Our hair – the texture, shape, colour, smell, – it’s unique to each of us, made even more so by the way we’re able to play around with our hair colour and experiment with new looks. Changing your hair colour can have a dramatic impact on your appearance, and by proxy, your self-confidence.
Whenever you colour your mane, you’re stripping your hair of its natural protective oils, and if you fail to replace those protectants you can lose that colour and dry out your hair very quickly. But on the other hand, if you give your tresses the love, care, and nutrients it needs, your new hair colour is sure to slay another day (or week – or month!). We’ve decided to share a few of our best tips for coloured hair aftercare, so you can love on your hair – and yourself – the way it deserves to be!
Trim your hair regularly
I’m sure you’ve heard this 101 times before, but we’ve put trimming your hair right at the top of the list, because we think it’s a highly undervalued bit of advice! When you trim the ends of your hair, don’t think of it as losing length – think of it as pruning, like you would with your most luscious plant at home. You cut away, or trim, any dead or dying leaves and stems from the plant regularly so that nutrients are distributed to the rest of the plant. Regular trims are only ever a good thing – your future self will thank you for it!
Use purple shampoo
If you’ve recently lifted (bleached) your hair, or already have blonde locks and just need to maintain that lovely cooler shade, you absolutely need a bottle of purple shampoo in your shower caddy! Purple shampoo acts like a sober toner – less harsh, so easy to apply at home, and is much more forgiving to your hair in the big picture.
Note: We do recommend toning if you start to notice your hair colour getting brassy, however toning sessions should be done at least six weeks apart, so using purple shampoo in between sessions is the best way to subdue brassiness in your blonde while keeping your hair healthy.
Use hair masks
After you’ve coloured your hair, you’ll need to work on replenishing the proteins and moisture lost during the lifting/dying treatment. Hair masks are an incredible source for these key ingredients in a recipe for stunning, healthy hair with maximum colour retention. Unlike shampoos, hair masks are luscious creams that soak amongst your locks, giving each strand the TLC it needs without stripping the colour. Depending on the state of your hair, masks can be used as little as once a fortnight or up to twice a week for rejuvenation and pampering. You can make your own organic hair masks at home by using regular groceries as ingredients, pop one into your basket at your local supermarket or hairdresser – or, (especially if your hair is severely damaged), book yourself in a treatment for a relaxing professional pampering.
Let your natural oils shine
It can be easy to overdo it when it comes to washing your hair (and we get it, we love that whipped cream feeling in your hands when you get a good lather on!), but the frequency of which you wash your hair should be carefully monitored as you could strip off all of your natural oils. For a more organic approach to bleached hair aftercare, skip a wash in your cycle once a week. This will give your scalp an extra day to breathe, and will let your natural oils repair and rehydrate – like they do best!
Break your dependancy on heat styling
You know that sizzling sound you get when you snap your straightener over your hair? Or that moment when you fry your neck with your blow dryer? Well, who needs em! After colouring your hair, your strands will be in dire need of deep moisturisation and hydration – none of which our heat styling friends provide, unfortunately. We strongly recommend seeking other ways of styling your hair, or even letting your natural hair texture be the main character for a day! There are so many ways to style your hair without using extreme heat, each method with their own result – so be it for gorgeous tumbling curls, or for hair as straight as your nail file, find a cooler way to style that’s as unique as your hair is!
Avoid sulphates and chlorine
Colouring your hair (using bleach or not) means stripping each strand of its protective follicle, inevitably leaving your hair vulnerable to further detriment. To help minimise the damage caused by hair colouring, there are two chemicals in particular you should avoid – sulphate, and chlorine. Sulphate shampoos are notorious for attacking your natural oils, leaving hair thirsty and brittle, while exposure to chlorinated water can cause premature dulling of colour. So, reduce your swimming sessions, and remember to check your shampoo’s ingredients before popping it in your basket.
Update your diet and supplements
There is no underestimating the power of a good diet or nutrition plan! There are so many versatile, easily accessible ingredients and supplements that do wonders for strengthening your hair – and after a colour treatment, your hair could use all the help it can get to revitalise it’s health and shine! We recommend doing your own research as to what nutrients will be suitable for you, considering your lifestyle and dietary parameters, but here’s three common kosher foods/supplements we want to highlight:
- Spinach, full of restorative proteins, is a great food source to promote hair growth and cell repair within your hair.
- Nuts provide an incredible supply of healthy fats and iron which, together, gives a healthy balance of proteins that hypes natural strength and shine.
- Chia seeds contain high levels of omega-3 oils, or fatty acids, and these are incredible for moisture-locking and shine.
It doesn’t take long to create a habit, so make passionate haircare a part of your routine and see your healthy coloured hair turn heads!
