Colouring your hair is a popular pastime. Some people do this simply to try alternative looks, others do it to hide grey hair. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that 70-75% of people dye their hair.
The key to successfully dying your hair without damaging it is to avoid products with ammonia in them. It is best to spend a little extra and use high-quality products, such as these Olaplex hair treatments. It’s not just hair colours on offer, there are plenty of products that can protect the colour and the health of your hair.
How Hair Colour Works
Hair colouring products work by coating the strands of your hair with a specific colour. These are called non-permanent dyes although they can last for 6-8 weeks. In contrast, a permanent dye will introduce colour into the hair cuticles and create a bond with the hair. This allows the colour to spread through the existing strands and colours new hair growth the same. As the name suggests, this is a permanent solution.
Many hair colour products also use toning colours as these help to prevent your hair from going orange or even yellow after using the dye.
Non-permanent hair colour products need to be re-applied every 6-8 weeks. However, for many people, this is preferable as it gives you the opportunity to revert to your original colour or try a different one.
Colour-Specific Shampoos
A colour-specific shampoo is a product that can be used after you’ve coloured your hair as it also contains added ingredients to help the colour last. Some of these products are designed to prevent any stripping of the colour in your existing hair. Others will add a little dye to each strand of hair. This can create a more natural look and will extend the life of coloured hair before it has to be coloured again.
The best products will also include hydration in the dye and a hydrating conditioner for afterwards.
Should You Use Colour-Specific Shampoos?
The answer to this depends on your intent. A colour-specific shampoo will extend the amount of time your hair appears a certain colour. If you have a set colour and simply re-apply it as needed then a colour-specific shampoo is an excellent investment. It will help to keep your hair healthy and extend the time between needing to recolour.
But, if you’re just colouring your hair for fun or to try something different you may prefer to use a regular shampoo, without harsh chemicals, and let the colour choice fade.
It should be noted that shampoos with harsh chemicals can damage the colouring products, especially when using non-permanent ones. This can change the colour of your hair after the colouration process and you may not be happy with the results. It’s best to use a high-quality product with natural ingredients.
Finally, even if you don’t dye your hair you can use colour-specific shampoos. They are generally good at hydrating and protecting hair, regardless of whether you have artificially changed its colour or not.
You can read this post on My Celebrity Life.