You finally have the pink, copper-orange, electric blue, or rainbow hair you’ve been saving to your Pinterest board. Now, how do you keep it looking good between appointments?
Vivid hair color needs a little extra care, but your entire life doesn’t have to revolve around it. A few changes to your wash and styling routine can help you get more time out of the color you love.
Here’s what we want our vivid color clients at The Cutting Room in Wheat Ridge to know.
Consider asking for Qoat at your color appointment. Quot is a top coat that seals in haircolor and slows down fading. It is a 5 minute add on when we wash your color out.
Try to avoid washing in the first 48 hours after your color service. If your hair was prelightened, your cuticle may still be open allowing color pigments to wash out quickly. Giving your cuticle time to close is helpful for initial fade out.
Turn down the water temperature
Use cool or lukewarm water when washing and rinsing your hair. You don’t need to stand in a freezing shower, either. Clip your hair up while you shower, then lower the temperature when it’s time to wash your hair.
Wash when your scalp needs it
Every shampoo can take a little pigment with it. If you wash daily out of habit, try giving yourself an extra day between washes and see how your scalp feels.
There’s no perfect wash schedule for everyone. Your workouts, hair texture, and scalp determine the schedule for you. Dry shampoo can help with oily roots between washes, but it doesn’t replace cleaning your scalp.
When you do shampoo, concentrate on the scalp instead of scrubbing your lengths. Let the suds rinse through the rest.
Choose products that work with your color. We recommend a cleansing cream like Hairstory New Wash, since it doesn’t have detergents that strip color.
Ask your stylist if what you have at home is color safe.
Clarifying shampoos, color-removing products, and some deep-cleansing treatments can speed up fading. If your scalp needs a treatment shampoo, tell us so we can help you plan around it.
Keep the temperature of your hot tools reasonable.
Use a heat protectant, choose the lowest effective heat setting for your hair, and avoid going over the same section repeatedly. Flat irons and curling irons should only be used on fully dry hair.
A style that lasts a few days also means fewer rounds of heat styling. Touch up the pieces that need it instead of starting over every morning.
Plan ahead for swimming and sunny days
Pool days, hot springs, and long afternoons outside can affect your color. Chlorine, prolonged soaking, and sun exposure can all contribute to fading.
If keeping your color bright is the priority, keeping your hair out of the water is your best bet. A swim cap can help reduce exposure, though it won’t keep every drop out. If your hair gets wet, rinse it with fresh water afterward.
For a long day outdoors, bring a hat or scarf. Especially if you’ve just had your color done.
Ask your stylist before using a color-depositing conditioner
A tinted conditioner can help maintain some vivid shades between visits. We can make you a custom one to take home for refreshes.
The wrong pigment can change your tone, muddy a pastel, or stain lighter sections of a multicolor look. A pink conditioner that works beautifully on all-over pink hair might be a problem for pink-and-blonde color blocking.
Ask your stylist whether a color-depositing product makes sense for your hair before buying one.
Keep your hair conditioned
Many vivid looks require lightening first, so taking care of the hair underneath the color matters, too.
Condition after washing, detangle gently, and ask whether your hair would benefit from a mask or a strengthening treatment. More products aren’t always better. A simple routine with the right products is usually easier to keep up with.
Expect some fading, vivid hair color changes as you wear it. That’s normal.
A pale peach and a deep magenta won’t necessarily have the same staying power. Your starting color, hair condition, formula, and wash routine all affect how the shade fades.
Tell your stylist what matters most to you. Do you want the brightest possible color? A softer fade? Longer stretches between appointments? Those answers help us choose a look that fits your life.
Book a refresh before you’re completely over your color
You may not need a full lightening appointment every time your vivid shade needs attention. Depending on your hair and your goals, a color refresh may be enough.
Before you leave the salon, ask what your next appointment should include and when to come back. Having a plan beats trying to rescue your color with something you found online at midnight.
Vivid Hair Color at The Cutting Room in Wheat Ridge
Whether you want a few bright pieces or a full rainbow, we’ll talk through the color, maintenance, and home care before we get started.
At The Cutting Room, we welcome clients from Wheat Ridge and the Denver metro area who want hair that expresses their personality and identity.
Ready for a change? Book a vivid color consultation, and let’s talk about your vision!
