MAKING HAIR COLOR LAST LONGER

Dear Jellybean,

So I dye my hair, and the color always fades really quick, like within two-three weeks. What can I do to make it last longer?

Dear Writer,

Good question! Whether you have your hair professionally colored or you use home hair coloring kits, you want to make your hair color last as long as possible. There are several things you can do to maximize your newly colored tresses so your new hue remains gorgeous and true as long as possible.

Pre-Treat Your Hair

A few days before coloring your hair, apply a deep conditioning treatment to tresses. You'll find plenty of options in the drugstore hair-care aisle. The better conditioned your hair is, the easier the color will take and the longer it will last. Recently conditioned hair will also be softer and shinier. As an extra bonus, a deep conditioner will protect your hair against any possible damage from the color chemicals.

Don't Shampoo On Dye-Day

Just what it says. Wait at least 24 or 48 hours after your last shampoo before applying color products. The natural oils in your hair will cling to the color, helping it to bind more closely to hair strands, which will help it stay vibrant for longer.

Stay A Few Shades Away

Pick the right hair color for your lifestyle. If you don't have time to update your roots every 4-6 weeks, you may want to select a shade of hair color only 1-3 shades lighter (or darker) than your natural color. The closer you stay to your natural hair color, the less your roots will show as they start to peek through. And when your roots are less obvious, your hair color will last longer before you have to touch up your roots.

Consider Layers Of Color

If your hair is colored all one color, or seems to fade rapidly after each color application, you may want to try a layered color look. The advantage to applying complementary layered colors (such as highlights and lowlights) is that they reflect the light, so hair looks shinier. They also grow out more naturally, because the multiple shades tend to stay fresher for longer, instead of giving you that obvious roots look. Plus, multidimensional hair color looks more natural, and can be really pretty.

Cool It In The Shower

It's important to avoid washing color-treated hair in hot water. Cool water is best. Finish your shower with a cold water rinse for hair, which closes the hair cuticle, helping the color to look brighter.

Use Color-Safe Hair Products

Girls with color-treated hair should always use a color-safe or color-enhancing shampoo, to maintain and enhance their color. Color shampoos (such as Pantene Pro-V Brunette Expressions Daily Color Enhancing Shampoo ) are specifically designed to keep your color fresh as long as possible. If you don't wish to use a color enhancing shampoo for whatever reason, then at least use the most gentle shampoo that you can. Try Johnson's Baby Shampoo. While we're on the topic of shampoo, only wash hair as often as necessary. Each new shampoo treatment can potentially speed up color fading.

Keep It Conditioned

Hair coloring tends to make hair drier than normal. Conditioned hair holds color better than dry, brittle or damaged hair, and looks shinier and brighter, so it is important to keep your colored hair conditioned and soft. Use a daily conditioner that's formulated for color-treated hair, and give hair a special treat once a week with a hair mask for color-treated hair, for more intense conditioning.

Protect Hair From Sunlight

Try to protect your colored hair to the sun, which can fade your hair color. Wear hats outside, if you're in the sun for long. Also protect against chlorine in swimming pools, which can alter or damage your hair color. Use a chlorine-safe, conditioning hair treatment for when you go swimming, such as Matrix Biolage Protective Hair Oil.

Keep The Heat Down

Minimize the use of hot styling tools (blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons or hot rollers) to avoid heat damage to your new color. Whenever possible, let your colored tresses air dry. If you are a slave to your blow dryer or iron, apply a heat protective leave-in conditioner or spray before styling. Good choices include L'Oreal Nature's Therapy Heat Control Leave in Protection Cream, and Kiehl's Heat-Protective Silk-Straightening Cream.