1. Remember: Red Dye is Most Susceptible to Color Loss – – Red hair colors tend to fade faster because they have the largest molecules. The molecule size makes it more difficult for red dyes to penetrate deeply into the hair, thus they dissipate more rapidly. So when going for a red hue, be sure to have your stylist use hair color that maximizes high-definition color results with minimum stress to the hair’s cuticle.
2. Shampoo Your Color-Treated Hair Less Frequently – – To prevent water from washing away your vibrant color, the answer is simple: Wash your hair less often. To retain those natural oils that help condition your color-treated hair, shampoo just two or three times per week, and never more than every other day. This will help your color last longer and help maintain health in your colored hair.

3. On the In-Between Days, Use a Color-Safe Dry Shampoo on Color-Treated Hair – — To help keep color-treated hair looking fresh, flip your hair over and spray dry shampoo at the roots to soak up oil.

4. After Coloring, Wait 2 Days Before You Shampoo – When you color your hair, wait at least 48 hours to shampoo, preferably longer. If you can go three or four days before shampooing, even better. This will give the color plenty of time to set.

5. When You Don’t Shampoo, Keep Your Hair Dry in the Shower — During those off days, wear a shower cap to keep your color-treated hair from getting wet while showering as this can cause some color to fade. Or, pull your hair up into a loose bun or a ponytail to protect it from getting wet.

6. Turn Down the Water Temperature When Shampooing Color-Treated Hair – When you shampoo, stick to lukewarm or cooler water temperatures. Super-hot water leeches dye out of hair faster and strips the color because it opens the surface of the hair strand.

7. Skip Shampoo and Go Straight to Conditioner From Time to Time Try Using Conditioner Only on Color-Treated Hair Sometimes – If you can, consider using moisturizing conditioner only on your color-treated hair. Shampoo can take more color from your hair more than conditioner.

8. Condition Every Time You Shampoo Color-Treated Hair – When you do shampoo, be sure to condition your color-treated hair every time with a color-protecting conditioner. Conditioned hair will help your color look shinier and more even.

9. Avoid Sulfates on Color-Treated Hair – Sulfates can strip color from hair, so look for a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfates contain salt, which strip away moisture, and moisture loss is one of the main causes of color fading.

10. Use Clarifying Shampoos on Color-Treated Hair Only Before Coloring – Clarifying shampoos can strip hair color because contain a high level of detergent in order to deep cleanse and remove build-up of dirt and hair styling products, so avoid using them unless it’s right before you are going to have your hair colored. If you have gray hair you are covering, look for a clarifying shampoo that removes hairspray resins, silicone, and waxes.

11. Use the Best Conditioner on Color-Treated Hair – If you don’t use a conditioner specially formulated for color-treated hair, you won’t get the results you want. Because color-treated hair has a different chemistry than its virgin counterparts, you’ll need to use a color-protecting conditioner. Conditioners with oils can help resist fading and create a protective barrier on color-treated tresses. In addition, there are conditioners that are formulated specifically to prevent premature fading in color-treated hair.

12. Apply Leave-In Treatments to Protect Color-Treated Hair – Using a leave-in conditioning treatment can help detangle your hair and protect it from heat tools, the elements and other damaging forces. Look for leave-in conditioners that are specially formulated to protect color-treated hair. This is particularly important if you frequently use blow dryers, curling or straightening irons or if you spend a lot of time near a heater or in the sun.

13. Prepare Your Color-Treated Hair for the Next Color Process with Clarifying Shampoo – A couple of weeks before you get your next hair color treatment, use masks and deep-conditioning treatments so your hair is strong and ready to receive color. Then shampoo with a clarifying shampoo just before your appointment.

14. Prepare Color-Treated Hair for Hot Tool Usage with Heat-Protecting Products — If you use blow dryers and irons on your hair, make sure that the hair is completely dry before using heat so it won’t cook from the inside out. Prepare the hair with a fortifying leave-in conditioner and finish with a protective hairspray.

15. Use Less Heat On Your Hair Whenever Possible — Dyed hair is more susceptible to damage, so avoid using blow dryers, curling irons or straightening irons as much as possible. Whenever you can, let your color-treated hair dry naturally. If you must blow dry your colored hair, keep it on the lowest heat setting. If your blow dryer has a cool blast setting, use that instead.

16. Use Products With UV Protection to Protect Your Hair From the Sun — Whatever the season, the sun’s rays can fade hair color. Try to avoid long exposures to the sun, but when you are outside on a bright day, care for your color-treated hair by using products containing UV protectors.

17. Avoid Chlorine on Color-Treated Hair – If you spend much time in a swimming pool, wet your dyed hair and apply a protective leave-in conditioner before you get wet to help prevent the chlorine from damaging your color, because the chemicals in chlorine can build up and cause hair color—especially lighter colors–to shift to an unattractive green hue. Or, wear a swim cap to keep your hair dry.

18. If Your Hair is Damaged, Don’t Skip Regular Trims – If your dyed locks are frizzy, your hair may be damaged. The best way to keep your color-treated hair looking its healthiest is to get regular cuts or trims. You don’t have to get a super short cut; just enough to keep frayed ends at bay.