Easy tips to preserve your hair colour, make it last longer

Hair colouring tips: Washing your hair too often strips away natural oils and colour. Limit washes to two or three times a week, and use dry shampoo in between (Image: Canva)

Hair colouring is one of the most powerful ways to express your style and personality. Yet, keeping that rich, vibrant shade fresh is a challenge. Between daily styling, environmental stressors, and improper care, your hair colour can fade faster than expected. However, with the help of a few simple tweaks to your routine, you can keep your colour-treated hair healthy, glossy, and full of life for longer.

Cutting or colouring your hair can  completely transform your look and reflect how you feel, says Twinkle Deol, Hair Trainer at CUT&STYLE Salon. “Hair colouring is much more than just covering the greys. It’s also a process that involves chemicals, which can leave the hair vulnerable to dryness, breakage, and fading. That’s why proper aftercare is necessary," she says.

The reasons your hair colour fades is because many people wash their hair too soon after colouring or use the wrong products, which strip the pigment, explains Deol. “The other culprits include hot water, pollution, UV exposure, and heat styling,” she adds.

Also read | Hair colour tips for beginners: Here's your best guide on how to pick the perfect hair colour

Deol suggests the following tips on how to extend the life of your hair colour shade and keep hair healthy:

• Pick colour-safe products: Use shampoos and conditioners that are sulphate-free and specially formulated for coloured hair. These protect dye pigments and prevent premature fading.

• Avoid overwashing your hair: Washing your hair too often strips away natural oils and colour. Limit washes to two or three times a week, and use dry shampoo in between.

• Cold water is ideal for hair: Rinse your hair with cool or lukewarm water. Hot water opens the hair cuticle, causing colour to wash out faster.

• Be careful about excessive heat styling: Reduce your use of straighteners and curling irons. Always apply a heat protectant spray before using any hot tools to prevent damage and colour loss.

• Enrich hair with deep conditioning treatments: Apply a deep conditioning mask once or twice a week. These treatments hydrate and repair damage caused by the colouring process.

• Trimming your hair is a must: Get regular trims every 6-8 weeks to remove split ends and maintain the health of your coloured hair.

• Switch to silk pillowcases: Silk is gentler on your strands than cotton. It reduces friction, which can cause breakage and colour fading while you sleep.