You’ll feel like you paid a million dollars when you come out of the salon with a fresh new hair color and bouncy, shiny hair. However, the trick is to maintain it even after you return to your hair care routine. As it turns out, there are probably a few things you’re not doing right when it comes to keeping your newly dyed hair vibrant and healthy. No need to worry. Try to avoid the things your hair colorist wants you to stop doing at home. Here are the biggest no-nos, according to professional stylists:
1. Increase the temperature of hot tools
Let’s be real. If you expect something to look and feel great, you probably can’t pass up a modern tool at this point. Rather than ditching them altogether, professional hairstylist Laurent Saint-Crock suggests turning the temperature down.
“Excessive heat can be the most damaging to your hair, causing breakage and dryness, and can even burn your hair,” he says. “Instead, use a lower setting of 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and be sure to use a heat protectant spray before using a blow dryer, curling iron, or other hot hair tools.”
2. Washing clothes too often
Determining the right frequency to wash your hair is certainly a balance. If there is too little, the balance of the scalp may be disrupted and the scalp may feel irritated and oily. However, if you use too much, you run the risk of fading and drying.
“Shampoo, like laundry detergent and soap, strips color and moisture from your hair,” notes Sally Hershberger’s celebrity stylist Keith Shore.
“Alternatively, try a cleansing conditioner instead of shampoo at least once a week. Healthy hair requires less shampoo, and a cleansing conditioner cleanses hair just enough to remove oil from the scalp. and moisturizes the ends of the hair.
3. Trying to leave the salon with wet hair
There’s no doubt that leaving with a fresh blow-dry is the best part of a salon visit, but sometimes you just don’t have the time or just want to blow-dry. Beth Minardi, hair color expert at James Fojt Salons and color director at ArtegoUSA, says you should think twice before adopting this.
“You and your colorist should check your color when your hair is dry so you can most accurately assess the results,” she says. “Invest in a salon blowout to avoid any surprises. Plus, you’ll leave with gorgeous hair.”
4.Correct box color
Having your hair colored by a professional is a luxury. That’s why you need to do everything you can to maintain its vibrancy. It’s fine to extend the time between appointments, but Suncroc says to skip the box dye in that case.
“Box colors usually contain harsh metal salts, high ammonia, and chemicals that can damage your hair. These are also generally bad for your scalp and are very difficult to remove. In addition to being difficult, the results can be unpredictable and lead to uneven color,” he says. Use professional color, temporary root cover-up sprays, anti-brass shampoos, brightening treatments, and toners to improve growth, gray hair, and dullness.
5. Ask others for their opinions directly
When you make a major color change, you want to go straight to your friends and family to brag about it and get their opinions. Minardi says to hold off unless you know they have your full support.
“Everyone has an opinion. Your opinion is the only one that matters,” she says. “Embrace your new hair color and make personal adjustments. Check the color in different light sources. Check it in outdoor natural light insights and in different locations. Believe in yourself. Let your friends and family admire your hair without asking for their approval.
6. Brush the hair a little vigorously
Your hair is in a very fragile state for days and weeks after bleaching, highlighting, or coloring. One of the biggest mistakes Shore says his clients make is brushing their hair a little too vigorously right after a color service.
“Don’t rake wet hair with a metal brush after highlighting; it will break your hair and make it look less expensive,” he says. “Instead, spray on a leave-in conditioner and carefully brush your hair using a wet hair brush before styling.”
7. Reaching for low-quality shampoo
You don’t have to spend a fortune on shampoo and conditioner, but try to avoid the cheapest products if possible. Hair color is an investment, and the products you use every day can make a difference in the vibrancy of your color and the health of your hair.
“Shampoos containing sulfates can dry hair, fade color, and irritate the skin,” says Suncroc. “Instead, you should use a shampoo specifically formulated for color-treated hair. A high-quality shampoo will make a big difference in maintaining your hair’s health and color.”
8. Iron the hairline
Flat irons can be irritating, but keep the heat down and avoid using this tool on your hairline, Shore says.
“Hair at the hairline is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face, so it’s often highlighted during color services,” he explains. “If you must use it, leave the hairline intact and style with a round brush and hairdryer, especially right after bleaching. There’s no need to do that, as it can cause breakage and splatters.”
9. Get in the pool right away
Avoid scheduling your color appointment before a pool party or tropical vacation. If it gets wet, try not to get your hair wet. And if you want to dye your hair right before the holidays, Minardi says to make an appointment a week in advance, rather than the day before.
