Share This Article
Coloured hair is one of my favourite things, but it’s also the bane of my life. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know I’ve had plenty of colours over the last few years, from a full head of green hair to pink and purple. I’m up for trying any colour on my hair at least once.
Bright colours look amazing when they’re fresh, but after a wash or two, they can fade and look nothing like the original result. But it doesn’t need to be this way, with plenty of ways to keep your hair bright. After taking care of my coloured hair for so long and figuring out how to keep it bright here are some things I’ve learned along the way, guaranteed* to keep your hair bright for longer.
[ux_image id=”7442″]
[gap height=”40px”]
0
What I’ve noticed from buying shampoo and conditioner for my hair, some products which claim they are ‘colour friendly’ are actually not as they contain Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS). Alongside sulphate, parabens and silicone can also be bad for your hair.
Why is SLS so bad for your coloured hair? Keep reading to find out.
Sodium Laureth Sulphate
Sulphates are known for stripping your hair of everything, the natural oils, the good and the bad as well as your hair dye. By creating the foam that most of us are used to when cleaning our hair, it is a cleaning agent which can actually be found in household cleaning products.
Alternative products
When looking for alternative products without sulphates in, it can be overwhelming. They also vary in price, with some being super costly. Here are some suggestions of products I’ve been using along the line from different prices and places.
- Hairburst from Beauty Bay £24.95 for a shampoo and conditioner duo. (SLS and Paraben free)
- Faith In Nature £5.99 (No Animal Testing, SLS and Paraben free)
- Moroccanoil Shampoo £16.95 (Sulphate, paraben and phosphates free)
[ux_image id=”7441″]
[gap height=”40px”]
Wash your hair less often
This one sounds obvious, however, the more you wash your hair the quicker the colour will wash out. When it comes to washing your hair make sure to use cold water as using hot water will open up your cuticles removing more of the colour. However, using cold will keep them closed. If you want to use hot water throughout the shower and then wash out your conditioner with cold water this also helps.
Hairstylist Hailee who owns Live and Let Dye advises that dry shampoo is your new best friend, by using it on your hair instead of washing it, you’re much more likely to have longer-lasting results.
[gap]
[ux_image id=”4565″]
Use colour based products
Recently I’ve noticed a surge of colour based products on the market, with everything from deep moisture masks mixed with colour or shampoos which are colour tinted. These products can be great for topping up your colour between salon visits. Some of the best ones I’ve found so far are:
- Beauty Bay £17.95 (Sulphate and Phosphate free)
- Moroccanoil Colour Mask from HQhair £6.85
[gap height=”35px”]
Use good quality colour
If you’re dying your hair at home be sure to use a semi-permanent colour and do your research into the brand you’re going to buy before investing. Some of my favourite home colours are Bleach London, Lime Crime Unicorn Hair, Arctic Fox and Colour Freedom. Each of the brands suggested has provided me in the past with long-lasting colour and is also great to add to your conditioner for topping up at a later date.
