How to Maintain Colour-Treated Hair
Whether you’re trying out a vibrant hair hue for the first time or you’re a colour treated hair veteran, it’s never too late to learn how to take care of dyed hair at home and get lasting results. You can invest time and money into the salon experience or develop the skills to execute a flawless dye job from the comfort of your bathroom – either way, you’ll want to ensure your colour lasts as long as possible. With the help of a few multi-tasking products and a handy technique or two, you can maintain a vibrant and saturated hair effect for longer than ever before.
What’s different about hair care for coloured hair?
Colour treated hair requires a little extra in the moisture and protection department to maintain optimal hair health. The impact of a colour treatment will depend on the exact process undertaken – it’s possible to nourish the hair during colour treatment with the right products. For a conditioning cream formula enriched with a blend of five natural origin oils, shop our Nutrisse range, or if you’re searching for an ammonia-free option for visibly healthier hair, our Olia range is your go-to. However, over use of colour treatments may cause damage to the hair and lead to dry, brittle hair. If maintaining hair health is a priority, consider going for an option that cares for your hair while depositing colour and implement a hydrating and nourishing hair care regimen.How to care for coloured hair: Do’s and don’ts
The goal is to have your colour treated hair look great for longer and extend the time between processes. It’s good news for your wallet and calendar as you’ll be investing less time and money into hair colour treatments. Now, let’s explore our do’s and don’ts for caring for your vibrant locks.
Do: Update your shampoo and hair washing technique
Caring for coloured hair starts in the shower - consider switching to a shampoo formulated especially for colour treated hair like our Fructis Colour Last Shampoo, which is enriched with the powerhouse antioxidant ingredient acai berry. When it comes to coloured hair the key to an effective wash is to be gentle, massaging the shampoo into your scalp with the fingertips.
Do: At home treatments
Once you’ve finessed your hair washing routine it’s time to condition and nourish your hair. You can condition your hair routine in three ways: via conditioner, leave-in treatments, or hair masks - and our Fructis Hair Food Protecting Goji Mask offers all three. This multi-tasking treatment contains deep conditioning sunflower seeds and coconut oils – amounting to three products in one and saving space on your beauty shelf.Do: Wash hair less often
Colour treated hair will benefit from less frequent washes, as each wash rinses out the pigment and contributes to colour fade. If your hair is feeling dull on day two or three, try rinsing your hair with a little water in the shower and applying conditioner to your ends to breathe life back into your strands. To try this tip, apply a 20 cent piece size amount of our Fructis Colour Last Conditioner into the palm of your hand and gently massage into your lengths before rinsing.
Do: Protect your hair
To take hair protection and shine to the next level, consider adding a hair elixir into your hair care routine. Our Triple Nutrition Marvelous Oil Hair Elixir packs a punch of moisture enriched with the rich combination of avocado, olive and almond oils to seal in shine and banish frizz. Another multi-tasking product, a hair elixir can be used as a pre-styler, finisher or leave-in conditioner to care for dry, colour treated hair and protect it from the elements throughout your day.
What not to do after dying your hair
The long and short of how to care for coloured hair is to add moisture at every stage of your hair care routine and be gentle with your locks. Although, beyond adding replenishing products and gentle hair care techniques into your routine, you can also examine hair habits that might be adding damage to your strands. Here’s what not to do after dying your hair.
Don’t: Wash your hair within 72 hours of colouring
It’s best to give your hair time to recover and allow your colour to settle. Aim to wait 72 hours after your salon (or bathroom) appointment before washing and styling your hair.
Don’t: Colour hair too frequently
It is best to spread out your appointments to every five to six weeks when regrowth starts to appear or colour starts to fade. In the meantime, you can treat your hair to plenty of nourishment to ensure you get the best possible result when you colour your hair again.
Don’t: Skip a regular trim
As colour treated hair is more prone to dryness and split ends, regular trims will become an important element of your hair care. Every six to eight weeks is a good rule of thumb, and there’s no need to take off much length – just enough to keep frayed ends at bay and prevent them from spreading up the hair shaft.
If you need a little assistance choosing the right shade for your next hair colour update, check out our Color Match tool or our Virtual Try On tool.
