How to Care for Coloured Treated Hair

Incorporate dye into your conditioner

Adding a little bit of the dye that you used in colouring your hair is a great way to preserve the colour especially after every wash. This is called re-dyeing and helps you leave your colour looking fresh even as your roots grow out.

Wait a full 72 hours before shampooing after a colouring procedure

Hair colouring procedures open up the cuticle layers of your hair to allow the colour to penetrate the hair shaft. Washing your hair immediately or within 3 days after colouring can lead to colour loss since the cuticle layers are still open.  

Wait for 3 days which is the time needed for your cuticle layer to close back before shampooing your hair. 

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A post shared by Ashley Hagan Guidry (@ashley_h_hair_artist) on Mar 2, 2019 at 5:04pm PST

Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner

Shampoo and conditioners containing sulfate are notorious for stripping hair of its natural oils and moisture. This can also wash out the beautiful colour that you just had done. Check the ingredients used and if you find SLS (or sodium lauryl ether sulfate), drop that shampoo or conditioner back on the shelf.   

There are sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner options for frizzy, curly, straight, or even thin hair. 

 

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Avoid high temperature when shampooing 

Hot showers are awesome in the winter, but certainly not to your hair. Hot water strips your hair of sebum and it gets worse when you have coloured hair. Use cold, lukewarm or warm water during shampooing and conditioning to protect your hair cuticles and to keep your colour in even after washing.  

Use leave-in treatments to protect hair colour when styling

Treat your hair properly using leave-in treatments especially before styling your coloured hair. Dyed hair and chemically treated hair usually require extra moisture and protection against UV rays from the sun. Leave-in treatments are great for keeping your hair smooth and hydrated and protect against possible damage caused by UV rays.

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Trim your dyed hair regularly 

The best way to avoid hair breakage when your hair is coloured is by trimming your hair regularly. Remember that dead hair ends do not hold colour and fade faster. Thus, endeavour to cut off ends every 6-8 weeks so your colour looks fresh from root to tips. 

Use heat protectant oil before using hot tools

Heat can dry out hair ends, roots and even the scalp. Use heat protectant oils as they coat and protect the shafts from heat damage. Sprays are useful, however, lead to possible burning of your strands due to the way they saturate strands with water-based ingredients. If you are using a spray let it dry slightly before you go in with hot tools.

Do not wash hair daily

The recommended hair wash routine for natural hair is 2 – 3 times per week. Coloured hair is even more delicate. Thus, avoid washing your hair every day if you want your colour to last longer. If you must wash your hair, use cool water and cleansing conditioners which won’t strip your colour.

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