Dyed and highlighted hair requires a little extra tender loving care because the coloring process can dry out hair strands. Even the most gentle color treatments contain some chemicals that can be drying. Beauty expert Carolyn Brundage, writing in the St. Petersburg Times, compares color-treated hair to fine silk and advises handling it as gently. Maintaining dyed hair doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming. Caring for color-treated hair is essentially a matter of doing no more harm.
Step 1
Avoid shampooing newly color-treated hair for at least two days after having it done. Even plain water will strip out some of the color, so give the dye time to settle in before washing your hair.
Step 2
Wash your hair only when absolutely necessary. Brundage recommends shampooing no more than two to three times a week, and Hairfinder.com suggests using a rinse-through conditioner between shampoos.
Step 3
Use a shampoo and conditioner that is specifically formulated for color-treated hair, or at least a very mild shampoo and a rich cream conditioner. Using products that contain SPF, or sunscreen, protection also will help keep your color from fading.
Step 4
Untangle wet color-treated hair with a wide-toothed comb. Separate your hair into small sections, about as thick as your thumb. Start at the ends and work your way up to gently work out tangles.
Step 5
Deep condition your hair with a hot oil conditioner once a week. Follow the instructions on the label for heating methods and times because each brand is slightly different. Some hot-oil conditioners work best on wet hair and others go on dry hair, so don't guess.
Tips and Warnings
- Wear a sun hat when you go out to protect your hair from UV rays that fade color.
- Avoid double-processing your hair because this can lead to excessive drying and breakage.
Things You'll Need
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Wide-toothed comb
- Hot oil conditioner
- Sun hat (optional)
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