How to Protect Your Hair Colour

If you have coloured or highlighted hair, you'll want to protect it and ensure that it doesn't fade aways. Chlorine, sun and salt water can all wreak havoc on a dye job. Oxidation, which is a chemical reaction that changes the colour, is the biggest problem. Both chlorine and sun can cause oxidation; chlorine can turn blonde hair the dreaded green and can give an ashy hue to brunette hair. Prevention is the best thing you can do so you don't have to deal with the aftermath of oxidation. So, we looked for advice from hair expert, Shailesh Moolya, technical director, Juice hair and beauty salon in Mumbai.

Bottled savers
Moolya suggests regular use of a combination of a specially formulated colour care shampoo and conditioner, like the Fashionista and Brunette Goddess range from Tigi or Kerastase by L'Oreal Paris. Colour-enhancing conditioners help blend root areas. Regular use of a good hair protect mask, specially formulated for coloured hair, is also a must.

Go sulphate-free
A sulphate-free shampoo has fewer chemicals than a regular shampoo, so the colour stays intact. A sulphate-free shampoo gently cleanses the hair while replenishing moisture and protecting the hair from environmental elements.

Keratine treatment
Opt for a keratine treatment regularly. It's like lamination for your hair. This in-salon treatment doesn't allow colour to fade faster. The keratine coating gives hair a shiny smooth finish that makes it amazingly easy to style too.

One at a time
Don't combine hair colouring with another treatment. Follow the one at a time rule. If you absolutely must get a perm or straightening treatment, then opt for it before you get your mane dyed since the colouring gets affected post-treatment. To avoid damage, leave a gap of at least one month before getting your hair coloured.

Tips to maintain the colour

• Avoid using hot water on your hair. Hot water opens the cuticles and allows the colour to be stripped away.
• Chlorine found in the water in pools can be bad for your hair. The best way to protect your hair when getting into a swimming pool is to wet your coloured hair first with regular water.
• Be careful in the sun. Use hats, scarves or products with sunscreens to help protect against colour fade and the drying effects of the sun.
• Shampoo gently. Rough shampooing can strip colour or dry out hair.
• Do not wrap in a towel turban when you get out of the shower with wet hair. The added friction can knot and damage vulnerable wet hair. Instead, carefully blot hair dry.
• Don't brush hair when wet. Comb with a wide-tooth comb, working tangles out as you move from the ends toward the scalp.
• Don't overdry. When you blow dry, dry the hair until it is almost, but not completely, dry. Leave some moisture in to prevent static.
• Be careful when styling. Avoid aggressive manipulation of the hair.
• Use hairspray or a spritz with moisturisers and sunscreens to finish the hair. These products will provide continual protection throughout the day.
• Don't spray lightening agents or put lemon juice in your hair.

Hair colour trends

What's hot in India and abroad?

• Global colour is in, both internationally and  in India.
• Permanent blonde, red and platinum are out. Gone are the days of Kareena Kapoor and Ameesha Patel's all-blonde locks. Even the actresses themselves have left the bleached look far behind.
• Indian women are now opting for sun-kissed colours and highlights. The trend is to work with the tones that complement the natural skin tone. Subtle tones like cinnamon, coffee, chocolate brown, honey and caramel work best with Indian skin tones.
• Aishwarya Rai, Penelope Cruz and Mila Kunis' hair colours are most sought-after.

When colouring at home

• Choose `demi-permanent' colour, which doesn't contain ammonia.ÿDemi-permanents are very safe because they don't remove natural pigment, but they can give you a nice brightening and grey coverage. Going with an ammonia-free formula is especially a good idea if you're buying from a chemist instead of a professional beauty store, since the boxed kits that contain ammonia often contain more than professional products.
• Consult an expert on colour choice. No one wants her hair to turn green or orange. To make sure that you are picking a colour that will look good with your underlying hue, ask staff at a beauty supply store or your colourist for advice.
• Enlist a friend.ÿOne reason that home results don't always look as good as salon results is that you can't see your whole head.
• Leave highlights to the pros. A salon professional is skilled in the mixing and application of colour when only certain strands are to be dyed.

Checklist before salon visit
Here are some easy rules to adhere to:

• Before you try out another of your hair colour ideas, check your mane to see if it's strong enough to withstand an additional colouring. To do this, shampoo your hair and analyse it for general dryness before you apply conditioner. If your hair feels like straw, don't opt for colouring.
• Then, take an individual hair strand and test it for breakage. Simply apply tension to the hair strand till it breaks. If it breaks easily without stretching, you definitely can't colour. When in doubt, consult a hair specialist.
• Apart from checking your hair to determine if it can be coloured, you ought to prevent particular colour combinations to get rid of or reduce damage. Avoid drastic differences. For instance, don't reduce your dark brown hair to platinum blonde only to put deep red on it and then try to lighten it once again. What you will end up with is mush.