Tips on Making Your Hair Color Last Longer

Women love to color their hair. Yes, some men do, too. But men usually only color their hair to cover up the gray. We women color our hair usually long before the gray starts to show. We color our hair for the change and the fun. We don’t like to look the same all the time.

Yet, color takes time and a bit of work. Plus, if you are having your done professionally, it costs money. For these reasons we want our color to last as long as possible. The following are some tips to help with this.

1. When choosing your color, pick one that is 1 to 3 times lighter than your own natural color. Your roots will take longer to show if they are less obvious.

2. Condition your hair a few days before you color. The better the state of your hair is in, the better the color will hold. Also conditioning it before you color can help keep the color from damaging your hair.

3. Use color enhancing shampoos, conditioners and other products. Many companies offer these even different shades. Try to match the shade as close to possible as the color you used.

4. Try to avoid the sun and the chlorine in swimming pools. Both of these can fade your color. If you are using a blond or other light shade, the chlorine can even turn your hair color to green. No, this is not a myth. It can happen.

5. Continue to use conditioner in your hair. Your color will not only hold better to well conditioned hair, it will hold longer. Besides well conditioned hair looks shiny and healthy.

6. Use a layer of color, instead of using one shade throughout your hair. You can do this by adding high-lights, too. Light and dark colors together will reflect the light more. But this type of coloring can be harder to do. If you want to do this, you may want to get it done professionally. Or you can choose just to add the high-lights and not color the rest of your hair. You can buy color kits now for highlights that even comes with a comb for easier application.

7. When you are planning on coloring your hair, try not to wash your hair. Ideally, you should wait 24-48 after the last time you shampooed before you apply the color. This gives your own oils a chance to build up and the color will attach to them better.

8. Also you should wait 24-48 after your color before you shampoo again. You want the color to have time to take.

9. Never wash your color treated hair in hot water. Use cool to lukewarm water and finish with cold water to help seal the cuticles of your hair.

10. Only shampoo when you need to do it. The more you wash your hair, the sooner it will start to fade.

11. You should also avoid curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers as much as you can. The heat can damage your hair faster after it has been curled or perm. If you have to use these products, try adding a leave-in conditioner to your hair regime.

After you learn all the tips and take all the precautions, have fun. Go out (remember to watch that sun) and show the world the new you.