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Protect your hair (and your purse) by following these easy steps to lock-in your colour
Living in Dubai's climate, it's important for us to take steps to protect our coloured hair (and purses)...
Many women living here with coloured hair spend hundreds, if not thousands of Dirhams on getting the colour they want. Despite the efforts put into gaining the perfect look, after 2 months (or earlier) the colour will begin to fade.
Luckily for us, there are small things that we coloured-haired girls can do to protect our hair as the ladies at Avant Garde point out.
SEE ALSO: Review of the Triple Oxygen Facial at Avant Garde Beauty Centre in JLT
If you've recently had your hair coloured or planning on changing your look soon, here are 10 top tips on how to protect your hair colour so you can avoid more frequent trips to the salon...
1. Do a patch test every time you go to colour your hair
We're all guilty of thinking once we've passed a patch test, we're good to go for life. But you're sorely mistaken - in fact, it's advised that you complete a patch test every month at least one day before you apply your hair colour.
This way, your body can gradually build its own protection and immunity to any allergens in the dye. After all, someone who has never reacted with hair colour in the past can suddenly react to a new batch of dye.
2. Avoid washing your hair
Avoid jumping in the shower and washing your hair for at least 48 hours after you've had your hair colour applied.
3. Protect your locks when in the sun
This is a no-brainer really, especially for us ladies living in the desert. After having your fresh colour applied, you might be feeling confident and want to get to the beach or pool to show your new look off. But Avant Garde recommend delaying this at least for a few days.
Why? Because sun and chlorine are colour-strippers. To protect your hair any time you're in the sun, you should use a good UV serum or spray as a protectant. Then, cover your head with a scarf, cap or hat to protect your hair and scalp from the sun, chlorinated water and harsh wind.
4. Did you know that hot water can lift colour?
Exposing your freshly coloured locks to steam lifts the outer layer of hair colour, causing it to fade so it's advisable that you avoid applying a hair mask and the sauna within 48 hours of applying colour.
5. Don't expose it to too many chemicals
One of the most important things to remember after colouring your hair is not to over expose it to too many chemicals. Anything from hairspray and styling products with alcohol, to too much blow-drying can all contribute to colour fading. Why? Because the chemicals found in styling products open up the cuticle allowing the colour to slip out.
SEE ALSO: Save your Dirhams this summer with these fabulous beauty deals
6. Don't wash your hair before your appointment
While you shouldn't wash your hair after, it's also good to avoid washing your hair before getting it coloured. Your hair's natural oils can help to protect your scalp and hair during the colour process.
7. Consider a scalp protection product
Ask your hairdresser if it's possible to apply a scalp protection product to your head before applying hair colour to protect your scalp from any damage due to the dye.
8. Use Olaplex during the colouring process
It's been every salon's favourite add-on treatment to every hair appointment in recent years - and the benefits prove exactly why. Olaplex helps to strengthen your hair's bonds - specifically, the 'glue' between cells - which can be easily damaged during chemical services, hair colouring and over exposure to heat.
Using Olaplex allows you to restore and rebuild bonds to improve the strength and elasticity of hair before, during and after colour and chemical services to prevent breakage. It also allows colour changes that weren't previously possible, like dark to blonde, in one appointment without compromising the health of the hair.
Nowadays it's advisable to use Olaplex during chemical services like bleaching, highlights and balayage, relaxers, colouring, Keratin treatments, perms or any other in-salaon anti-breaking and hair-building treatments.
9. We all have different types of hair...
Like skin, we all have different types of hair, so use shampoo, conditioner and serum specially designed for coloured hair. It's easy to find a serum that moisturisers hair and protects your locks from environmental damage.
10. Avoid rubbing your hair with a towel
This can actually lead to split ends, and can break fragile hair. Instead, gently squeeze excess water from your hair with the towel.
