How do I keep my hair color from fading.

**bunnys** · 01-22-2012, 10:54 AM

Ok, I just got my hair highlighted yesterday (color, not bleach) and it's an expensive process. But usually within the 1st 2 weeks it fades a lot.

I was wondering if there is some "trick" I can use to keep my hair color from fading so quickly.

I've done some reading on the internet and learned that hair color fades the most in the first 2 weeks and then stabilizes. I also heard that if I rinse it in vinegar it will stop the fading but then looked on the internet and see that's what I'm supposed to do if it's too dark and I want it to fade FASTER. So I don't know what to do.

Any suggestions are welcome.

**Brat** · 01-22-2012, 11:07 AM

I found that if I use the shampoo that comes with my color that it last longer and I only wash mine once a week most of the time

**Telephus44** · 01-22-2012, 11:16 AM

I usually dye mine red, which fades faster than other colors. None of these actually stop the fading, but they do help:

don't wash your hair for 48 hours. I have really oily hair so I usually wash every day, this is hard for me. But it does help.

use a shampoo for color treated hair for the first week. I haven't found any particular kinds that work better than others, but if it says for color treated hair on the bottle, it will help.

use some kind of deep conditioning treatment a week afterwards. If you're buying a box of hair-color, most of them include this, but if you're doing it in a salon, just getting any kind of deep conditioning treatment will help.

**Ramona** · 01-22-2012, 01:50 PM

Switching to conditioner washing (CO) instead of using shampoo will help.

Also, don't wash your hair for the first 48 hrs after color.

**nodmicks** · 01-22-2012, 03:22 PM

Are you highlighted (lighter) or low-lighted (darker, redder etc)? I know you said highlighted but people frequently come into the shop asking for highlights when they really mean low-lights. The answer is different depending on which one you got done.

**bunnys** · 01-22-2012, 03:47 PM

I got highlights and lowlights but even the lowlights are lighter than my natural color.

I am a dishwater dark ash blond with gray in the front.

I am happy to say I'm going to make the 48 hours w/o washing it but I usually do that bc I usually get it done on the weekend and then don't wash for the first time until Monday morning.

I don't know how I could only condition and never wash...

Ramona: What do you mean by (CO)?

**Ramona** · 01-22-2012, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by bunnys

I got highlights and lowlights but even the lowlights are lighter than my natural color.

I am a dishwater dark ash blond with gray in the front.

I am happy to say I'm going to make the 48 hours w/o washing it but I usually do that bc I usually get it done on the weekend and then don't wash for the first time until Monday morning.

I don't know how I could only condition and never wash...

Ramona: What do you mean by (CO)?

CO washing is a gentle way to clean your hair. I use VO5 Vanilla Mint Tea conditioner.
Some like other conditioners:
http://makeupalley.com/m_136669468

In the shower, here's what I do: wet hair thoroughly, slather a lot of conditioner on scalp and hair, massage gently and cover with a cap.
After 10 mins or so, remove cap and massage scalp again. Rinse, rinse, rinse. Voilà. Soft, clean hair.

Please Note: CO washing doesn't remove heavy product from your hair; gels, spray, or anything with silicones.

**shelly123** · 01-22-2012, 06:00 PM

Go as long as you can without washing. Instead rinse with cool water and then add conditioner should help. Hot water strips the color so never use hot water.\

**flashyMcGee** · 01-22-2012, 06:07 PM

Color Extend by Redken

**hotprincesscm** · 01-22-2012, 06:15 PM

The less you wash the better.....even after two weeks. I'm a hairstylist. The more you wash the more it's going to fade. Also the hotter the water is the more your color will fade as well...Use cool water to wash and condition your hair. Limit your exposure to the sun and also chlorine(ie: swimming pools, hot tub..etc.) Vinegar will fade your color, do not use it. also investing in a good salon quality shampoo and conditioner will make a world of difference too! Most people don't believe it....but it's sold in a salon for a reason, because it's a much better product. if you can...find a dry shampoo for use in between shampoos, what this does is absorb the oils on your hair without washing away your color...it will extend the time you can go between washings. Also if you have a red color expect it to fade faster than the other colors...reds just do that.

**nodmicks** · 01-22-2012, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by bunnys

I got highlights and lowlights but even the lowlights are lighter than my natural color.

I am a dishwater dark ash blond with gray in the front.

I am happy to say I'm going to make the 48 hours w/o washing it but I usually do that bc I usually get it done on the weekend and then don't wash for the first time until Monday morning.

I don't know how I could only condition and never wash...

Ramona: What do you mean by (CO)?

It sounds like you got multi tone highlights. Low- light by definition are the same color level as natural but with a different undertone or a darker color level.

Did you go with shades that are warm (caramel, golden, red,etc) or cooler blond shades?

