11 Mistakes That Could Damage Color-Treated Hair

There are dozens of reasons to experiment with hair color. Perhaps you're not ready to embrace graying hair and want to cover up those roots. Maybe you like to lighten or darken your hair in accordance with the season or try out vibrant colors to showcase your personality. Some believe that it can even be healthy to change your natural color. "Coloring your hair can have benefits, such as sealing down the cuticle for healthier looking hair," color and styling expert Nina Farrauto told Elle. "Hair can also appear more full with a fresh color." No matter why you choose to color your hair, if you pay a stylist between $70 and $200 to work their magic, the odds are that you want it to last longer than a day.

No matter beautiful your hair looks fresh out of the salon chair, there are a number of ways you can accidentally damage it or shorten the life of your color once you get home. Colored-treated hair is fragile due to the use of harsh chemicals like ammonia and peroxide, which lift natural hair's pigment and deposit permanent color into each strand. "These chemicals permanently break down certain bonds in the hair structure and cause the hair to become weaker and more fragile," celebrity stylist Stacey Ciceron explained to InStyle. Whether you use too much heat or don't use color-safe products, making the following mistakes can cause problems and put your colored hair at risk of permanent damage.

Changing up your hair color can be addicting, especially because there are no hard rules about how frequently you can dye your hair. If you like to change up your look on a whim, adding a new hair color is a fun way to go about it. However, too much of a good thing can lead to bad results. If you dye your hair too often in shades that require bleach or permanent dyes, you may eventually experience dry, frizzy, damaged hair. Furthermore, it could require weeks of care and hundreds of dollars to restore. The exact length of time you'll need to wait between dye jobs depends on your hair's texture and health, but the general period is between four to 10 weeks.

Certain types of hair dye are safer than others for quick color changes. Temporary dye is the mildest option that typically washes out after a shampooing or two. This can be used more frequently and is ideal if you like to experiment with different colors. Semi-permanent dyes do not contain peroxide — the chemical necessary for lifting and lightening — and usually rinse out after around six washes. "Semi-permanent hair dye can be done every week, since it does not penetrate your hair," hairstylist Ashley Mitchell told Healthline. Demi-permanent and permanent hair dyes are safe to use once every six to eight weeks, although the true frequency is dependent on your hair's natural texture, growth rate, and health.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make while caring for your color-treated hair is skimping on hair products formulated specifically for dyed hair. It can be tempting to opt for cheaper or familiar hair products after spending a lot of money getting your hair colored. If you want to protect that investment for as long as possible, however, it's best to use color-safe hair products. "To maintain color-treated hair, it's best to avoid sulfate-based shampoo, sodium chloride, and parabens," celebrity hair colorist Bianca Hillier told SheFinds. These ingredients have their purpose, but they can lead to irritation and dehydration that damages and fades colored hair. "Instead, it is best to use a color-safe shampoo to maintain the color and health in the hair," Hillier added.

Color-safe shampoos and conditioners are designed without harsh ingredients, like sulfates and parabens. These can increase damage and strip the color deposits from your hair. Many contain hydrating, moisture-preserving oils and vitamins vital for hair health, like biotin. If you spend a lot of time outdoors or in the pool, look for a color-safe shampoo and conditioner duo that protects against environmental aggressors and hard water. The use of color-safe, color-correcting products can even fix and prevent brassy hair.

Chlorine and salt water are damaging to all hair. However, if you have colored hair and don't take the proper protective steps, a leisurely swim can put it at an increased risk for fading, dehydration, and breakage. Chlorine, in particular, is effective in purifying water, but it breaks down the amino acids in your hair. This can cause damage and draw out artificial color, along with melanin and sebum in virgin hair. Salt water, on the other hand, draws out the hair's natural moisture. It interacts with the cuticle, causing split ends and dull, lifeless color.

You can take steps to protect your freshly colored hair from the devastating effects of chlorine. A swimming cap is an ideal choice for keeping your hair out of the water, especially if you like to swim laps. In situations where a swim cap isn't ideal, coating your hair with a moisturizing agent, like coconut oil, can form a barrier between your fragile hair and the harsh chemicals in the pool water. Rinsing your hair prior to cannonballing into the pool is also recommended. "This trick lets your hair absorb less chlorine, or salt water if you're dipping in the ocean," celebrity colorist Lorri Goddard explained to Glamour. "Then give it another rinse after you're done swimming." Be sure to apply your color-safe conditioner to the ends of your hair to restore any lost moisture caused by the pool or ocean water.

Hot showers are one of life's great pleasures, but if you recently had your hair dyed, it's best to skip the hot water rinse. Hot water may be ideal for washing your hair, but it dries out your scalp. Like heat styling tools, hot water is also a major contributor to fading color. This occurs when warmer temperatures open up the cuticle and leech it of color in addition to drying out the strand. "When hot water is used to wash hair, your hair follicles are exposed to environmental and oxidative damage, which can lead to hair fall," dermatologist Hasan Benar tells Byrdie. "Hair fall accelerates due to the loosened grip of the damaged hair roots. This can also result in premature graying."

You may be tempted to go in the opposite direction and shower in ice-cold water, but the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Although there are positives to rinsing with cold water, such as preserving your hair's natural oils and potentially improving blood circulation within the scalp, cold water can contribute to flat, greasy-looking tresses. Lukewarm water is the ideal temperature for rinsing your colored hair. It is warm enough to help cleanse the scalp and hair of dirt, grime, and product, but not so hot it will cause fading or damage.

Prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist, medicated shampoos are ideal for conditions like thinning hair, seborrheic dermatitis, and dandruff. However, these products typically contain harsh active ingredients like salicylic acid and ketoconazole. When used as prescribed, these active ingredients and their antifungal properties can target the bacteria that cause dandruff. Unfortunately, they can also contribute to hair breakage, dryness, and discoloration, turning your recent color treatment into a faded memory.

If you have to use a medicated shampoo to manage a particular condition, you shouldn't stop using it just to protect your hair color. Rinsing your hair before shampooing may help the strands from absorbing the harsh ingredients and drying out. Don't be afraid to discuss the matter with your stylist or colorist as well. They may have good recommendations for medicated products that are color-safe. In an interview with Well+Good, hair care brand founder Alex Adler recommended paying attention to the ingredients in whatever products you consider above all else. "Using a dandruff shampoo that isn't formulated to be color-safe could result in your color treatment fading, stripping, or depending on the shade, turning brassy."