Caring for coloured hair
Colour fades a little every time water, heat and sunlight get to it. You can't stop that completely, but a few changes to your routine make a visible difference to how long it lasts.
In the shower
- Wait a couple of days after colouring before your first wash, unless your colourist tells you otherwise.
- Wash less often if you can, and use cooler water. Heat opens the cuticle and lets colour escape.
- Use a gentle, colour-safe shampoo, and save clarifying shampoos for when you really need them.
- Condition every time, and use a mask weekly, especially on lightened hair.
Blonde and lightened hair
Bleached hair is more porous, so it picks up tones from water and products and can turn yellow or brassy. A purple shampoo or mask, used once a week or so, counteracts yellow tones; blue products counteract orange. Use them sparingly: too much can leave a lilac tint, especially on very light or porous hair.
Lightened hair also needs more protection from breakage. Treat it as fragile: lower heat, gentle detangling and regular trims.
Reds and vivid colours
Red molecules are large and fade fastest. Colour-depositing conditioners in a matching shade can top up vibrancy between visits. Wash in cool water and expect to refresh vivid colours more often.
Heat, sun and swimming
- Use a heat protectant and lower temperatures; heat fades colour as well as damaging hair.
- Cover your hair or use a product with UV filters in strong sun.
- Before swimming, wet your hair with clean water and apply a little conditioner, so it absorbs less pool or sea water. Rinse straight afterwards. Chlorine can strip colour and turn lightened hair green-tinged.
Between appointments
Root touch-up sprays and powders can stretch the time between visits. A gloss or toner appointment refreshes tone and shine without a full colour. Keep a note of what was used on your hair, or ask your salon to, so the next colourist knows its history.
Keep reading: Hair colour · Heat styling · Haircut frequency
Last reviewed: November 2026