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BONJOUR DAH-LING!

Whether you’ve pulled out all the stops at the salon, or saved your dollars with a DIY dye session, changing your hair color is a fantastic way to boost your mood and switch up your look… And these days there’s almost no limits to the colors you can use to enhance your appearance. It’s also a great way to boost your spirits in that post Xmas lull.

But no matter how happy you are with your finished look, there is a downside to dying… And that’s the upkeep, particularly if your chosen ”do” is dramatically different to your natural locks. And let’s face it, sometimes we all went to let loose and try something a bit riskier.

With these simple tips from our top Number 4 stylists, you can prolong the life and vibrancy of your colored hair; meaning you enjoy fewer trips to the salon, and more life from your favorite colors.

Try These 7 Stylist Approved Tips to Boost and Maintain Hair Color

1. Don’t wash your hair for a while

No matter how tempted you might be, it’s worth waiting at least 24-72 hours after coloring your hair before getting in the shower. This waiting period will give the dye more chance to settle into your hair, instead of washing out immediately.

If you really can’t wait, you could try rinsing your hair with cold water, scrubbing your scalp with your fingertips. This will help cleanse the hair and scalp without washing out the color.

2. Watch the water temperature

Did you know dah-lings that the temperature of your shower can have a dramatic effect on the vibrancy and durability of your hair color.

Hot water can cause the cuticles in the hair to swell and open, which leads to the dye molecules being able to rinse away. Strangely, this is particularly important for the redheaded beauties among you. Red dye tends to have larger molecules than other colors.

To maintain a vibrant and long-lasting hair color, simply turn the temperature down in your shower.

It’s also a good idea to limit the amount of times you wash your hair in the week. Washing daily will strip the hair’s natural protective oils, and result in hair that’s less healthy and shiny.

If you have over washed your hair in the past – don’t panic! You can restore the oils by using products like Number 4 Hair Fluoro5 Elixir Restore & Repair Oil and limiting your hair washing sessions going forward. If you can’t skip the shower, invest in a hair cap to keep your hair dry in-between washes. It might look a little old fashioned, but it does work a treat.

3. Ditch the sulfates

Sulfates can be found in the vast majority of shampoos and hair-care products… But they’re awful for colored hair! These aggressive cleansing agents are often too harsh on colored hair, and will speed up fading.

So, when picking your color-friendly shampoos, look out for sulfate-free products that are specially formulated for color-treated hair. Shampoos like the Number 4 Hair Hydrating Shampoo are free from sulfates, sodium chloride, gluten, and parabens that can strip the hair color and will help add some much-needed hydration to colored hair.

In addition to finding the right shampoo, it’s essential to condition your hair after every wash. A color-safe conditioner like Number 4 Hair Hydrating Condition will help repair damaged hair, and forms a protective barrier that can lock in color as well as moisture for shinier, glossier, healthier, more vibrant hair. Number 4 really is your colored hair savior.

4. Let your hair air-dry

We mentioned already that heat is the enemy of beautiful colored hair, but this goes beyond the temperature of your bath or shower.

Using heat when styling your hair creates the same risks as a hot shower: it can open the cuticles and allow the color molecules to fade away.

If you really must use a blow dryer or other heat-based styling techniques on your colored hair, be sure to do it properly.

Start by prepping your hair with a multi-tasking hair primer, like the Number 4 Hair Super Comb Prep & Protect Spray. This will help strengthen your hair and provides plenty of heat protection while also detangling strands and making styling easier.

Once you’ve protected your hair, use the lowest heat setting only to blow-dry your hair, and be sure to hold the dryer at least a few inches away from your locks to minimize any heat damage as you go.

5. Do a deep conditioning once a week.

As many of us know a little too well, coloring your hair can often leave it feeling dehydrated and a little lackluster. By giving it some TLC with a weekly deep conditioning treatment, you’re sure to enjoy happier, healthier, more moisturized hair… And don’t forget, hydrated hair means more vibrant colors!

Often, this dry, damaged appearance is due to the dye stripping your hair of protein. A hair mask like the N4’s Reconstructing Hair Masque will infuse your locks with much-needed protein plus a generous helping of Vitamin B5 and natural conditioners to strengthen, smooth, and replenish normal, dry, or damaged hair.

6. Use products with UV protection (or wear a hat!)

Like any other heat source, too much sun exposure can strip your hair of its color. Even if you don’t dye your hair, you’ve likely experienced the lightening effects of sunny days on your hair. This can affect hair in both winter and summer months!

This means it’s essential to look out for hair care products that offer UV protection if you don’t want the sun to bleach your colored locks.

The Number 4 Hair Hot Weather Hair Help is perfect for summer days, offering your hair plenty of protection against chlorine, excess oils, and more.

You might also want to keep a Super Comb Prep & Protect Mini in your purse on sunny days. Not only will this leave-in conditioning spray help strengthen and nourish your locks, but it also offers a UV. Color Polar Shield that will ensure your dyed hair stays vibrant and healthy, even in direct sunlight.

7. Keep those split ends trimmed.

Our N4 stylists recommend getting your hair trimmed no less than every 6-8 weeks. This is particularly important dah-ling if you dye your hair and want to keep it healthy!

But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you need to go through a drastic restyling every couple of months. Just keeping the frayed ends at bay will be sufficient to maintain your ideal look all year round.

We hope you found these top tips useful. Don’t forget to explore the N4 blog for more insider tips and tricks. And as always, don’t forget to give us a follow on our social channels where you’ll discover even more creative ways to manage your style and your hair color.