(03) 9370 9964
Requesting A Call:
Blog
How to Protect Your Hair Colour and Keep it Vibrant for Longer
G'day from the team at Endless Hair! There's no better feeling than walking out of our Essendon salon with fresh, glossy, perfect hair colour. Whether you’ve gone for a creamy blonde balayage, a deep sparkling espresso, or a stunning copper, you want that "just-done" look to last.
But then, life happens. After a few washes, you might notice that brightness starts to dim, and the shade isn't quite what it was.
As professional colourists, we can tell you that a certain amount of fading is unavoidable. But how much it fades and how fast it happens? That is something you have a lot of control over. Protecting your hair colour is a partnership between our work in the salon and your care routine at home.
You've invested your time and money into getting a beautiful colour; now, here is our professional guide on how to protect it properly.
It Starts With Your Hair's Condition
Before we even get to aftercare, the longevity of your colour starts with the health of your hair. Porous, dry, or damaged hair will not hold onto colour molecules. The hair shaft is too open, letting the pigment wash out almost as fast as we put it in.
This is why we'll always chat with you about your hair's health first. Sometimes, we'll recommend a strengthening treatment or a good trim before we begin the colour service. Starting with a healthy base is the first step to a colour that lasts.
Your At-Home Colour Care Routine
What you do in the days and weeks after your appointment will make the biggest difference.
1. The First 48 Hours are Key
After we've finished your service, we will rinse, treat, and seal your hair. This process helps to close the hair's outer layer, the cuticle, trapping the new colour molecules inside.
This process needs time to complete. We strongly advise waiting at least 48 to 72 hours after your colour appointment before you wash your hair again. Washing it too soon, while the cuticle is still settling, will cause a noticeable amount of colour to rinse away.
2. Wash Your Hair Less Often
Every time you wash your hair, a small amount of colour pigment will escape. It’s a simple fact. The best way to reduce this is to simply wash your hair less.
For most people, two to three times a week is plenty. If your roots get a bit oily, dry shampoo is your best mate. A good quality dry shampoo will absorb oil and add a bit of volume, letting you stretch the time between washes by another day or two.
3. Turn Down the Heat in the Shower
This is a big one. Steaming hot showers might feel good, but they are one of the worst things for your hair colour. Just like hot water opens the pores on your skin, it also forces open the hair's cuticle. When that happens, the colour molecules wash straight out.
Our Pro Tip: Wash and condition your hair using lukewarm water. It's much gentler on the hair shaft. Then, just before you get out, do a final quick rinse with the coolest water you can stand. This helps to seal the cuticle shut, locking in moisture and your colour.
4. Use the Right Products: Sulphate-Free is a Must
If you walk away with only one tip, let it be this one. Most standard shampoos from the supermarket use strong detergents, specifically sulphates (like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, or SLS). These are great for creating a big lather, but they are very harsh. They strip your hair of its natural oils and, along with it, your expensive new colour.
You need to use a professional, sulphate-free, colour-safe shampoo and conditioner. These formulas use milder cleansing agents that clean your hair without stripping it bare.
Think of it this way: you wouldn't wash a delicate silk shirt with harsh laundry powder. Your hair deserves the same gentle treatment. We can recommend the perfect range for your hair type at our Essendon salon.
5. Be Smart With Heat Styling
High heat from straighteners, curling wands, and even your blow-dryer will fade your colour. Heat degrades the colour pigments and damages the hair, making it more porous.
We're not saying you have to give up your tools, but you must use them correctly:
- Always Use a Heat Protectant: This is not optional. A good spray creates a barrier between your hair and the heat.
- Turn the Temperature Down: Most people use tools that are far too hot. You almost never need the maximum setting. Try staying in the 170°C-185°C range.
- Let Your Hair Air-Dry: When you can, let your hair air-dry 80% of the way before finishing with the blow-dryer. This reduces its exposure to heat.
Protecting Your Colour from the Environment
It's not just washing and styling that affects your colour. Your daily surroundings, especially here in Australia, play a part.
The Melbourne Sun Fades Hair
The sun’s UV rays are just as damaging to your hair as they are to your skin. They act like a natural bleach, breaking down colour pigments and making your shade look dull and brassy.
If you know you'll be out in the sun for a while (at a weekend barbie or just walking around), protect your hair.
Wear a hat.
Use a UV-protectant hair spray or leave-in conditioner. These are like sunscreen for your hair.
Chlorine and Salt Water
Chlorine in swimming pools is a chemical that will strip colour very quickly, especially for blondes (it can even cause a green tint). Salt water is very drying, which makes the hair more porous and prone to fading.
Pro Tip Before a Swim: Get your hair completely wet with fresh tap water before you jump in the pool or ocean. Your hair is like a sponge; if it’s already full of fresh water, it can't absorb as much of the damaging chlorinated or salt water.
After a Swim: Rinse your hair with fresh water as soon as you get out.
In-Salon Upkeep for Lasting Vibrancy
Your at-home routine is about preservation. Your in-salon maintenance is about refreshing.
Ask for a Gloss Treatment
A professional gloss or toner is the secret to keeping that "fresh from the salon" look. This is a service we provide at our beauty salon that takes about 20 minutes.
A gloss is a demi-permanent colour that has multiple benefits:
- It adds a huge amount of shine and softness.
- It seals and conditions the hair cuticle.
- It deposits a small amount of pigment to refresh your tone, neutralise brassiness, and bring back vibrancy.
We recommend booking a gloss treatment about 4-6 weeks after your main colour appointment. It's the perfect 'top-up' to keep your colour looking its best until your next full service.
A Note for Blondes: Toning Shampoo
If you have blonde, grey, or lightened hair, a purple or blue toning shampoo can be used at home to counteract any brassy (yellow or orange) tones that appear.
But be careful—it's easy to overuse them. Using a toning shampoo too often can dull your blonde, give it a purple tinge, or dry it out. We usually suggest using it just once a week, or when you first notice brassiness appearing.
We're Here to Help Your Colour Last
Keeping your hair colour vibrant is a team effort. We'll provide the expert application, high-quality products, and advice at our hairdresser in Essendon. You bring the commitment to the at-home care routine.
By following these steps, you can genuinely extend the life and brilliance of your hair colour.
If you have questions about your specific hair type or want to book a consultation for a new colour or a refreshing gloss treatment, we'd love to chat.
