How to care for color-treated hair

Nothing beats the feeling of fresh, new hair color. Colored hair can be fun and exciting, and it's essential to maintain it to keep it looking its best. Proper hair care — washing, conditioning, styling and even the products you use — all play a major part in keeping your hair salon-fresh and vibrant.

Coloring your hair breaks down your hair molecules, resulting in drier and more fragile hair.¹ If you’ve colored your hair or plan on coloring it, below are essential tips and things you should know about how to take care of colored hair.

In this article:

Understanding the hair color process

First, let's discuss how hair coloring works. Each hair strand has a medulla in the center, surrounded by the cortex, which is then surrounded by the outer cuticle.² When you color your hair with permanent dye, chemical reactions occur to create color molecules and get them inside the cortex of the hair to change its pigment.³

Semipermanent hair colors, by contrast, are nonreactive dyes that coat the hair shaft and don’t penetrate the cuticle.⁴

Establishing a hair care routine for colored hair

Regular hair maintenance is key after a color treatment. To know what's best for your hair, it's essential to understand your hair type and what it may need. Here's a quick list of things to consider when creating a hair care routine for color-treated hair:

• Avoid washing your hair daily — It’s generally recommended to wait at least two days to wash your hair after coloring it. This gives the hair cuticle time to close completely, which helps the new color stay in.⁵ And since your hair may be drier because of the new color, it's best to avoid daily washing to preserve your new hair color and keep it looking vibrant longer.⁶
• Invest in a dry shampoo — One of the most common reasons people use dry shampoo is to help make hair dye and highlights last longer.⁷ Just keep in mind that while dry shampoo absorbs oil, helping you feel fresher for longer, it doesn’t clean hair.⁸
• Use conditioner — When you wash your hair, consider using a conditioner after each shampoo.⁹ Also, when in the sun, use a leave-in conditioner that contains zinc oxide to help protect your hair.¹⁰
• Avoid heat styling — Instead of using a blow dryer to dry your hair, try letting it air dry. Hot tools like curling irons, straighteners and blow dryers may damage your hair, especially since it's been chemically treated. Aim to use these tools once a week or less often if possible.¹¹

Best products for colored hair 

Color-formulated shampoos

When choosing a shampoo for color-treated hair, look for color-formulated shampoos to help preserve your color. Here are some options:

• Pantene Pro-V Radiant Color Shine Shampoo
• L'Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Bond Strengthening Shampoo
• Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo

Deep conditioners & hair masks

Looking for ways to keep your hair as soft, healthy-looking and manageable as possible? Deep conditioners and hair masks can help with that. Conditioners and masks that contain nourishing ingredients, like oils and butters, may help hydrate your hair and protect against damage. Here are some options:

• Pantene Miracle Rescue Bond Repair Mask
• Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask
• Shea Moisture Amla Oil Bond Repair Masque

Heat protectants

If you choose to use heat on color-treated hair, consider using a heat protectant to form a barrier between your hair and styling tools.

Here are some options:

• Mielle Mongongo Oil Thermal & Heat Protectant Spray
• TIGI Bed Head Some Like it Hot Heat Protection Spray
• Pantene Pro-V Nutrient Boost Heat Primer Thermal Heat Protectant

Helpful guidance for caring for colored hair

Let’s jump into some helpful guidance for colored hair.

• Use cold water while washing — Turn the temperature down when washing your hair. Cold or lukewarm water is best to seal the cuticle and preserve the color, according to Madeline Hall, licensed cosmetologist.¹²
• Stay out of the sun — Similar to heat, the sun can also fade the color of your hair. If you love being outdoors, wear a wide-brimmed hat or use a leave-in conditioner that contains zinc oxide.¹³
• Limit time in the pool — Pool chemicals can be damaging to hair. If you love the pool, wear a swim cap and rinse hair immediately after swimming. After rinsing, wash hair with a swimmer’s shampoo and use a deep conditioner.¹⁴
• Space out treatments — For treatments like coloring, perming or relaxing, have only one service done at a time. Also, try to stretch the time between touch-ups to every 8 to 10 weeks or longer if possible in the winter when the air is dry.¹⁵

The role of diet and lifestyle in hair health

Proper hair care and maintenance are important for your hair, but other factors also influence hair.

Hair-healthy nutrients

Certain vitamins and minerals from food play a role in hair follicle growth.¹⁶ The following nutrients may be helpful in hair growth and preventing hair loss in those who are deficient. Here are some sources of these selected nutrients.

Stress

Stress can naturally color your hair — by turning it gray! Stress releases a chemical called norepinephrine into your hair follicle, which affects the melanocytes or melanin in your hair. This chemical turns the melanocytes into pigment cells that move out of the hair follicle. The result? Gray or white hair.²¹ To preserve your color-treated hair, avoid stressors as much as you can.

Professional hair treatments and color touch-ups

As the weeks go by with your color-treated hair, licensed cosmetologist Madeline Hall recommends occasional professional hair treatments and color touch-ups. According to Hall, a good rule of thumb is to retouch your roots every four to six weeks.²² She says to then consider a full-color refresh every 10 to 12 weeks to avoid drying out the previously colored hair.²³ In between touch-ups and treatments, a root touch-up spray can be helpful.

For example, consider a root touch-up product like the Clairol Nice’n Easy Root Touch-Up Permanent Hair Color.

DIY hair care for color-treated hair

If your hair needs a boost of moisture and nourishment, a hair mask may help. Not only do they infuse nutrients into your hair, but they may also help keep your color looking vibrant and fresh.

Consider a moisturizing mask product like the Nexxus Color Assure Long Lasting Vibrancy Deep Moisture Masque.

A toning or purple conditioner may also be an option to help with the dryness, dullness or brassiness that can come with blonde, gray, silver, bleached or color-treated hair. 

For example, the Nexxus Blonde Assure Purple Conditioner is a conditioning hair treatment that soothes brassiness from bleach and hair color products.

Caring for color-treated hair can be a simple part of your daily beauty routine. From washing and conditioning to styling and product choices, you can keep your hair looking salon-fresh and vibrant for longer by using the right products and taking intentional care of your hair.

Frequently asked questions

How do you keep your hair healthy looking when it’s dyed?

Hydration is your best friend when it comes to color-treated hair. To help preserve your color and keep your hair looking healthy, Hall recommends keeping your hair moisturized with leave-in conditioners, weekly hair masks or deep conditioners. When you shampoo your hair, she says to use a gentle, moisturizing shampoo that’s sulfate-free and color-safe.²⁴

How often should I wash my hair if it’s colored?

Chemically treated hair may be drier, so you may want to wash it less frequently.²⁵ That can be two to three times per week, according to Hall.²⁶

How can I keep my hair color from fading? 

Use a color-safe shampoo when washing your hair. Hall recommends washing your hair less, using toning shampoos, avoiding the sun and getting a hair gloss between color appointments to help prevent color fading.²⁷

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.