Aftercare
Protect your investment with these hair care steps and product recommendations!
Hair Care Steps
1. Wait at least 3-7 days before washing your new hair color for the first time.
During the coloring process, your hair cuticle is "open" and the more time it has to "close" the better chance you have of making your color last.
2. Shampoo with lukewarm water (warm enough to cleanse, but cold enough to not release the color from your hair) and rinse your conditioner with cool water.
Think of your hair as a vibrant, red blouse. You don't want to wash it in hot water or the color will bleed and the fabric will be damaged
3. After washing, apply a leave in conditioner, serum or other nourishing styling aid to damp hair. If you're blowdrying, make sure your styling aid has a built in heat protectant.
4. Air dry if possible. If you must blow dry, make sure to use cool or medium temperature air.
5. When using hot tools (such as a curling iron or straightener), make sure to use a spray on heat protectant and never let your iron exceed 360° F.
Tips
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Use professional grade products for the best longevity.
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Purchase professional grade products from a certified location. Such as Ulta, Sephora, a local salon, a Salon Services affiliated site, or the brands' official website. Do not trust grocery/drugstores (such as Walmart), discount stores (such as TJ Maxx), Wish, or Amazon unless it's a brand's official storefront. These sources can be risky or even dangerous as the products they're selling may not be authentic or expired due to being obtained through product diversion and not from not the brands themselves or authorized distributors (such as Ulta or Sephora) or a licensed professional/salon.
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Limit your hair washings to 1-2 times a week for color longevity and scalp health.
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Keep blowdrying and heat styling to a minimum. Excessive heat can literally "burn" your color off.
Shop
I don't carry retail onsite (unless requested) since there are so many resources out there to purchase hair products and a plethora of options for each and every hair type.
Curly Hair
For curly hair, I recommend amika and Pallure; especially for shampoo and conditioner. Moroccan oil is also one of my favorites but only for styling. These brands have the most moisture, which will keep those curls defined and hydrated.
Damaged Hair
For chemically damaged hair, I recommend Olaplex and K18. Olaplex repairs the disulfide bonds that are damaged during chemical processes. K18 is similar, but repairs the overall protein structure of the hair.
For mechanically damaged hair (damage caused by constant twisting, bending or pulling), I recommend damage repair products from Pallure, Amika and ColorProof. Products labeled "damage repair" or similar contain protein that can help strengthen hair after excessive heat and/or tension.
When using when using bond building or products made to repair damage, be careful to not over use and alternate with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner if your hair starts to feel stiff or brittle. Not everyones hair is built the same and some need more moisture than others.
Straight Hair
For straight hair, I recommend using amika and ColorProof. These brands won't weigh your hair down while keeping it frizz-free and voluminous.