Ensuring Your Red Hair Color Stays

It is not easy to maintain a red hair color when your hair has been dyed. Unfortunately, it seems to often change into a brassy orange color quite soon after dyeing it unless proper care and attention is given to it. Unlike other hair colors, red does not stick as well to most hair and it washes out much faster than the regular brown or black dyes do.

If you want your red hair color to stick one of the first things you need to do is to prepare your hair well in advance. There are some things you can do to help the dye to attach itself more firmly to the hair shafts. Although it is difficult to tell, most women have quite a build-up of hairsprays and mousse on their hair, leftover from styling. Chlorine is often automatically added to city water supplies as well, and this can also hinder the red hair dye from really taking as it should. If you use a chelating shampoo and conditioner, it should strip your hair of all of these unwanted ingredients and leave your hair in tip top shape, ready to dye.

Once you have dyed your hair, there are some simple steps to take that will also help to keep it from fading quickly. One of the first things you should invest in after dyeing your hair is a red color enhancing shampoo and conditioner. While you can buy these from regular shops, if you want to really maintain your hair color try purchasing these shampoos directly from a hairdresser. Usually they have much better quality shampoos and conditioners.

Another thing that is very damaging to dyed hair is sunlight. So, whenever you go outside--even if the sunlight is not very strong or direct--be sure to cover up your hair with a hat or a scarf. Something else that will quickly strip the red hair dye from your hair is the chlorine that you find in swimming pools, so be sure to wear a swimming cap and keep your hair up if you are planning on going swimming.

When shampooing your hair, rinse off afterward with cool water rather than steaming hot water. Finally, do not wash your hair too often. Dye washes out as you shampoo your hair, with red hair dye washing out quite quickly. Because of this, try to limit how often you wash your hair -- and remember to use the color enhancing shampoo and conditioner you bought when you do wash it. Just heeding these few guidelines and tips will ensure that your hair stays that gorgeous red color even longer.


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