It can take years to reach your ‘right’ shade of blonde, especially if you’re shifting from warm to cool: silver hair, why play so hard to get? With all that time and hard-earned cash invested in our locks, watching colour fade is a heartbreaker. To make you blonde hair last as long as possible – and maintain that fresh-from-the-salon vibrance – here’s what you need to do.
By Rachel Spedding
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1 Use a UV protective spray
UV rays can alter colour, dry out strands, and cause split ends. Make sure to spritz in a UV hair protectant to hydrate your locks and save them from the sunshine. Scalp protector is a thing too, so if you’re heading for sunny climes, layer it on your part to avoid damaging the skin.
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2 Invest in purple shampoo
This will keep your colour from going brassy (unlike other shampoos that aren’t formulated for blonde hair specifically). Use it once a week – between a colour treating shampoo – and your blonde will stay toned to your liking. Wash it before things turn lilac. Unless that's what you're going for.
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3 Deep condition often
Bleached hair has been stripped of colour and moisture, so it's thirsty for nourishing. Avoid straw-like locks with a deep conditioning treatment. A head massage feels pretty good too, so head to the salon for your treatment.
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4 Leave in condition
DIY it at home too. Opt for a leave-in conditioner once every week or so for an extra dose of hydration to the ends of your hair. Apply your spray or cream straight out the shower and brush through with a wide tooth comb before styling. Easy.
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5 All hail dry shampoo
The queen of all hair products. Invest in a good one, and make your two-day hair go even further. Frequent washing can gradually fade your colour, so turn to the bottle instead for a little freshen-up (it'll spritz on white too, so will probably mask root regrowth – just saying…).
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6 Protect from the pool
If you’re about to take a dip, use bottled water to wet your hair first. It sounds a little extreme, but it’s true. If you hair is already wet when you hop in the pool, it won’t soak up as much chlorine from the water. Save yourself from unwanted green hair transformations and get dousing that Evian.
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7 No more heat
Take care with heat styling. Remember that blonde hair is dried out to begin with, so curling, straightening, crimping (pardon?), and hair drying will take their toll on your locks. Always use a protective spray, and leave your locks natural now and then.
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8 Dry it gently
Instead of a towel, use a t-shirt to dry your hair post-shower. Towel friction can cause frizz and brittle strands, while the soft cotton of a t-shirt will help to maintain your hair’s natural moisture.
With Treatwell, you can book beauty online at all your favourite salons – simple, hassle-free, and you can do it on the go. Discover amazing salons in your area.