When hair is colored it changes the structure of the hair. The hair becomes more porous and soaks up water more easily because the cuticle of the hair has been opened during the coloring process to allow the dye molecules into the hair shaft. More water going into the cuticle means color washing out. All the things mentioned below help with that.

Sun, hard water, hot water , chlorine in city water and shampooing are hard on colored hair regardless of the tonal value of the hair.

The cooler shades are easier to preserve. The cooler blond shades seem to fade because they get a brassy tone they really aren't getting darker or going away. You can use color correcting shampoos with a blue/violet base to keep them bright and vibrant along with the suggestions below. I prefer the Matrix So Silver.

Like Hotprincessmom mentioned stay away from hot water. The cooler the better and don't wash daily. Use a gentle ph balanced shampoo and a good conditioner. Ojon has an absolutely terrific line for preserving color as does Matrix.

A shower filer is about $15. It does a terrific job of keeping the chlorine in city water and the minerals in well water from messing with the tonal value of your color . Chlorine strips and fades color quickly and minerals in well water tend to turn the tonal value brassy. The filters are totally worth the $.

There are leave in products to protect your hair from the sun. On the same line of thought too much heat from repeated use of styling tools also contributes to fading.

Products labeled "volumizing" work by opening up the cuticle of the hair to make it appear more full. Opening up the cuticle like mentioned in the beginning of this post contribute to fading.

A clear glossing treatment directly after the coloring process or very soon after go a long way towards preventing a quick fading and make your hair unbelievably shiny and smooth. They are not very expensive in the salon as they are a quick service. There are also home glossing kits. They do not damage the hair.

If you tend to get a quick color fade after every color be sure to tell your colorist. There are things that can be done to tweek the color formula for better results. A lot to times it is as simple as adding a little neutral color filler to the formula or treating the hair with it prior to color application.

**bunnys** · 01-22-2012, 09:08 PM

Thanks all for the info.

I normally wash every day. But I will try to alternate washing with just conditioning. I have VO5 Hot Oil Treaments and also a big tub of Cholesterol but I don't use them like I know I should. I will start using them regularly.

Going with cold water during the winter in my morning shower is going to be nearly impossible, I have to admit but I can keep the water from running on my head for more than the minimal amount of time?

I already use Redken shampoo--had been using Time Reset but just bought a big bottle of Color Extend this weekend. I also daily use Paul Mitchell Super Skinny and It's a 10 leave in conditioner when I'm drying my hair. I guess if I'm not washing my hair daily that Super Skinny will build up on my hair, right? It is silicone based.

But maybe if I'm not stripping of all the oils by washing daily I won't need all those additional products?

I did highlight with the cooler blonds. So that's good.

Is the Matrix So Silver a shampoo? Any suggestions for at-home glossing kit brands that are especially good?

Thanks all for all your help!

**nodmicks** · 01-22-2012, 10:38 PM

Your welcome

Great! Since you have cool tones it makes it much easier. Yes, it is a shampoo. It is a purple color but will not leave your hair purple. It just removes brassy tones. It is fine to use once a week.

If you prefer to wash daily because of oil the dry shampoos would be terrific. You spray them at the roots and work in. They soak up any oil and give you lots of body.

If you prefer to wash daily just because you find your hair easy to style from a wet state you can just simply rinse your hair with water in the shower and scrub with your fingers as if you were shampooing. That is generally enough to get rid of most of the product residue .

I know some people have had good results the conditioner washing. I personally hated it. I found just water far more effective on a day I didn't want to shampoo but wanted to start from wet hair.

I wouldnt worry to much about build up from the Super Skinny Serum. It would be different if you were putting it on daily and washing rarely. Not an issue

Just make the wash water tolerable not hot hot. I have dishwater blond but like the vibrant deep reds. When I am in a red phase I actually wash my hair in the sink so I can tolerate cool water since reds fade the fastest due to the size of the color molecule. Just do the best you can not to have the super hot water on your hair.

I honestly can't tell you 100% which glossings care currently available out of the salon since I never walk down that isle. I John Freida and Clairol used to make them for the general public to purchase. I think you should be able to find one pretty easy.

**banana** · 01-23-2012, 07:05 PM

I get my hair colored professionally and my stylist told me to only wash my hair once a week. She would prefer that I don't get it wet while I shower but that is something I must do. I rinse my hair daily while I shower and only wash it once a week. Rinsing it gets the styling products out of my hair and my color is now lasting me 8 weeks.

**bunnys** · 01-23-2012, 08:06 PM

Ok, I will get the So Silver next time I'm out.

I'm going to try the condition only shampoo but if it doesn't work I'll try the water only.

About a month ago I tried to go a day without washing and just did a little "freshening" with the dryer and curling iron and my hair looked terrible all day and felt worse. I just don't think I can't go w/o getting it wet and drying and styling. I hope it feels clean...

Thanks again.