I confess it. I dye my hair. Or, rather, my hair is color treated, because that makes it sound better. I don't even remember what my natural color is. I tend to go with darker brows, but sometimes I just have to go red, which is the hardest color to take care of and the fastest color to fade. If it's your fancy, there's nothing wrong with coloring your hair – but you do have to take care of it and here are some tips to help you do just that.
Photo Credit: wisely-chosen
Especially if you tend to color your hair often, it is a good idea to deep condition your hair once every week. When you color your hair, it can affect the essential oils in your hair, and you need to do what you can to make up for that. A moisturizing conditioner treatment can do just that.
Photo Credit: Paula Wirth
It really is important to use everyday shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated for color treated hair. You might not think it will make a difference, but you can really see it when you use products geared toward your hair type. They have the right type of ingredients to keep your hair healthy.
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I know it sounds grody, but you do not have to wash your hair every day – and possibly shouldn't when you dye your hair a lot. Especially if you tend to go with shades of red, washing your hair every other day will help the color last longer. More practically, skipping a day here and there will give your hair a chance to create its own moisture. You won't constantly be sending those essential oils down the drain.
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A hot oil treatment is more than a luxury, it is a necessity, especially when you color your hair. You only need to do this once every month. Naturally there are oil treatments you can buy, but you can also make one yourself by mixing sweet almond oil and olive oil. You need to let the oil sit, so it is absorbed by your hair.
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I am terribly guilty of this: I brush my hair when it's wet. That is apparently bad for your hair in general, but it is especially bad when your hair is color treated. Instead, it is much better and much healthier for your hair if you comb it out using a wide toothed comb. That way, your hair won't break nearly as much.
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The sun can be your worst energy whether you color your hair or not, but if you do then the sun becomes your archenemy. You should wear a hat, a scarf, or use products designed to protect your hair from the sun. Not only will your color fade, but it will also dry out your hair an unhealthy amount.
Photo Credit: the Italian voice
You never want to dry out your hair too much, and that includes blow drying it. For one thing, you should blot at your hair if it is color treated. Rough treatment by the towel is bad for it. For another thing, you should wait until it is almost completely dry on its own before turning to your blow dryer. That will save you a lot of damage.
I learned many of these tips the hard way. Some of them I didn't know at all. Do any of you have any tips for keeping color treated hair healthy and vibrant? What's your favorite brand of color to use?
Top Photo Credit: Cherry Bomb 81