Hair Colour Aftercare: Making the Colour Last

How long your colour lasts depends mostly on what happens after you leave the salon. The first 72 hours matter most: the hair shaft is still open and the pigment has not fully settled.

The first three days

Do not wash your hair for 72 hours after colouring. If you must, use cool rather than warm water — heat opens the cuticle and lets pigment escape.

How often to wash

Coloured hair does not need daily washing. Two, at most three washes a week suit most hair types. Dry shampoo covers the days in between.

Heat protection

Blow dryers, curling irons and straighteners fade colour. If you use heat, apply a protectant first and keep the device on its lowest setting.

Sun and chlorine

In summer, UV and chlorine lift colour quickly. Rinsing your hair with clean water before swimming noticeably reduces how much chlorine it absorbs.

Every head of hair behaves differently — we can work out the right routine for yours at your appointment.