The Astonishing Reasons Why Your Hair Color Doesn’t Last
Coloring your hair can be a pain (and it’s not cheap either), but doing any one of a hundred things—everything from straightening your hair with a flat iron to pouring bottled water in the bathroom—could damage your hair even if you go to the best hair salon in Capitol Hill.
A Summary of Reasons Why Your Hair Color Fades Fast
Overuse of color-depleting shampoo.
Using heat styling tools without using a heat protectant.
Using shampoos that strip hair color.
Washing hair with hard water.
Let’s take an in-depth look at each reason and how you can prevent them from ever happening.
Overuse of Color-Depleting Shampoo
All colored hair has an expiration date, even if you had it done in the best hair salon money can afford. Permanent hair dye lasts the longest, while temporary dye lasts the shortest time. Those who wash their hair multiple times per day or week will see the fastest results when their hair color begins to fade.
The solution is simple—wash your hair less frequently and protect it from the water in the shower. Rather than letting your hair down freely in the shower, tie it back with a hair tie or wear a shower cap to keep it out of the water. We recommend shampooing at least once a week while using conditioner every other day to moisturize your hair and scalp.
Using Heat Styling Tools without Using a Heat Protectant
Hot styling tools promote hair and hair color loss when misused. The heat they create causes moisture in the shaft to turn into steam and become trapped within, forming bubbles that damage the hair.
Colored hair already has trouble staying healthy on its own; adding heat can only make it worse. To prevent damage from your tools, apply a heat protectant before styling. The spray will protect your hair from being damaged by the heat.
Using Shampoos That Strip Hair Color
If you want to protect your hair against fading, you should pay attention to what you’re buying. Although you might be tempted to grab a bottle of shampoo off the drugstore shelf, don’t!
Most commercial shampoos contain sulfates, which “clean” the hair but occasionally strip the color. The best way to prevent this from happening is to opt for a gentler brand. Look for bottles labeled “gentle” or “color-safe,” which contain fewer sulfates and, in turn, cause minor hair color fading.
Also, read the ingredients list carefully. Actively avoid shampoos that contain “sodium laureth sulfate” or “ammonium laureth sulfate” as an active ingredient since they cause eye and skin irritation. The best hair salons will also tell you the same thing.
Washing Hair with Hard Water
Water—aided by hair conditioner, shampoo, and other essential products—is supposed to make your hair shiny and soft. But if you have hard water flowing through your pipes, you might be experiencing the opposite effect.
Hard water is made from high amounts of calcium and magnesium, which can cause damage to your hair. Hard minerals can strip away dyes and healthy oils, and other minerals. The result? Brittle, discolored hair. Hard water also leads to buildup on your scalp, which leads to thinning and hair loss.
If your hair color is fading too fast, reduce the amount of color-damaging minerals in your water by using a water softener.
Keep Your Hair Color on with a Professional Salon
You can keep your colorful crowning glory lively by thinking through your dye process and the products you use to style it. These tips ensure that the result of your effort is long-lasting and dyed luscious locks that make heads turn.
Take a trip to the best hair salon in Capitol Hill by booking an appointment at The Glam House! We offer professional hair salon services in Denver, including haircuts, hair extensions, balayage, and—of course—hair coloring!
