So the time comes where you decided to change your look for whatever reason it may be, but weeks have gone by and your hair is now brittle, dry, or faded. While we’re excited about the idea of a new look, we often forget how to keep it up! With over 75 percent of Americans jumping into the hair dye pool, here are some tips you can use to take care of your colored hair.

Honey (If You Want to Lighten Hair)

So this past summer I got highlights and I gained a new best friend- honey! Lots of people don’t realize that some of toughest hair dilemmas can be found right in the cupboard.  Honey has all the essentials to keep your color bright and keep your highlights vibrant.  To keep color like new, take one cup of honey, two cups of water, one tablespoon of cinnamon and one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and mix well.  Using a brush or a comb apply on damp hair (doesn’t have to be clean) and leave in hair for 30 minutes. For it to hit your strands perfectly, you can either wrap your hair, or just use a shower cap to cover it all. After 30 minutes, wash out the concoction and condition with cool water. Do this every couple of weeks and after the first time, you will definitely see the difference!

Moisturize

This cannot be said enough. After the first week or so, you’re going to have that brittle feeling. While it seems your hair may fall off as you brush it, don’t fret. Try to moisturize your hair as much as possible, (especially since the weather is dropping) because with colored hair you can expect more than just a couple of split ends.  Tricks like oil treatments, color shampoo (Pantene and John Frieda are some of the best), and even massaging the scalp can be all the tools you need to keep your colored hair perfect.  (FYI: For all who have oily skin, try using baby powder on your roots in the front and sides of your head. This helps with too much moisture and makes the hair soft in between washes as well. Others can try at your own risk-but I’m sure it won’t hurt!)

Eat Good

Even though colored hair isn’t something that’s in your body, it still affects it in a way. Eating the right nutrients like nuts, avocado, salads, and even salmon can make your hair just as healthy as your body. Also, drink plenty of water; it helps hydrate your hair. Check out the full list of “The Best Foods for Hair” here.

Mix Up Shampoo..And Conditioner!

In addition to using color shampoo, take the time to mix it up. By using different shampoos you get to see what works for your hair.  If you are on a budget, try travel packs before you invest in the bigger bottles. Sometimes I mix conditioners when I’m doing a deep conditioner at home. It gives hair that perfect clean, (without stripping it of its essential oils of course) with shine and that perfect salon look.

Step Away From The Flat Iron…

This can be tricky since no one likes to do wash and gos as the weather gets cooler, but try to stay away from the excessive heat of flat irons.  You should give yourself at least two to three weeks before straightening newly dyed hair. Also try air drying hair so you can reduce the amount of heat used each time you do your hair.

Choose The Salon Over The Box If Possible

The only reason I say this is because of my own experience. I used to have a family member who always colored my hair. One time I decided to a get a cherry red color but two boxes later, I looked like Ronald McDonald (My senior picture proved it).  After trying to repair my hair, (it took years and a couple of more dyes) I decided to cut it all off and start over. So when I decide to get back into the color game, I went straight to Vidal Sassoon. Sure, it was a lot of money, but you get a great treatment and it also helped me learn about what works for my hair and what doesn’t. Professionals can often do the best work when you’re first getting into the color game. And not everyone is a Beautician. You can mistakenly put too much color one side and look just as silly as I did.

By Esi Mensah

Okay, so we all know that dyeing your hair can be terribly bad for your hair’s health. But let’s be real though, haven’t you ever wanted to rock that Beyoncé or Rihanna look? You know, but without wearing a wig that is so obviously a wig? Sorry, but the uber-bright Nicki Minaj look does not work for everyone! So what can you do to get that beautiful color without your hair looking dry or completely falling out?
Since dyeing your hair weakens your hair by decreasing its moisture and more, it’s important that you take certain steps to maintain your hair’s health. Here are some tips that will help you take better care of your colored hair:

Applying color to your hair—like any other chemical process—will damage your hair’s structure. If your hair is color-treated, you must understand that it will require extra TLC to keep your bathroom floor from looking like a hair rug.

Many women are quick to advocate against the use of chemical processes like dyes, but you will find that they never took the time out to take care of their manes in its chemically altered state. Is your hair regimen working to exacerbate the damage? Or are you taking steps to keep the damage from getting worse?

Note: Ladies with relaxed color-treated hair need to establish a regimen that incorporates caring for both chemical processes.

Prepping Your Hair

Always make sure your hair is prepared to take the dye.

• Never wash your hair right before you dye it because it needs those natural oils from your scalp
• Do a protein treatment a week or two in advance for added strength (I also suggest doing one after the process)
• Do not dye your hair the same day you relax it, wait 2 weeks after the relaxer
• Examine the overall health of your hair. Is it dry? Riddled with split ends? If so, you need to hold off on dyeing

Shampooing & Conditioning

There are products on the market that are specifically formulated for color-treated hair. They provide moisture and prevent your color from fading. As always with black hair, moisture is top priority. Deep condition your hair weekly after shampooing. If you’re not a fan of hooded dryers, put your hair in shower cap and wrap it with a towel to generate heat. The heat will allow the deep conditioner to penetrate better.

Things to Avoid

• Heat tools.  Stay away from blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons and heat rollers as much as possible. Go for heatless styling options.
• Chlorine. Use a swim cap while swimming.
• Sun exposure. A sun hat will prevent the sun’s rays from contributing more damage to your hair and fading your color.
• Brushes and fine-toothed combs. Your strands are much weaker now, so wide-tooth combs would be a better option to protect your hair from breakage while combing.

Touching Up

When it’s time for a touch-up, focus on the areas that need to be dyed. Coloring previously dyed hair will increase damage, so it’s better to concentrate your efforts on your new growth.

Remember, extra TLC goes a long way in preventing your hair from further damage. Color-treated tresses can and will thrive if you put in the work!

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