays can degrade hair color at any time of year.

When you are outside on a sunny day, take care of your color-treated hair by using products that contain UV protection. Try to prevent prolonged sun exposure.

SPF is a common ingredient in hairsprays, leave-in conditioners, and styling treatments.

Even a combination of vitamins is included in some UV-protecting treatments to aid in repairing color-treated hair and preventing further harm.

If you anticipate spending a lot of time in the sun, consider wearing a hat to increase your protection. Use a moisturizing spray with an SPF of 10 to 15 all day long to preserve your colored hair in the summer when the sun's rays are at their most dangerous.

If you spend a lot of time in the pool, moisten your colored hair and apply a preventive leave-in conditioner before getting wet to help prevent the chlorine from fading your color.

Chlorine's chemicals can pile up and cause hair color, especially lighter hues, to change to an unpleasant green hue. Or, to keep your hair dry, put on a swim cap.

23. Avoid coloring your hair too often.

Hair color is one example of a nice thing that can go too far and turn bad. Don't color your hair more frequently than once every five to six weeks because doing so can harm it.

There are many products available on the market that can help you get by till the next coloring when roots start to show.

The "zipper" can be removed, and greys can be covered up in between hair-color treatments with the aid of at-home touch-up kits, hair mascara, and spray-on root concealers.

24. Avoid twice coloring color-treated hair

Remember not to overuse chemical treatments on your hair. Try to prevent perming or resting as you color. Ask your hairdresser for low-chemical hair color, and botanical formulations that nourish the hair while processing if you want to do both. Stagger the treatments.

25. Your hair may be harmed if your colored hair is frizzy.

Regular cuts and trims are the best methods to maintain the healthiest-looking color-treated hair. Just enough to prevent frayed ends is sufficient; you don't need to have an extreme shortcut.

25 Tips to Help Protect Color-Treated Hair