Keeping your hair color looking fly is a year-round job. Dozens of factors can contribute to your hue going dull, no matter the season — but summer is a particular beast. The sun's out in full force, you're swimming in chlorine, and your dye is going right down the drain. Bummer city, right?
Luckily, there are some easy ways to make sure your color stays picture-perfect until September. We tapped Lucille Javier, a colorist at the Sally Hershberger Downtown Salon in New York, and she gave us pro tips for keeping a killer color, based on your hue.
All Hair
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty of individual colors, Javier has some tips for every hue. Trick 1: Make sure you're moisturizing your hair after washing it. She's big on Shu Uemura's Essence Absolue. "All colors and types of hair should be using this product," she says. "I like to think about it as moisturizing your hair the way you moisturize your skin." Add a few drops to the ends of clean hair before you dry it — just make sure not to put it too close to the roots. Trick 2: Invest in a water filter for your shower. It will help remove all the nasty things in your water that can muck up your strands — specifically, chlorine.
Brown Hair
The main thing to remember if you're a brunette is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Try shampoos and conditioners that will add moisture and quench your strands. You can also use color-locking shampoos with brown tones, says Javier. We're fans of TouchBack color-depositing shampoo.
Blond Hair
"If you have any highlights in your hair, most likely your colorist is using bleach, peroxide, or a high-lift tint," Javier explains. This can damage your strands, especially if you're lifting a dark color to blonde. So hydration really comes into play here. She recommends Davines Alchemic Shampoo Silver. It's great for light hair, because it helps deposit a silver sheen back into colored strands.
Red Hair
Ah, redheads. If you've dyed your hair this hue, you're already well aware of how difficult it is to maintain it. Javier says it's one of the most difficult colors to keep looking fresh — especially since there are so many different shades of it. "Since there is such a wide spectrum of reds, I would recommend to definitely use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner," she says. You want to avoid sulfates because they will just wash away the color. She suggests Shu Uemura's Full Shimmer Shampoo and the brand's Moisture Velvet Conditioner.
Rainbow Hair
"Creative color tends to fade fairly quickly, especially if it's a soft, pastel tone," Javier says. But even saturated colors can be susceptible to the fast fade. Her tips? Don't shampoo too often — and when you do, use a color-protective line. She's a fan of Nexxus Color Assure.
All Hair
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty of individual colors, Javier has some tips for every hue. Trick 1: Make sure you're moisturizing your hair after washing it. She's big on Shu Uemura's Essence Absolue. "All colors and types of hair should be using this product," she says. "I like to think about it as moisturizing your hair the way you moisturize your skin." Add a few drops to the ends of clean hair before you dry it — just make sure not to put it too close to the roots. Trick 2: Invest in a water filter for your shower. It will help remove all the nasty things in your water that can muck up your strands — specifically, chlorine.
Brown Hair
The main thing to remember if you're a brunette is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Try shampoos and conditioners that will add moisture and quench your strands. You can also use color-locking shampoos with brown tones, says Javier. We're fans of TouchBack color-depositing shampoo.
Blond Hair
"If you have any highlights in your hair, most likely your colorist is using bleach, peroxide, or a high-lift tint," Javier explains. This can damage your strands, especially if you're lifting a dark color to blonde. So hydration really comes into play here. She recommends Davines Alchemic Shampoo Silver. It's great for light hair, because it helps deposit a silver sheen back into colored strands.
Red Hair
Ah, redheads. If you've dyed your hair this hue, you're already well aware of how difficult it is to maintain it. Javier says it's one of the most difficult colors to keep looking fresh — especially since there are so many different shades of it. "Since there is such a wide spectrum of reds, I would recommend to definitely use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner," she says. You want to avoid sulfates because they will just wash away the color. She suggests Shu Uemura's Full Shimmer Shampoo and the brand's Moisture Velvet Conditioner.
Rainbow Hair
"Creative color tends to fade fairly quickly, especially if it's a soft, pastel tone," Javier says. But even saturated colors can be susceptible to the fast fade. Her tips? Don't shampoo too often — and when you do, use a color-protective line. She's a fan of Nexxus Color Assure.
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page!