You can spend amounts hitting triple digits for a salon dye job. If you are an at home color fan, you can spend time, effort and into the double digit price range. The result is a transformation that hides greys or takes your bland brown into an auburn vixen.
All this time, effort and money will literally go down the drain if you don’t keep up on your treated mane’s maintenance. A couple of easy tricks and you could save your color and the impact on your wallet.
*Water is the enemy. When you hair is exposed to the chemicals, it strips your hair of lipids and vital oils. Think of stripping the varnish from a cabinet you want to stain. It’s the same concept. When you remove that protective layer from your hair it becomes more porous. When you expose it to water, it absorbs and releases the H2O and the dye quickly. Follow the directions on the box or your stylist’s instructions. If they say no washing or rinsing…no washing or rinsing.
*Keep it cool. When it does come time to wash, use lukewarm water. Heat opens your pores, but it also rinses away those oils I mentioned.
*Use a quality color protecting shampoo. There are thousands of options, but my favorite is Dove’s Color Care line. The price is fab, but the moisture level is even better. Recently, Jane Lynch, Octavia Spencer, Jennifer Coolidge, Troian Bellisario, Mario Lopez and wife Courtney, AnnaLynne McCord, Karina Smirnoff, Arden Myrin and Kate Voegele all hit up the Dove Color Care Salon this weekend at the Sundance Film Festival. They were all transformed into fans as they explored the benefits of the shampoo and conditioner combo.
*Condition after every shampoo. After you give your tresses a lukewarm rinse, apply a conditioner and comb it through with a wide tooth comb. Let it set in your hair until you done with the rest of your shower activities. Give it another light, lukewarm rinse and exit.