Have A Great Hair Day Every Day With These Savvy Tips (Even When Your Hair Is Dyed)
When it comes to our hair, any color is now possible from subtle blonde balayage to multicolored rainbow effects. Yet the coloring process can be tough on our hair, drying it out, and causing flyaways and frizz! Fortunately, there are some tactics you can use to keep your hair looking great even after having it dyed. Just keep reading to find out what they are.
Before you dye lay the proper groundwork
First of all, to keep your hair looking healthy and shiny even after coloring it, it's vital that you do the proper preparation work. What this means is using a clarifying shampoo to strip back any build-up of products or dirt on and around each hair shaft. Thereby ensuring that the maximum amount of dye penetrates the shaft, something that leads to longer-lasting color, and shinier hair.
Of course, as clarifying shampoos are so powerful, it's important that you don't use them once your hair is dyed because they will strip the color out faster and lead to fading.
Choose your shampoo and conditioner carefully
While we are on the subject of shampoos, it's crucial to use the right type of products after your hair has been dyed. Indeed, there are three types of products in particular that can help you have a better hair day.
Go sulfate-free
The first of these are shampoos that are free from sulfates. Sulfates are a type of strong detergent and are responsible for the foam that is created when you use certain types of shampoos. Indeed, many people like sulfate shampoos because of the clean feeling that using them creates. However, sulfates are so strong that they can easily strip hair of its natural oils and moisture which is definitely bad news for colored hair. With that in mind choosing, sulfate-free products can help you to keep your hair looking shiny and healthy.
Although it is worth noting that some people do need to use clarifying shampoos with sulfates from time to time to help prevent build-up on the scalp, something that can lead to dandruff and dry itchy skin.
Choose a purple shampoo for light dyes
Another option is to choose a shampoo that has been designed with specific advantages for dyed hair in mind. In particular, those with hair dyed lighter colors such as blond, white and silver can benefit from using a purple shampoo. This is because the purple tone helps to counteract any brassiness. Of course, it's best to do a little research on how to use purple shampoo for the best results ahead of time. Then you will help to keep your hair to stay looking its best for longer.
Pick moisturizing products
Last of all when it comes to products like shampoo or conditioner for dyed hair be sure to find moisturizing options. This is because adding moisture to your hair can help prevent each strand from drying out and becoming brittle and fly away, as well as lock in the color for longer.
Starting your wash with a conditioner and leaving it on for around 5 minutes is a great way to ensure that your shampoo does not strip the oils from your hair. You can expect it to feel softer and be easier to manage too.
Skip the sea and the pool for a while
When you have dyed hair there are lots of outside factors that can impact how healthy it looks. Sadly, this means staying out of the sea and the swimming pool for a while is the best approach. This is because both saltwater and chlorine are known to strip color from the hair, and as they are often combined with the UV rays of the sun you could be in for some unwanted side effects such as a green hue in your hair.
With that in mind, skip beach days, and hang out by the pool when you first get your hair dyed. Cover your hair in the sun with a hat and when you are in the water too, try a swimming cap so you reduce any contact with salt or chlorine.
Take extra precautions when heat styling
For many of us, heating and styling our hair with curling or straightening irons and hair dryers are a way of life. However, using too much heat on dyed hair can be problematic and lead to frizziness, flyaways, brittleness, and even fading of your color ahead of time.
To that end, you may wish to try one of the alternatives on offer. The first of these is to style your hair without any heat, something you can do easily with sock curls or other techniques like them.
Alternatively, many people are embracing the natural curl or wave in their hair by using the Curly Girl Method. This is an approach that excludes sulfates, encourages conditioning, and promotes air drying rather than the use of hair dryers. All of which makes it well suited not only to those that wish to bring out their natural curl but also to those with dyed hair.
Get a regular cut
Just because your hair is dyed, doesn't mean you can neglect the other vital aspect of caring for it. Indeed, if you want ‘your do’ to look its best at all times, getting rid of your dry ends, and keeping your style sharp is vital.
What this means is booking regular trims is just as important as any other of the suggestions in this post. Remember, you can get a quick touch-up of your roots when you visit your hairdresser too which will ensure your color looks great for far longer.
Be wary of overprocessing your dyed hair
Last of all, when it comes to maximizing the chances of a good hair day when you have dyed hair, remember to limit any other treatments such as perming, relaxing, or re-dying your hair again too soon.
After all, all of these require the use of strong chemicals that permanently alter the structure of the hair. However, our hair can only take so much before it becomes so dry and brittle that it is in danger of breaking off completely. Therefore, unless you will be as happy with a buzz cut as you are with your long flowing dyed locks, it's best to be as kind to your hair as possible.
