You’ve paid all that money only for your hair colour to fade a few weeks later. BeautySouthAfrica brings you easy tips to help save that gorgeous colour and keep your locks looking brand spanking new.
1. Choosing the correct products
Just as you wouldn’t wash your face with any old face wash, you should take the same approach when it comes to your hair. Use a shampoo and conditioner with colour protecting ingredients. Try Dove Colour Radiance Shampoo, R42.99 and Dove Colour Radiance Conditioner, R42.99.
2. Wash your hair every second day
We’re not saying you HAVE to stick to this. If you’ve just done a spinning class and need to rinse, please do. But the more you wash, the more your colour rinses out. Tie your hair up or revert to those good old dry shampoos. Just a few spritzes will leave your hair feeling and looking fresh. Try TRESemmé Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo, R71.99.
3. Apply a hair mask
Besides for washing and conditioning, you need to apply a nourishing hair mask once a week. When we colour our hair, the chemicals in the dye can cause our hair to become porous, and it also has a drying effect. Apply a mask after shampooing and allow it to work its magic for about 10 minutes. This will help keep your hair looking healthy and happy. Try Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Hair mask, R315.
4. Cheat your way
When you’re in-between treatments, visit your hairdresser and chat to them about cheating your colour. They can do a cheat line of highlights for you and save you on colour costs. Shelene Shaer from Tanaz suggests that you should never cut and colour your hair at the same time. “One should alternate between cutting and colouring every six weeks. A cut always makes ones colour look refreshed,” says Shelene.
5. Hair SPF
Who said that SPF is only to be applied to skin? Apply an SPF shampoo on damp hair before you hit the beach, or an SPF cream, especially to the crown of your head. It can help save it from sun damage. The sun tends to bleach your colour and dry out your hair. Try Shiseido Sun Protection Spray Oil-Free SPF15, R335.
6. Rinse after swimming
As we swim more in the warmer months and leave our hair to dry naturally, we are left with the harsh chemicals of chlorine and minerals. Rather wash your hair after your swim (with your protective shampoo) and then allow it to dry naturally.
Other articles you may be interested in:
Argan oil, the new miracle oil
How healthy is your hair?
Luminous vitality part 2
Luxe hair care products you’ll love
Hair type 101
17 Responses
Great tips!
Hi Goddess. The time that your hair dye lasts will depend on the texture of your hair as well as the hair dye used. The above products are formulated to assist in extending the life of your hair dye. If products from the mentioned brands are ones you would normally consider, than the colour care ranges will also be suitable.
Does this strictly speaking apply to ethnic hair?
I am living with albinism and my hair color is different when chemically processed and when natural.
Nice tips since summer is almost upon us and when we young we always forgot to protect our hair… Nice advice from Pseudo_kate too!! thank you!
I would love to try the dove duo.
I’ve never coloured my hair but I notice that as the season changes my hair colour changes. With regards to swimming in the sun and all those other elements I think its only wise that we practice what this article says.
I’ve never coloured my hair and I plan to keep it natural forever but I’m definitely going to look into getting some SPF products specifically for my hair.
What I normally do if I’m spending time in the sun and not wearing a hat is to dab sunscreen on my parting to protect the scalp. Then I run some normal conditioner through my hair and braid it or put it up in a bun. My thinking is that less of my actual hair is exposed to the sun.
I did not know Dove had this colour protect variety? It looks interesting.
I would like to try the Dove duo, I have had such good results with the intensive repair shampoo and conditioner.
Most definitely going to be trying the SPF spray always being in the sun and all!