1. Choose your hair colour wisely
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If you’ve already made the decision to colour your hair, but aren’t sure about what colour you want, it’s always best to go with a dark colour than a lighter or brighter one. When you go for a dark colour, you end up depositing colour instead of stripping it off. Going lighter is much harsher process and requires stronger chemicals, i.e. bleach. Blonde highlights look great, but if you’re colouring your hair for the first time, it’s a better idea to go with caramel highlights or something similar.
2. Don’t wash your hair right before you colour it
It’s completely fine if your hair’s dirty when you head to the salon to colour your hair—your hairstylist won’t judge you. The reason we advise against washing your hair right before you colour it, as any remaining residue of shampoo may react with the hair colour, which you result in your scalp burning.
3. Get a treatment after you’ve coloured your hair if your hairstylist recommends it
If your hairstylist suggests getting a hair treatment right after they’ve coloured your hair, don’t be quick to assume it’s a ploy to get you to spend a couple of extra bucks. After all, your hairstylist is a professional, and they know what’s best for you. A hair treatment will make your hair less prone to damage, as it’ll help restore some of its nourishment.
4. Don’t condition your hair as soon as you’ve coloured it
It’s best to wait to a few days after colouring your hair to condition it. This is if you haven’t bleached your hair. Unbleached, coloured hair that comes in contact with conditioner too soon tends to fade. Conditioning your hair once a week after you’ve coloured it is your best bet, as you’ll be making sure your colour looks fresh for as long as possible.
5. Switch to colour-protective products
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You’ve probably wondered whether all those colour-friendly shampoos and conditioners actually work. Good news is, they do. These colour-protective shampoos and conditioners are a lot gentler than regular shampoos and conditioners, and also have all the necessary fatty acids that allow you to maintain your hair colour well. We love the Dove Advanced Care Color Repair Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner that has a low-sulfate formulation that helps retain the vibrancy and shine of your hair colour.
Written by Cassandra Pereira on 12th Jan 2018