This article originally appeared in the November 2015 issue of SELF. For more from the issue, subscribe to SELF and download the digital edition.
Your haircolor is amazing right after you leave the salon, but it can fade all too quickly. These tips will keep it looking richer—longer.
1. Wash Gently
Heads up: Every time you shampoo, some of that gorgeous color goes down the drain. "Anything that removes dirt and oil is also going to remove color molecules," says Kyle White, a colorist at New York City's Oscar Blandi Salon. He suggests doing just a water rinse post-gym to give strands a break. When you do wash, use a color-depositing formula (we like Joico Color Infuse shampoos and Pravana treatment conditioners) a few days a week. Scared it'll be too much? "Dilute the product with your regular shampoo or conditioner," says White.
2. Brighten Up
Highlighted hair can turn brassy because of UV exposure, overwashing or minerals in your shower water, White says. Try Christophe Robin Brightening Hair Finish Lotion With Fruit Vinegar ($48), a leave-in spritz, to remove dulling buildup with clarifying vinegar that keeps strands shiny. Too-warm color? Use a violet-toned shampoo "to neutralize yellow tones and keep those lighter streaks sparkly," White advises. Developed for blondes, R+Co's coconut-infused version ($29) restores vibrancy without stripping moisture.
3. Treat Weekly
Pamper hair regularly with a nourishing mask. "A deep-conditioning treatment will seal your cuticle so it retains color longer," White says. Pureology Colour Fanatic Instant Deep-Conditioning Mask ($44) feeds strands with olive and camelina oils. Or use White's DIY trick: Supercharge your conditioner with a few drops of coconut oil so it's even more hydrating. And always layer on protection before heat styling. David Mallett Hair Serum #DM027 ($80) has macadamia oil to make strands gleam. The result: Color that's good as new!
Left: Pravana Nevo Color Enhancer Treatment in Honey Blonde (top) and Deep Burgundy (bottom), $20 each; Joico Color Infuse shampoo in Copper and Red (center), $16 each. Center: R+Co Sunset Blvd Blonde Shampoo, $29. Right: David Mallett Hair Serum #DM027, $80
Photo Credit: John Scott / Getty Images; Erica McCartney
