Maintain your hair colour

From coppery reds to bright blues, we’ve had our share of fun with hair colours. But how do we make them stay the shade they originally were? Coloured hair comes with its own set of dos and don’ts. Here are a few things you might want to keep in mind if you’re sporting a new shade.

1. Skip hot showers: You’ll have to skip your hot water baths if you want your colour to stay longer. Hey, it’s not good for your hair anyway. Hot water opens up cuticles and that means your hair colouring is going to run a little too.

2. Go for regular touch-ups: It’s important to go for regular touch-ups so that your hair doesn’t fall prey to ‘banding’. It happens when the new root colour overlaps the old colour resulting in your roots looking lighter than the rest of your hair.

3. Keep trimming: Hair colour doesn’t sit well on strands if they are frayed. Keep trimming split ends so you have a more even surface for the colour. Besides, it will also boost healthy hair growth.

4. Leave-in serums: There are hair tonics, serums and conditioners that you can just leave-in and they’ll seal in the required moisturiser and protect the hair from sun damage. Find a formula that works for you and we guarantee you won’t leave home without it once you see the results.

5. Sun-protect your hair: We always try and protect our skin from the harmful rays of the sun, don’t we? Then why should our tresses miss out on the care? Wear a hat wherever possible as sunrays can suck the colour out making your glossy colour look rather washed out.

6. Prep before pool time: If you’ve come back from a long day in the pool to find your new hair colour a different shade altogether, don’t be too surprised. It’s bound to happen if you haven’t prepped your locks in advance. No, there is no point blaming the chlorine in the water, it’s doing its job. If you love swimming, or simply soaking in the pool, take a dollop of conditioner on your fingers and run it through your strands. However, the most ideal option would be to wear a swim cap.

7. Practice deep conditioning: If you want your hair colour to really shine, you need to ensure your hair is healthy. Dry, brittle, lifeless hair can make even the best of colours look dull. Because coloured hair is more susceptible to damage and dryness, ensure you use deep conditioning masks frequently to keep hair feeling soft, nourished and silky.

8. Make some changes to your shampoo sessions: To start with, you’ll have to reduce the number of times you shampoo in a week. We understand you might not want to skip shampooing altogether. After all, you want to show off your new colour in its best form. Opt for dry shampoos for these days. You would also need to pay close attention to what goes into your shampoos. Look out for sulphate-free shampoos. This particular ingredient can strip your hair of its natural oils and also your new colour.

Antara Bose is a model turned fashion and beauty consultant. A popular blogger, anchor, and voice over artist, she maintains a deep connection with the local fashion, wellness and health industry. For fashion updates follow Antara on instagram @antarabose and on Facebook: Antara Bose.