How to Make Red Hair Color Last
If you are looking to maintain your red hair color, special treatment will boost shine and improve color power. According to Morbid Outlook, red hair color is the hardest to maintain. The small molecules found in red dyes are easy to dislodge from the hair shaft with each shampoo. However, with a few simple steps for red colored-treated hair, you can make your red hair color last using inexpensive beauty products and salon techniques. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Red glaze
- Red cellophane
- Flat iron
- Color-depositing shampoo
- Conditioner for color-treated hair
- Cold water
Instructions
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Wait between 24 and 48 hours after coloring red hair to shampoo. Most shampoos contain harsh cleaning compounds like sulfates. By not washing your hair immediately, you allow the red color to penetrate deep into the hair shaft. It's important to choose a conditioner or shampoo one shade lighter than your red. If the color is too dark it will distort the red color.
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2
Use a red glaze or cellophane one week after coloring your hair. Beauty Bargainista recommends you add a red glaze to hair to slow down the oxidation of the red dye. Cellophanes are dyes made from vegetable colors that add shine to the hair. Both red glazes and cellophanes seal the red color and add shine.
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Flat-iron your red hair two to three days after a coloring process. Use a heated flat iron to smooth your hair cuticles and lock in the color.
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Prevent fading of red hair with a shampoo that deposits color. According to the Good Housekeeping website, "Color depositors will add a small amount of dye to hair with each shampoo." To extend the red color, wash hair twice a week with color-extending shampoos.
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Protect red hair during water sports and swimming. Water penetrates the hair shaft and dissolves the dye used in red hair coloring. Apply a conditioner for color-treated red hair to your head. Cover hair with a plastic cap to resist color-fading salt and chlorine. Use a silicone-based conditioner to help seal the red color into the hair shaft.
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Tips & Warnings
Slow color fading by washing hair in cold water.
To extend your red hair color, avoid using shampoo products that contain Castile oils and glycerin.
References
- Photo Credit red-hair girl image by Alexander Zhiltsov from Fotolia.com
