Hair coloring is one of the most popular procedures in the world of beauty, but with a new hair color comes new responsibility. Regardless of whether you have chosen platinum blonde, chocolate chestnut or a trendy copper shade, special care is needed for colored hair. Without a properly selected routine, strands can quickly lose their shine, become dry, hard and brittle, they often look dull and get very tangled. We will tell you how to care for colored hair step by step. Let's consider several proven recommendations that will help maintain the health and excellent appearance of colored hair at home.
Why Colored Hair Requires Special Care
The process of coloring, especially with permanent products and bleaching, inevitably affects the structure of the hair. Chemical components open the cuticle (the outer protective layer) of the hair so that the pigment can penetrate inside. This makes the hair more porous and vulnerable to external factors - UV radiation, temperature, mechanical impact and moisture loss.
After coloring or highlighting, hair needs not just basic cleansing, but targeted restoration, color protection and hydration. Therefore, a standard shampoo and a quick mask will no longer do - you need a strategy.
Choosing the Right Products for Colored Hair
Many people wonder what to do after dyeing their hair. The first step to healthy dyed locks is properly selected cosmetics. Hair care products for dyed hair should not just be for dry or damaged strands, but specifically for dyed hair. It is worth paying attention to the following components and recommendations when choosing products:
- Sulfate-free shampoos do not wash out pigment, but gently cleanse. However, it is worth considering that not all such products are suitable for the care of oily hair, as they may not sufficiently cleanse the skin and eliminate sebum. In this case, it is worth giving preference to shampoos with sebum-regulating components.
- Acidic pH - helps to close the cuticle, preserving color and shine.
- Moisturizing ingredients - hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, aloe vera.
- Proteins and amino acids - restore hair structure.
- Antioxidants and UV filters - protect against oxidation and color fading.
The selection of products should be personalized: for blondes - more reconstruction and blue pigment for prevention and elimination of yellowness, for bright shades - protection from washing out, for dark hair - maintaining saturation and gloss, and for gray hair - intensive nutrition for softening and moisturizing. Correctly selected care is half the success in maintaining the saturation of color and health of curls after coloring.
Correct washing mode and water temperature
Oddly enough, even water can affect the durability of color. Hot water opens the cuticle and promotes rapid pigment washout. The rules for caring for colored hair necessarily include recommendations for washing:
- wash your hair no more than 2-3 times a week;
- use warm, close to cool, water;
- be sure to use hair conditioners to close the cuticle;
- finish washing by rinsing with cool water.
It is also worth remembering that the first time after dyeing, it is advisable not to wash your hair for at least 48 hours - this will allow the pigment to better fix inside the hair.
Controlling the water temperature is a small thing that in the long run can become a decisive nuance in answering the question of how to preserve hair color after dyeing.
Masks and intensive care: at least once a week
After dyeing, hair loses not only pigment, but also moisture and elasticity. Reconstruction and nutrition are a mandatory step, especially in the first 2-4 weeks after dyeing. Hair restoration after dyeing may include:
- Professional nourishing masks, including those with healing oils (argan, macadamia, shea).
- Products with keratin or hydrolyzed proteins, including leave-in care.
- Intensive serums and fluids with antioxidants and peptides.
- Hair oils - restore disulfide bonds inside the hair, eliminate brittleness, split ends, reduce color loss and improve manageability of strands.
Apply masks at least once a week, preferably twice, leaving them on for at least 15 minutes. For deep reconstruction, use thermal activators or simply wrap your hair in a towel to enhance the effect.
Regular nourishment of colored hair is the key to silky, thick and shiny hair even after intensive coloring.
Thermal protection and minimization of thermal impact
Hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons - all of these increase the damage to dyed hair, especially if there is no protection. Even if you dry your locks on a cool setting, heat protection remains a must. Basic recommendations for hair care after dyeing at the drying and styling stage:
- Use heat protection products (sprays, creams or serums) every time before drying;
- Limit the frequency of using straightening irons and curling irons;
- Choose styling tools (straightening irons) with a ceramic or tourmaline coating, as well as a temperature control function.
Thermal protection is not a marketing ploy, but a real shield against the destruction of hair structure.
Color toning and shade correction
Even the most durable dye loses its saturation over time, especially when exposed to the sun and hard water. Regular color care is necessary to maintain the purity and depth of color. Experts who give advice on caring for colored hair recommend including in your routine:
- toning masks and balms (for example, purple for blondes, copper for redheads);
- professional toning by a specialist once every 4-6 weeks;
- shower filter for softening water (especially in regions with hard tap water).
Color requires care no less often than hair structure. If you want to maintain the shade, you can't do without toning.
Caring for colored hair is not a one-time task, but a constant investment in their health and appearance. The right cosmetics, gentle washing regime, regular nutrition, thermal protection and color maintenance are the basic minimum, without which it is difficult to maintain the ideal coloring result.
