When it comes to hair treatments, there’s probably nothing more frustrating than having your newly dyed hair fade so quickly. Or maybe there is. That is, going back to the salon, spending a whole day of shampooing, bleaching, heating, brushing, and in the end, paying so much.
There are lots of reasons your ash browns have gotten all muddy-looking and dull after just a few weeks in the salon. Here are ways you’re ruining your hair without knowing about it.
Washing your hair every day
Your hair is at its most fragile state when it’s wet. So your dye is all the more vulnerable to fading when you over wash your locks, especially if you’re fond of hot showers. Hot water opens up the hair cuticle, making it possible for the color to “leak out” and be rinsed off.
If you’re also living in an area that has hard water, that can even more damage your hair color. The minerals in hard water can interfere with the dye composition, turning your blondes into dirty brass-like color. Your best prevention strategy is to quit washing your hair every day under hot, hard water.
Wet your hair only twice or thrice a week. Switch to cold showers, too. This will not just maintain your new color but also help in flattening hair follicles, making the strands shinier, stronger and healthier. Also, make sure to use soft water in your Salt Lake City home. This will leave your hair smooth and manageable, aside from color-vibrant.
Drying your hair aggressively
When you’re in a rush to the office, you can’t help but scrub your hair hard to get rid of those drips and drops. The problem with this is it’s also going to make your locks lose their new pigment fast. Not to mention, give the hair ends a dull, dry look.
Or, you may not be a hair-scrubber yourself: you use the hair dryer instead. That’s not good either though. Dyed hair is more fragile under the heat, so you want to avoid your dryer, as well as your flat and curling iron, if you want to avoid fast fading of your color. What you need to do then is to just gently dab your towel onto your hair to soak in the excess water and then leave the strands to air dry.
Or, just like what’s mentioned above, avoid getting your locks wet as much as possible. If you’re worried about the smell or the oils building up there, use dry shampoo to “wash” your hair.
Not protecting your hair from the sun
It’s not just the heat from your blower that can make your hair dye die fast. The sun’s heat can, too. That’s why it’s important to keep your locks protected from the sun. Wear a hat if you’re going to be spending longer time outdoors.
Apply sunscreen, too. Yes, there’s such a thing as sunscreen for your hair. They come in hair mists, oils and sprays. Just consider the SPF of such products.
Pay attention to keeping your strands hydrated. The last accessory you want while on the beach is dull, dry hair. Wear a deep conditioning mask or natural hydrating oils, like coconut or grapeseed, for 30 minutes every night to keep your color-treated hair strong and healthy.
It sucks that you can’t have a perfect ash brown or blonde for a long time, but it’s even more annoying when you can’t enjoy it just days after your salon treatment. The culprit is your habits. Quit on the routines mentioned above, and you’ll be able to take care of your color-treated hair better.
