How to Make Your Hair Color Last Longer

Make that punk red stand out for more than a few days.

Whether you spend money on hair color at a salon or the time to do it yourself, you want the color to last as long as possible. While some colors, such as reds, fade more quickly than others, several care techniques will hold your hair color longer.

Instructions

1. Apply a deep conditioning treatment to your hair a few days before coloring.

2. Do not apply color to freshly shampooed hair. Color hair that has not been shampooed for at least 24 hours. Your scalp's natural oils will help the color application.

3. Wash your hair only two to three times a week. Washing your hair strips the natural oils that your hair produces as well as the color. If you have oily hair, sprinkle baby powder or dry shampoo on your scalp and massage it in on the days you don't shampoo your hair.

4. Wash your hair with a color-enhancing shampoo and use lukewarm or cool water, rather than hot.

5. Avoid swimming in chlorine pools and long exposure to the sun. Both will fade your hair color.

6. Condition your hair regularly with a moisturizing conditioner since dyeing it can dry it out.

References

• HairBoutique.com: Making Your Hair Color Last
• Good Housekeeping: Secrets to Longer-Lasting Hair Color
• Capella Salon: Testimonials
• Naturally Curly.com: 5 Hair Coloring Tips