Hairstylists share how to care for colored hair at home

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There’s just something about coloring your hair that can make you feel like a new person, and when you find that one perfect shade, you definitely feel unstoppable. However, those of us with colored-treated hair know that taking care of our tresses comes with a lot of additional work.

"Most stylists are creating color kits for their clients that they can sell and mail straight to your door," Kiyah Wright, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Muze Hair, told In The Know. “If not, simply ask them your color and if you do your hair at home, don’t try to be creative. Stick with the color your stylist recommends and just focus on the roots, no overlapping because that can cause breakage."

Breakage can also come from post-care regimens, like tools you use. “Limit your use of heat tools and always use a heat protectant,” Jasmere Waller, owner of Studio Lush hair salon, told In The Know. “Flat irons should only be used on freshly shampooed and conditioned hair.”

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Additionally, it’s important to protect your hair from friction at night. “Protect your hair at night by sleeping on a satin pillowcase, a scarf or a bonnet. Silky sleeping surfaces prevent friction that causes dryness and breakage,” Waller explains.

For those of us who are terrified of touching our scalp with an applicator, we may need some products to get us through for a bit longer.

Read on below for products and tips to get you started.

Hydration is key

If you’ve ever had your hair dyed, then you can immediately spot a difference in your hair’s moisture level. Color-treated hair needs additional TLC in this category, mostly due to the moisture that gets lost from shampooing. Incorporate a deep conditioner into your wash routine to also smooth and add luster to color-treated hair.

“For extra shine, pamper your color-treated locks once a week with a deep-conditioning treatment,” experts from Matrix suggest. “Apply the treatment to damp hair and comb it through from roots to tips. Pull your hair into a bun and pin it into place, or wrap it up in a soft towel and leave the treatment in your hair for 30 minutes.”

Other than a deep-conditioning treatment, don’t forget to apply a leave-in conditioner to protect your hair after every wash. “Color-treated hair is weaker and more prone to dryness because of its raised porosity level,” explains Waller. “It's important to keep the hair hydrated and balanced with protein to prevent brittleness and breakage. We recommend performing a deep conditioning treatment at least two times per month, followed by a moisturizing leave-in conditioner.”

When looking for a good leave-in conditioner, search for products specifically tailored to color-treated hair, according to Matrix’s site. “Look for leave-in conditioners that are specially formulated to protect color-treated hair. This is particularly important if you frequently use blow dryers, curling or straightening irons or if you spend a lot of time the sun.”

Here are some of our favorite hydrators:

Shop: Mielle Organics Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner, $23.97

Credit: Amazon

Shop: Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Deep Conditioning Protein Pack, $8.99 (Pack of 2)

Credit: Amazon

Shop: Eden BodyWorks Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner, $8.28

Credit: Amazon

Shop: Pracaxi Oil Recovery Conditioner, $6.97

Credit: Amazon

Shop: Kenra Professional Brightening Conditioner, $15.99

Credit: Amazon

No stripping ingredients

Shampoos not only remove residue from the scalp, but the right shampoo can help brighten up your strands if they’re looking a little dull. However, beauty experts caution against over-washing your hair, suggesting to “cut down on daily washes to help keep your color looking fresh,” according to the TRESemmé website.

Blondes will want to go for a purple shampoo to fix brassiness. “I recommend that all my clients stock up on a purple-toned shampoo,” Olivia Neville, colorist at Ashley Gamble, told Byrdie. “The clever color pigments are not as harsh on the hair as a toner. Blonde shampoos will give you a clean feel with a hint of ashiness, and if you continue to use them, the ash tone will get more intense and look more gorgeous.”

Brunettes will want to go for a blue shampoo, which deposits blue pigments that help neutralize brassy orange tones.

And sorry redheads, but you’ll need to pay extra attention to your hair since red tends to bleed. “The most important thing for redheads is to ensure that the color pigment stays put and does not get washed out of the hair,” Gregorio Ruggeri of Salon Ruggeri told the Strategist.

Here are some of our favorite shampoos: