Over the rainbow: what is color-treated hair?
Before getting into how to take care of dyed hair, let’s start with some basics. Distinct from virgin, or untreated, hair, color-treated hair has undergone permanent color treatment. This can include hair color or dye, highlights, lowlights, or balayage. Color-treated hair is chemically altered: the hair cuticle has been opened up to allow dye to penetrate the hair and deposit permanent color. Compared to virgin hair, color-treated hair behaves differently and requires some special treatment. Because of the chemical process of dyeing and the changes to the hair structure, colored hair can feel dry or brittle.
How does color treatment work?
In a hair color treatment, the coloring agent penetrates the hair fiber, depositing color molecules. These molecules replace the natural color of the melanin pigment, resulting in your final color. We’re sharing our top colored hair tips so you can get the best out of your color treatment.
Why does hair color fade?
Over the course of hair washes, the color molecules deposited by the dye are washed out by the water. In turn, the fiber contains fewer colorants, and so your hair loses its color and vibrancy. For tips for how do you make hair color last longer, keep reading.
Colored hair tips
The real question is: how do you make hair color last longer? Well, whether you’re working with a professional colorist or taking matters into your own hands, there are steps you can take both pre- and post-coloring to help keep your hair vibrant and healthy. We’re talking about adjusting your haircare routine and choosing the best products for your color-treated hair. These are vetted tips for coloring hair at home or at the salon.
1. Prep your hair
Our first hair color tip? The work begins even before any dye is applied to your hair. You want to prepare and protect your hair before coloring, ideally starting a couple of months in advance. Use nourishing oils and hair masks to hydrate, get regular trims to remove dry or split ends, and avoid excessive heat styling.
2. Pick your dye wisely
When coloring your hair, another hair color tip is be sure to use a high-quality dye without harsh chemicals. You want to look out for ammonia in particular to avoid damage. If going the bleach route, your colorist can help select the right developer to avoid drying out your hair. And when it comes to how long to keep hair dye in, be sure to follow directions carefully.
3. Adjust your hair washing routine
Among our top colored hair tips? Less is more when it comes to washing colored hair. First, you’ll want to wait a few days after coloring and before the first wash. You’ll also want to wash less frequently to avoid washing out color. Space out your washes to about twice a week or so. This will help your color last longer and preserve the natural oils in your hair and scalp, which keep your hair healthy. You’ll also want to select a color-safe shampoo, but we’ll get into more detail below.
4. Adjust your styling routine
Be gentle when it comes to heat styling your colored hair. If you tend to use heat styling on a regular basis, always apply a heat protectant before applying heat. You should also consider lowering the temperature settings. Keep the hair dryer moving so you don’t scorch any individual section of hair.
5. Select the right products
Among our top colored hair tips: A proper hair routine for dyed hair. Vitamino Color Spectrum range by L’Oréal Professionnel uses Ferulic Acid + 2.5% Citric Acid to penetrate the hair fibers and preserve intense color for up to 100 days1. With the right products, you can really nourish your colored hair, at every step of the way.
The ultimate color-treated hair routine
How do you make hair color last longer? From cleansing to styling, there’s an optimal way to care for your color-treated hair. Here’s a sample routine based on the Vitamino Color Spectrum range, designed by professionals to harness patented technology for color-treated hair.
How to take care of dyed hair: Cleanse
Use a color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo to wash your colored hair. Choose a cleanser or shampoo that hydrates and repairs, bringing serious care to color-treated hair. Remember to space out washes to prevent fading and dullness.
How to take care of dyed hair: Nourish
Use an intense nourishing mask or deep conditioner to support hair hydration and vibrancy. A rich mask or conditioner can really hydrate and soften color-treated hair, helping to preserve color and prevent fading.
How to take care of dyed hair: Protect
Use a concentrated serum for increased shine and protection from external stressors, like sun, heat and humidity. This is a key step if heat styling is part of your routine.