Everything You Need to Know About Color Treated Hair: How to Take Care of It?

Having colored hair is like crossing over the vibrant side of life, where the world isn’t just black and white! You have endless options to choose from, like fuchsia, ombre, brown, auburn, and more; you just name it. But it also comes with a lot of care and maintenance so you can rock your freshly dyed locks. 

You can’t neglect your color-treated hair, or else you will find yourself with faded hues, brittle ends, and the classic case of hair blues. So, whether you are new to the hair color game or have been a pro at this, knowing how to take care of your color-treated hair is very important. So, without wasting time, let’s jump on the tips and tricks you must learn to keep your hair strands fresh and shiny!

What is Color-Treated Hair?

We know most of you know what color-treated hair is, and it's boring to read about the basics, but here is a little something from our side to help you know about it better.

Color-treated hair is like that friend who is high-maintenance yet fabulous! When you opt for any hair color, your hair goes through a permanent color treatment. This includes different kinds of color styles, such as lowlights, highlights, grey coverage, balayage, overall hair color, and more. 

When your hair is dyed, it goes through a chemical process where the outer layer (called the cuticle) is opened up so the color can seep in and stay permanently. If your hair has been chemically changed in any way, it’s no longer "natural" or virgin hair. And because of this, it needs special care compared to untreated hair.

Overview: Color-treated hair undergoes a chemical process in which the cuticles are opened up to help the color seep in and stay for a longer period of time. 

What are Some Common Ingredients You Should Avoid for Color-Treated Hair?

We know that it can be overwhelming to remember which ingredients are your best friends and which you should avoid when you have color-treated hair. Therefore, we have explained it in a very simple way below:

When you have colored hair, you must be cautious of the ingredients in your hair care products. The ingredients you should avoid are SLS (sulfates), sodium chloride, parabens, and petrochemicals. Sulfates help add the bubbly leather to the shampoo, but they tend to remove too much oil, contributing to dryness. In addition, they can be too strong and can strip your hair color. Moreover, some products also have sodium chloride, making the hair dry and affecting the hair color.

 Overview: If you have color-treated hair, avoid products containing sulfates, sodium chloride, parabens, and petrochemicals. Read the label before buying products.

How can you Prevent Damage and Dull Hair After the Color Treatment?

Here are some tips and tricks that will ensure you keep twirling in your freshly dyed locks and keep the color vibrant and fresh:

• Do not use too many styling tools, as it can cause the color to fade and lose vibrancy. Taking a break from styling tools will give your hair time to heal. 
• Avoid using hot water to wash your colored hair. We know it may be difficult on chilly winter mornings, but try to avoid it as much as you can.
• Do not shampoo your hair too often. It's not that we don't want you to, but your hair also needs some oiling. 
• Treat your hair weekly with a heavy-duty mask in the shower. 
• Make sure you use heat protectants when using hot tools. Use the tools on the lower settings. 
• Don’t neglect the ends– they are the most delicate part of your hair and are prone to breakage.
• Make serum, nourishing creams, and oil your best friends. We vouch for them; unlike others, they won't ditch or take advantage of you. 

What Products are Best for Color-Treated Hair?

Here are some of the best products, from washing to styling, you can use to keep your color-treated hair fresh as new, and you can easily include them into your routine: 

Shampoo:

You can choose a sulfate—and paraben-free shampoo, which is especially suited for color-treated hair. The shampoo for color-treated hair has mild cleansing agents and helps clean your hair gently. In addition, don’t forget to look at the labels of the products saying “color-safe” or “color-protect” to give your hair the best care they need. 

If you are looking for a shampoo for color-treated hair, 3TENX UltimateRèvitalize Shampoo is a great option. It is formulated without sulfates and parabens and deeply nourishes the scalp at the same time. It protects color-treated hair with the help of ingredients like Keratin & Collagen, Salicylic Acid, Hydrolysed Silk, and Wheat Protein. In addition, the added ingredients help clean the impurities without stripping the color away.

Conditioner:

Next, select a color-safe conditioner. This will help lock in moisture and prevent your hair from becoming dry. Opting for conditioners that have nourishing ingredients like Keratin, Argan Oil, Proteins, and more will help protect and repair your hair from getting brittle and dry.

