How to Keep Hair Color From Fading
By Bella Garcia · · 5 min read
There's nothing quite like walking out of the salon with fresh, glossy color. The tricky part is keeping it that way. If your shade tends to look dull, brassy, or washed out after just a few weeks, you're not alone. The good news is that learning how to keep hair color from fading mostly comes down to a handful of everyday habits, plus a little help from the salon between bigger color appointments.
Why Hair Color Fades
Color fades for a few common reasons. Understanding them makes it easier to slow the process down.
- Washing. Every wash lifts a little bit of color out of the hair, especially with hot water and strong shampoos.
- Heat. Blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons can speed up fading, particularly at high temperatures.
- Sun. UV exposure can lighten and dull color over time, and it often pulls warm tones forward in lightened hair.
- Water and minerals. Chlorine and mineral buildup can dull color and, in some cases, shift the tone.
- Porosity. Hair that's been lightened or damaged tends to be more porous, so it can lose color faster.
Reds and very light blondes often fade the fastest, but every shade benefits from good care.
Wait a Bit Before Your First Wash
Many stylists suggest waiting about 48 to 72 hours after a color service before you shampoo. This gives the hair's outer layer time to settle. If you need to rinse sooner, a simple water rinse and conditioner is usually gentler than a full shampoo.
Keep Hair Color From Fading by Changing How You Wash
Your shower routine is the biggest factor in how long your color lasts. A few small swaps go a long way:
- Use a color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo. These tend to be gentler and strip less color with each wash.
- Turn the temperature down. Lukewarm or cool water is kinder to color than hot water.
- Wash less often. Stretching washes by even a day can make a noticeable difference over a month. Dry shampoo helps in between.
- Condition every time. Conditioner helps smooth the hair's surface so it holds onto color and shine.
- Add a weekly mask. Moisturized hair generally holds color better than dry, brittle hair.
Protect Your Color From Heat
You don't have to give up styling, but you'll want to be strategic.
- Always apply a heat protectant before using a blow dryer or hot tools. This breakdown of spray, cream and serum protectants covers which type suits your hair.
- Use the lowest heat setting that still gets the job done.
- Make one slow pass with the flat iron instead of going back over the same piece.
- Give your hair heat-free days when you can.
A professional blowout can actually help here. A wash + blowdry ($65, or $85 with extensions) often lasts a few days, which means fewer washes and less heat styling at home.
Shield Your Hair From the Sun
Here in El Monte, we get plenty of sunshine, even in the cooler months. Sun can be one of the sneakiest causes of faded, brassy color. To protect your shade:
- Wear a hat on long days outdoors.
- Look for leave-in products that mention UV protection.
- Rinse your hair with clean water after swimming and use a leave-in conditioner before you get in the pool.
For pool season and long outdoor weekends, read our hot-weather hair care tips.
Use Gloss and Toner Between Color Appointments
One of the best ways to keep hair color from fading is to refresh it before it fades too far. You don't always need a full color service to do that.
- Toner ($100): A semi-permanent, low-commitment color treatment that adds intense shine. This is the one that actually puts color back: it cancels brassy, yellow, or orange tones and can refresh a faded shade. It's especially helpful for blondes and anyone with highlights or babylights.
- Gloss ($100): Clear and semi-permanent, so it puts shine back without touching your shade. It's the pick when the tone is still right but the hair looks dull or flat. It won't replace pigment that has washed out.
Both include a blowdry and fade gradually, so many people book one every several weeks between bigger color visits. If you can't decide, ask yourself whether the shade has changed (toner) or just the shine (gloss).
Keep Up With Roots and Overall Color
Sometimes what looks like fading is really regrowth. When your roots come in, the contrast can make the rest of your color look washed out.
- Root touch-up ($100): One permanent shade applied to the regrowth, down to mid-shaft, finished with a blowdry. It covers regrowth so your color looks even again.
- Full color ($130): A single permanent color from root to end, with a blowdry included, for when fading has happened all over.
- Babylights ($180) or full-head highlights ($250): Rebuild brightness in lightened hair. Babylights stay on the top half and usually take 10 to 14 foils, while a full head usually takes 20-plus. Both include toner and a blowdry.
How often you'll need a touch-up depends on how fast your hair grows and how much contrast you have. Many people with noticeable contrast find a touch-up every several weeks keeps things looking even.
Trim Away Damaged Ends
Ends are the oldest part of your hair, and they're usually the first to look faded and dry. Porous ends can grab color unevenly and then lose it quickly. Regular trims keep your color looking fresh from top to bottom. A dry haircut ($45), which has no wash or blowdry, or a haircut + blowdry ($90) both work well.
A Simple Color-Care Checklist
- Wait 48 to 72 hours before your first shampoo.
- Use color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo and lukewarm water.
- Wash less often and use dry shampoo between washes.
- Apply heat protectant every time you style.
- Protect hair from sun and chlorine.
- Book a toner to refresh tone, or a clear gloss for shine, between color services.
- Trim regularly.
Want help building a color plan that fits your hair and schedule? See our full list of hair color services and prices.
Or tell us your color history and we'll suggest a schedule. You can also call or text 626-488-4691.
FAQ
How long does hair color usually last before it fades?
It varies by shade and care, but many people notice some fading within 4 to 8 weeks. Reds and light blondes often fade sooner, while darker shades tend to hold up longer.
Will a gloss bring back faded color?
No. Our gloss is clear, so it adds shine without adding color. If your shade has faded or turned brassy, a toner is the low-commitment option that adds color back.
Why does my blonde turn brassy so fast?
Lightened hair naturally has warm undertones that show through as color fades, and sun, heat, and minerals can bring them out faster. A toner helps cancel that brassiness.
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