how to care for colored hair

No matter what shade you have dyed your hair, nothing is worse than seeing all the money you just spent for your color washed down the drain. Below are some tips from the experts over at Love Beauty and Planet on how to wash colored hair and how to take care of colored hair, to ensure that your hair color stays vibrant for as long as possible.

How to take care of colored hair

1. After a color, wait three to four days before washing your hair

When you color your hair, the outer layer is opened, making it easy for the color to penetrate the hair and get the rich and vibrant color you were desiring. However, if you wash your hair too soon after coloring, the cuticles could still be open, and this could lead to you washing your color down the drain. Our experts recommend waiting at least three-four days after coloring your hair before washing.

2. Choose the right shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair

Sulfates are the chemicals in personal care products such as body wash and shampoo that create a foaming effect. However, sulfates are harsh on your hair and can strip it of color and many of its natural oils. If you have colored hair, opt for a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. We recommend our Murumuru Butter & Rose Shampoo and Conditioner, a collection specifically designed to help protect colored hair. Check out our article on the benefits of sulfate-free shampoo to find out more.

3. Wash your hair less

Whether you color your hair or not, you may not want to wash your hair every day. But if you color your hair, then you should definitely try and wash your hair less. When you wash your hair, you naturally strip the hair of natural oils that are meant to moisturize and keep your color fresh and vibrant. And, when you wash every day, you also slowly take away a little bit of the hair dye with each wash. Worried about greasy hair in between washes? Use a spritz of our Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Dry Shampoo to refresh hair.

4. Lower the water temperature when you shower

The biggest tip when figuring out how to wash colored hair is to keep the water cooler. When the water temperature is too hot, your hair pores open and allow the color to wash out when shampooing. To prevent color loss when showering, we recommend using slightly warm water temperature and then rinsing with cooler water. The warm water allows the best cleanse, and the cold water will seal in moisture to prevent hair color fading.

5. Air dry hair after a shower

When you use heat to dry your hair, you could be damaging it and causing the hair to dry out which can dull the color. Instead, let your hair air dry. Not only will this protect it from damage but will also help to keep that vibrant color. When air drying hair, use a moisturizing hair oil to help reduce frizz and keep colored hair healthy. We recommend using our Coconut Oil & Ylang Ylang 3-in-1 Benefit Oil to help protect hair and keep it silky smooth!

6. Wear a hat for the first few days after a color treatment

While it may be tempting to show off your fresh hair color and let it shine in the sun, sunlight can actually dull the hair color. Cover up your hair for the first few days after a color treatment if you’re going out in the sun to keep hair vibrant!

7. Use a UV protectant spray

When you do go out in the sun, use a UV protectant spray. It's like SPF for your hair, and it'll protect your tresses from any discoloration.

8. Avoid chlorine-filled pools

Chemicals in chlorine can strip your hair of its color or worse, change the color of your hair. If you can, opt for the ocean over the pool to help protect your color. Can’t avoid the pool? Make sure to wash your hair straight away to get rid of the harsh chemicals and don’t forget to apply a deep conditioner to lock in the moisture. We recommend using our Argan Oil & Lavender Leave-In Smoothie Cream for hair that looks and smells amazing.

9. Stay away from extra chemicals

It’s not just chlorine you should avoid. If you are going to color your hair, try to stay away from any extra chemicals, such as chemical straightens or perms. These chemicals combined with the hair color process are going to add extra stress on your hair.