A product that ticks all these boxes is 3TENX’s UltimateRèvitalize Conditioner. It is ideal for color-treated hair and helps protect and nourish it from within. Just after one wash, your hair will be irresistibly soft and shiny. Keratin & Collagen, Hydrolysed Silk, Hydrolysed Wheat Protein, and other ingredients help prevent the dullness and dehydration caused by the color treatment while controlling frizziness. 

Masks:

Using a hair mask will make you feel like you’re having a spa at home! The trick is to use a deep-conditioning hair mask once a week. This will help restore the hair's moisture and repair the damage. Use masks with ingredients like Keratin & Collagen, Hydrolysed Silk, and Hydrolysed wheat protein to help add elasticity, strength, and bounce to your colored hair, making it look fresh and shiny.

An excellent choice is 3TENX’s UltimateRèvitalize Mask. It offers intensive nourishment while restoring even the driest strands, infused with the goodness of ingredients like  Keratin & Collagen, Hydrolysed Silk, Hydrolysed wheat protein, and other amazing components. It also tames frizz for softer, shinier, and healthier-looking hair. 

Leave-in treatments:

The right kind of leave-in treatments will give you extra protection against UV rays, heat styling, and other environmental damage. Whether you want to use a detangler spray, a serum, or any other product, it will ensure that your hair stays healthy and the color does not fade away prematurely.

To enhance your routine further, consider indulging in 3TENX’S caviar hair ritual at salons to boost nourishment and shine. This treatment not only strengthens color-treated hair but also restores its natural shine. Additionally, regular hair spa sessions can rejuvenate your locks, deeply condition them, and fight dryness or damage caused by coloring.

By including these essentials into your routine, your color-treated hair will stay as stunning and vibrant as the day you colored it!

Overview: To keep color-treated hair vibrant and healthy, use sulfate-free, color-safe shampoos and conditioners, deep-conditioning masks, and protective leave-in treatments. You can try salon treatments like 3TENX’s Caviar Hair Ritual and regular hair spa sessions for added nourishment and shine.

Concluding Note

If you want to keep your colored hair fresh as new for a longer period, don’t cheat on your hair care routine. Choosing the right products that will give your hair the boost it needs is vital. Because, let’s be honest, no one likes to see their hair color fade within weeks. The trick is to stick to a simple routine that is best for your hair color and overall hair health. Lastly, talk to your stylist before using any product on your hair to ensure it perfectly fits your hair type. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. How can you take care of color-treated hair?

Taking care of color-treated hair is very easy. You just need to form a routine that caters to your hair type and helps you keep the locks looking fresh and radiant. Here are a few steps you can follow for the same: 

• Use a sulfate and paraben-free shampoo. However, only shampoo your hair as needed.
• Do not use too many styling tools
• Use a heavy-duty mask at least twice a day
• Do not forget to use oil or nourishing hair creams
• Get regular trim to keep away brittle split ends 
• Invest in nourishing masks and conditioners as colored- hair tends to dry quickly.

2. For how long does color-treated hair last?

Different hair color types stay on your hair for different time periods. For example, permanent hair color/dye can stay on your hair for as long as 6-12 weeks. In addition, semi-permanent hair color can last around 24 shampoo washes or 4 weeks if you wash your hair regularly. However, even permanent hair color can sometimes fade within a few weeks. When you wash your hair, the molecules in the hair dye dissolve quickly, making the color fade. 

3. Can you oil your hair after getting it colored?

Yes, using hair oil after getting your hair colored is perfectly fine. However, you must wait 3-4 days for the color to set before using the oil. 

4. How can you prevent damage when coloring hair at home?

You can prevent damage when coloring hair at home by ensuring you do a patch test beforehand, use high-quality products, invest in the best shampoo for color-treated hair, follow the instructions given on the package, and invest in a heavy-duty nourishing mask and cream to prevent dryness after applying the color. 

5. Is dry shampoo safe for color-treated hair?

Yes, dry shampoo is safe to use on color-treated hair. It will make your hair color look fresh and vibrant; however, don’t use it too often and for a traditional shampooing method.