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7 UNEXPECTED WAYS YOU'RE DAMAGING YOUR HAIRCOLOR (AND HOW TO FIX IT)

Despite our best intentions, sometimes our day-to-day habits can damage our haircolor. From forgetting to use a heat protectant to over-washing our strands with harsh clarifying shampoos, there are several ways that our haircare routines can affect our haircolor. By taking a few extra precautionary measures, you can drastically change the look and feel of hair. Here are seven bad hair habits that could be fading your haircolor.


1. You're Using The Wrong Shampoo


Not all shampoos are created equal. In fact, the type of shampoo that you use can greatly affect the look of your haircolor due to ingredients like sulfates and other powerful cleansing agents. In order to keep your hair looking vibrant, you need to choose a shampoo that is formulated to help protect, preserve and amplify the color of your hair. If you aren’t using a color-safe shampoo, your haircolor could be going down the drain. Opt for shampoos that are labeled as color-safe, sulfate-free or made for color-treated hair to help prolong the life of your haircolor.


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2. You Always Wet Your Hair In The Shower


Another reason that your haircolor may be fading faster than expected is due to the water in your shower. If the water isn’t filtered, the water itself could contain hard minerals that can build up in your hair. Over time, this build up can dull your haircolor, fade it, or even make it harder for your hair to be colored in the future. In order to protect your strands in the shower, wear a shower cap on the days that you aren’t shampooing your hair or simply throw it in a top knot. While it may seem goofy, the shower cap or top knot can prevent the water from touching your strands and prevent any unnecessary mineral buildup.


3. You Aren't Telling Your Stylist About Using At-Home Hair Dyes


Don’t kid yourself—your stylist knows if you’ve cheating with at-home haircolor. From the change in texture of your hair to the overall look of your strands, there are several ways that your stylist can spot a DIY.

However, what they can’t tell is how often you’ve been using box dyes to touch up your color. If you aren’t honest with them about your at-home haircoloring frequency, then your stylist doesn’t know to adjust your new in-salon haircolor formula to meet need. Basically, that box dye could be preventing your in-salon color from looking as amazing as it should. Wonder why that is?

Well, in order to remove the old dye, your stylist needs to know how much pigment they need to lift or remove. If they don’t have an accurate idea, your new professional haircolor can be affected.

So, not only is box dye a lower quality than professional hair dye which could harm your hair that much more, but it can also can be hard to remove. This may mean that your hair needs to be further lightened that it normally would be. Excess lightening and corrective coloring on top of the damage from at-home haircolor can really do a number on your strands.


4. You're Using Styling Products That Contain Alcohol


It’s no secret that alcohol can dry out your strands. If you are constantly using alcohol-based products on your hair, you may notice an increase in split ends, breakage or dullness in your hair. Keep your haircolor looking vibrant by using your alcohol-based products sparingly such as hairsprays or gels or opting to use products that are color-safe and alcohol-free.


5. You Skip Protein Treatments


Just like your body, your hair needs protein in order to be strong. For those with color-treated strands, protein treatments are essential for replenishing damage from chemical services. Every time you color your hair, your cuticle lifts to allow the color molecules to deposit. Protein treatments go in and help strengthen the hair and allow it to repair itself after these services.


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6. You Never Wear A Hat


It’s no secret that the sun can damage your skin if you don’t wear protection. The same exact thing can happen to your haircolor. Consider wearing a hat if you plan to be outdoors for a long time for some added haircolor protection.


7. You Aren't Consistent With Your Haircare


Using a volumizing shampoo one day and a curl enhancing conditioner the next? While trying out new products is always fun, it isn’t great for your haircolor. Due to differing product formulas, not all hair products are going to pair well together. By constantly changing or switching up your haircare, your hair isn’t getting the protection it needs for its key issues. Remember, consistency is key when maintaining your haircolor, so keep your trusty color-safe products around to prolong the life of your haircolor. Ask your stylist to recommend the best haircare routine for maintaining your haircolor.


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