My search for ways to prevent hair dye from fading has been ongoing for years. I’ve been dying my hair nontraditional colors—pink, red, blue, and even rainbow—for basically as long as I can remember. My mom first let me add streaks of temporary pink dye to the tips of my hair when I was 11 years old. Since then my hair has been almost any shade you can imagine. I usually dye my own hair at home and try a new color every few weeks.
I can tell you from experience that maintaining a vibrant color is no easy task, as some colors fade significantly after the first wash. But in 2020, going to a salon for a refresh every few weeks is a risk not everyone wants to take during the coronavirus pandemic. However, there are a number of tinted shampoos, hydrating masks, and styling products that can help your dyed hair look vibrant and healthy.
The first step here, though, is keeping your hair as healthy as possible, since frequent dye jobs can be damaging and make ends look dry. “What you put in your body is just as important as what you put on your hair,” Aura Friedman of Sally Hershberger salon tells SELF. “I highly recommend making sure you are receiving the necessary amounts of Vitamin B, D, and E, which all support healthy hair growth and strength.”
Most people get enough of these vitamins through food and sun exposure, and there isn’t any research to suggest that getting more than the recommended daily amount of those vitamins will add extra benefits. But if you feel like something is off, it may be worth checking in with a doctor to see if you could benefit from supplements.
In terms of hair products to prevent hair-dye fading, Friedman recommends choosing ones that don’t contain sulfates. “Some shampoos contain sulfates to create lather in the hair, which isn’t necessary,” she says. “Sulfates are really harsh on both the hair and scalp and strip the hair of its natural moisture.” In addition, sulfates can strip hair dye, so you may notice that your color fades more quickly when using products containing this ingredient.
After more than a decade of being a color chameleon, I’ve found that these are the best products that work to stop hair dye from fading for me: