Shampoo less.

You’re probably shampooing your hair every day. But this can actually strip the natural oils from your locks and cause them to dry out, resulting in breakage and split ends. The best thing to do is shampoo less often—every other day or even once a week is recommended if you have oily hair, while it doesn’t matter as much if yours is normal or dry. If this seems daunting at first, try using a dry shampoo instead of washing with liquid cleanser; it will absorb excess oil without taking away vital moisture from the strands themselves.

Use a good shampoo and conditioner.

A good shampoo and conditioner are essential to preserving the color of your hair. Look for one that is sulfate-free, as this ingredient can strip moisture from the hair follicles, leaving them more susceptible to damage. Also, try to avoid using products with alcohol in them; they dry out the cuticle layer of your hair, which can cause fading of your color.

Use professional hair products.

Use professional hair products. You’ll want to use a shampoo and conditioner that are specifically formulated for chemically treated hair, like the ones your hair salon would recommend or offer. This is especially important if you have color-treated hair, as these products will have the right ingredients to protect it. A good rule of thumb: if it’s available in a drugstore or grocery store, it probably isn’t designed specifically for your needs.

Don’t wash your hair with hot water.

The best way to keep your hair color from fading is to not wash it. I know, I know—that seems like an obvious one. But seriously, try this for a week or two and see how much better your hair feels! The more you wash your hair and expose it to heat, the more likely you are to damage it—and if there’s one thing we’re trying not to do when trying to preserve our color, that’s damage it. So what should you use instead? Warm water instead of hot water and cool water instead of cold. Cold water closes up the cuticle (which helps keep color in), while hot water opens up the cuticle (which lets out dye). This means that warm showers will keep your strands feeling good while also keeping them colored longer!

Always use a heat protectant.

Protecting your hair from the sun is important, but you can do so without compromising your style. A heat protectant will help prevent damage caused by using straighteners or curling irons and help you achieve that salon look at home.

Always use a heat protectant before using any hot tools on your hair. This will keep it looking shiny and healthy while also keeping split ends at bay!

If you want to add a little more texture and volume to your hairstyle, try using a curling iron instead of straightening it every time. Curling irons give more natural-looking results than flat irons—and they’re easier to use too! If your hair is long enough and thick enough, try blow drying it with large round brush: this creates an effortlessly voluminous look in minutes! If moisture is an issue for you (especially if living in humid climates), then invest in some quality hairspray before going out for the day or night—this will really help keep frizziness at bay!

Avoid chlorine and hard water.

To avoid hard water and chlorine, you’ll need to install a filtration system. This can be as simple as using a shower head filter that attaches to your current shower head or getting an entire new bathroom setup with a more robust filtration system built into the pipes under the floor of your bathroom.

Hard water is most commonly caused by the presence of high levels of magnesium, calcium, phosphate and other minerals in your water supply. If you have hard water in your home, it will leave deposits on everything: dishes, faucets, clothing—even hair dye!

Chlorine is added to municipal drinking water supplies as a disinfectant to kill bacteria that may be present in the source of the municipal drinking supply (rivers and lakes). If chlorine gets into your colored hair dye formula during application then it will cause damage over time leading to fading color after only one wash!

Protect your hair from the sun.

Sun exposure is a big culprit for fading hair color, so if you’re going to be out in the sun, make sure to use a UV protectant spray. You can also wear a hat and avoid being outside during peak sun hours (10am to 3pm).

Use a deep conditioning treatment regularly.

The best way to make sure your hair color doesn’t fade is to use a deep conditioning treatment regularly. A deep conditioner should be used once per week, starting two weeks after you’ve gotten your new color done. The treatment will help the dye molecules bond more effectively with the hair shaft, meaning it’ll last longer than it would otherwise.

The best part about using a deep conditioning treatment is that they won’t interfere with your color at all—they actually help preserve it! There are tons of different types available on the market, but here are some of our favorites:

• Living Proof Restore Mask Treatment (for dry/damaged hair)
• Kerastase Elixir Ultime (for dry/damaged or colored hair)

As long as you follow these tips, you’ll have healthy, shiny, vibrant hair for years to come!

• Use good quality products
• Use products that are designed for your hair type and color
• Wash your hair less often to keep it from drying out (or use dry shampoo)
• Use a heat protectant spray before styling (it’s worth the money)
• Avoid chlorine and hard water exposure (from showering or swimming in pools with chlorine) as much as possible if you have blonde, red, or gray hair
• Protect against sun damage by applying sunscreen during the day; if you want even more protection, try wearing a hat