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Maintenance is a real pain in the butt.
Getty / Igor Ustynskyy
Money down the drain, literally.
Unfortunately if you want to keep your colors bright and deep, it’s crucial that you reapply frequently.
Since I dont dye my own hair, the whole thing gets a bit costly.
It was a real conundrum: How do I maintain the hair color I love without spending a fortune?
Turns out that necessity is in fact the mother of invention.
After applying fresh color, wait at least 72 hours before shampooing.
My badass blue-green faded quicker than a celebrity engagement.
It turns out theres a reason for this.
Dont wash your hair every day.
On average, I wash mine twice a week and opt for dry shampoo to soak up oils.
However, sometimes theres no substitute for dunking your head under a stream of rushing water.
My fave isPureology Hydrate Sheer Conditioner.
Its 100 percent vegan and silicone free.
Rinse your hair with cooler water.
In terms of water, temperature matters too.
Superhot water can cause damage to the outer cuticle and make your hair more porous, says Dr. Chang.
Fresh hair color can easily escape through your wide-open pores.
To avoid fading, I wash with cooler temperatures.
However, in the warmer months, a tepid rinse feels quite refreshing.
Try a color-depositing product.
To stretch time between salon visits, one of my tricks is using a color-depositing product.
So, how does it work its magic?
The shampoo contains dyes that brighten and intensify color with each wash. Whats more?
If I really want to vivify my pink, I simply wash twice.
I barelyblow drymy hair, mostly because Im lazy and its time consuming.
However, when it comes to prolonging hair color, my idleness has its benefits.
Turns out Ive been protecting my Pink Palazzo all along without even knowing it.
But, as Maya Angelou told Oprah, when you know better, you do better.
Im thinking about tryingTresemmes Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray.
Minimize your hairs exposure to sunlight.
Since I turned 30, Ive become vampirish, avoiding the sun at all costs to maintain healthy skin.
However, our hair isnt immune to sun damage either.
Im all about big-brimmed hats at the beach and lightweight bandanas when I go jogging.
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