Unfortunately, those days are long gone. My colorist left the country, breaking my heart and tearing any hope I may have had to become America’s next top superstar. Any attempts to recreate that glorious shade have left me in a sad, uneven orange state. So I did the next best thing: I loaded up on deep conditioner, went blonde and called it a day. (But that’s another story.)
Red Hair Color Characteristics
Red hair is the rarest in the world—only about 2 percent of the world is a natural redhead. And as for their synthetic versions? Red hair color is notoriously hard to maintain, as red molecules are the biggest in size, and therefore, leech out the quickest from the hair strand. Not many people can afford to maintain an even, flawless shade of red because of this upkeep, making it a rather prestigious and high-maintenance color choice. Once you do decide to bite the bullet though, prepare for a major life-changing experience. Probably no other hair color boosts your confidence (or at least turns heads) as the right shade of vibrant red. The next step is figuring out how to prolong this shade and keep it from fading. Some clever tricks below:
Tips to Keep your Dyed Red Hair Color from Fading
1. Let it sit
After getting the fiery shade of your dreams, wait at least 24 to 48 hours before washing it in the shower. This allows the red pigments—cantankerous little buggers, they are—to properly settle into your strands as much as they can.
2. Pre-poo
Before shampooing, coat hair with a treatment that helps repel water and lock in color, like Nexxus New York Salon Care Color Assure Pre-Wash Primer. It helps keep hair soft and moisturized as well. And when you do wash, make sure that it’s with cold water, at least for the first few times. This is not a drill: Wetting hair alters the hair structure by opening up the cuticle, and warm/hot temperatures swell the cuticle up even further. The gentlest and more seldom you can wash, the better. Expect some color bleed the first time—most of this if from the color left on your scalp.
3. Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner
Lower-sulfate products are apparently milder on colored strands since they don’t offer as much friction. Try a nourishing and color-friendly wash and care system, such as Dove Nutritive Solutions Color Care Shampoo and Dove Nutritive Solutions Color Care Conditioner, and it will pay off in the long run. Not only can they help keep your shade vibrant, but they also work to remove build-up that can cause dullness and muck up your color.
4. Avoid heat
Just as natural gingers burn easily, red hair is also susceptible to environmental damage due to UV rays (they fade color really badly) and heat from your tools. Always use a thermal protectant, like TRESemmé Thermal Creations Instant Heat Tamer Spray, before styling, or choose leave-in sprays with UV protection to shield hair from sun and humidity aggressors.
5. Chlorine is the enemy
Chlorine can be just as devastating to red hair as it is to blondes. The chemical can strip hair and dry it out, so as a fail-safe, wet hair with regular tap water first to create a barrier. Or better yet, use a leave-in conditioner (we like how Dove Quench Absolute Leave-In Detangler also helps unfurl our knots). Best option? Keep your head above water, literally, and you’ll extend the brightness of that red.
6. Go for a gloss
Caught in between touchups but noticing a bit of a fade? Step in for a gloss. It’s not as expensive and will give you back some of that lost sheen.
7. Be diligent
Red hair color might be high-maintenance, but the payoff is gorgeous. Invest in regular root touchups—six to eight weeks is ideal and right when your roots just start to show. Staying loyal to the same stylist also helps you avoid any confusion on the shade previously used on your strands. What ways do you prolong your red hair color?
