Take Care of Color Treated Hair

Wild, edgy hairstyles often involve unnatural or "fashion" colors. A wild dye job can sometimes be a calling card for your individuality. If you want to enjoy one of these funky hairstyles, but worry about your color fading, you'll need to take great care of your color-treated hair. Fortunately, there are some perfect ways to do just that.

Steps

Dyeing your hair

  1. Plan ahead. Hair dye can be regarded as the point-of-no-return. Even if you can dye it back to your natural color, it won't feel the same. If you're trying to lighten your hair a whole bunch, consider the fact that your hair will become much dryer and coarser than you're used to. Be willing to change your hair care routine for the very best care and results for your hair.
    • Do you have to dye all of your hair? The ombre look allows you to play around with dyeing only some of your hair and getting a unique look as a result.
  2. Seek professional assistance hair coloring. For the very best results, get your hair professionally dyed by your favorite stylist or a professional colorist. Most stylists love having some funky, challenging style to do and will love to create it with your hair!
  3. Do it yourself using quality products. You can save yourself the high amount of money professional hair dyeing involves by purchasing a home dyeing kit. Always read the instructions thoroughly and follow them closely.
    • You may like to consider using vegetable dyes. These won't leave your hair as dry or coarse as other dye types, even after bleaching.

Sealing hair color

  1. Use a flat iron to seal your hair color. Once the hair is freshly dyed, make sure you or your stylist goes over it with a flat iron after it's dried. This helps lock the color into the hair shaft.
  2. Wait before washing your hair. Don't wash your hair for at least 48 hours. This is a mandatory step for anyone wishing their hair-color to last more than a week. Ideally, wait as long as you can. If you're only dyeing a small section of your hair (bangs, streaks on top, tips, etc.), avoid hitting this with your shampoo as much as possible.

Ongoing care for dyed hair

  1. Use mild, color-treated shampoo and conditioner. Most shampoos bottles will state if they are designed for color treated hair.
  2. Use a moisture-rich conditioner. Dyed hair tends to be dry and straw-like. Don't hate your hair for it; nurture it.
    • Use conditioner on the length of your hair first, then shampoo only on your scalp.
  3. Wash your hair in the coldest water you can stand. Not just the first time, but all the time. Hot water dries out hair and skin, leaving it dull. Cold water will not only help you keep your color but also helps you keep your hair's health and shine.
  4. Avoid using harsh soaps, chemicals (especially chlorine), and any shampoo that specializes in "clean" hair. These hair care products are also dye-sucking vampires.
    • If your hair is particularly vibrant and unnatural (bright reds, purples, blues, greens, pinks, etc.), try to keep away from spending extended periods of exposure to sunlight and water. Sunlight has been known to work somewhat as a natural bleach, so be careful if you have any long beach trips or life guarding stints planned.
  5. Redye often, but not too often. Your hair shaft is delicate, and should only be dyed once a month or so. Any sooner than that and it will be prone to breaking, splitting, tangles and straw-like texture.

Tips

  • Make sure whatever style you choose goes with your lifestyle--crazy fashion hair (even when in natural shades) doesn't always agree with certain jobs or schooling requirements. Check on any conflicts you may have with your edgy hair.
  • Vibrant or "fashion" colors may require you to bleach your hair. This process makes dyes fade faster and are often dryer than those on natural or unbleached hair. Make sure you are extra-careful about washing so you can make it that month between coloring.
  • Dyed hair is more delicate than undyed hair. Make sure you don't brush or comb it too harshly, even though it may feel like a dreadlock in the shower.
  • Make sure your color looks good on you beforehand! Deciding violet-red does not go with your olive skin tone is not the decision to make after the job is finished.
  • If you - like most human beings - do not find the idea of a freezing cold shower appealing, consider developing skills that let you wash your hair in your sink. If that grosses you out, use a large bowl with water. Keep a faucet near by so you don't dirty all your water.
  • When in doubt, talk to your stylist! They are your best source for haircare advice and if you visit a stylist regularly, she or he should know your hair almost as well as you do.

Warnings

  • Opaque dyes are much harsher than transparent (semi-permanent) dyes and glazes. Know which option is right for you.
  • Avoid excessive dying/bleaching/streaking/highlighting etc. If you get antsy and can't decide on a style or color and simply *must* change it all the time, be willing to accept the fact that your hair will lack shine, luster, body, and health. Your ends will fry and split and the hair shaft will shrivel and become kinky. If you know that you have commitment issues (to a certain degree) don't dye your hair.
  • Make sure you don't flat-iron wet hair, or hair with dye still processing. This is not a processing step. Your hair will smoke and die if you do this.

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