Keep Your Colour Looking Fresh Longer

Your colour looks perfect when you leave the salon. Glossy, fresh, the tone exactly how you wanted it.

Then a few weeks later it can start to look flatter, slightly faded or just not quite as vibrant. Most people assume the colour hasn’t lasted, but that’s not usually the case.

“But colour doesn’t suddenly go wrong,” explains Lucy. “It just stops looking its best when it doesn’t get the TLC it needs between salon visits.”

Why your colour fades too fast

All colour softens a little over time. Washing, heat styling, sunshine and general wear all affect the tone and vibrancy.

What matters isn’t whether colour fades at all, but how fast it fades. If the shine and vibrancy disappear quickly, it’s usually something simple in your routine rather than the colour itself.

Your shampoo could be the problem

One of the biggest causes of colour fading is using a shampoo that’s too harsh.

Some shampoos clean the hair so deeply that they also remove tone, especially if you’re blonde, red or have a softer shade. We often see clients who feel their colour never lasts, only to realise the products they’re using are working against it.

That’s why we usually recommend a specifically formulated colour shampoo and conditioner such as Redken Acidic Colour Gloss. These are designed to cleanse the hair gently while helping the colour stay locked in.

Water is the enemy of colour

Every time the hair gets wet, the outer layer opens slightly, which means a small amount of colour is lost.

“If you wash every day, the colour will naturally start to look less fresh more quickly. Not everyone can reduce how often they wash, but even small changes help,” says Lucy. “Leaving an extra day between washes, turning the water temperature to lukewarm and using dry shampoo can all help your colour stay brighter for longer.”

Protect it or lose it

Always use a heat protectant like Acidic Colour Gloss leave in treatment when using heated styling tools, including hairdryers. This helps protect the outside of the hair shaft so the colour stays sealed in.

Sun protection is just as important. UV rays can damage the hair and fade colour. Always spritz with a protector like One United and if you’re going to be in the sun for a long time the best protection is a hat.

Healthy hair holds colour better

Healthy hair holds colour far better than dry or damaged hair. Regular trims, the right mask at home and salon treatments all help the colour last.

Leave it too long and it shows

Even with the right routine between visits, colour needs maintenance. That might be a gloss, toner, root refresh or quick tidy-up.

Leave it too long, and the colour can start to look tired. Getting the timing right keeps your hair looking good all the time, not just straight after your appointment.

Make your colour last longer

If your colour never seems to stay looking fresh, it’s rarely one big problem, says Lucy. It’s usually a few small things adding up – products, heat, condition or leaving it too long between visits.

If your colour fades quicker than it should, mention it next time you’re in the salon. We’ll look at your hair, haircare routine and the products you’re using, then suggest what will help your colour stay vibrant and glossy for longer.