9 Ways To Keep Your Hair Color Fresh This Summer

Summer’s practically upon us, and if you’re thinking of dyeing your hair, you may want to change up your routine in order to help maintain your fresh hair color. From using a system of color safe shampoo and conditioner to learning about the best color correction hair tips, we’ve got you covered with our guide to maintaining hair color in the summer. Keep reading for our best summer hair color tips.

1. Shower Smartly

This means two things — first, keep the temperature down. As great as a hot shower may feel, those high temperatures can wreak havoc on color-treated hair, leaving your hair feeling dry and your hair color looking duller. Second, think about getting a filter for your shower head. Some water contains harsh minerals that can lead to fading hair color, so filtering is your best bet to a fade-free rinse.

2. Use Color-Safe Shampoo and Conditioner

The first step to any hair color care routine is to stock your shower with a system of color-safe shampoo and conditioner. Look for a sulfate-free option, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Color Care Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Conditioner. Gently massage the shampoo into your hair, then rinse out thoroughly with lukewarm water and follow up by applying the conditioner. Leave the conditioner on for three minutes, then rinse out thoroughly with lukewarm water as well.

3. Add a Hair Mask to Your Weekly Routine

The drier your hair feels, the less shiny it can look. So, make sure to use a hair mask a couple of times a week. In conjunction with the color-safe shampoo and conditioner we just mentioned, try the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Signature Masque, Color Care Hair Mask to hydrate and revitalize colored hair.

4. Rock Your Natural Texture

We love using our blow-dryer, flat iron, and curling wand as much as the next person, but there’s no denying that repeated exposure to heat isn’t so great for your strands. The more you expose your hair to high temperatures, the duller it can get and the less radiant it can look. 

That being said, you don’t have to sacrifice style. Rock a natural, no-heat style sans the use of any hot tools. You can also use a shaping product, such as the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Refresh & Reshape Leave-in Spray, to accentuate your natural hair texture if you have waves or curls.

5. Use Heat Protectant Before Blow-Drying

If you are going to blow-dry, straighten, or curl your hair, make sure to use a heat protectant, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, first. As we mentioned above, protecting your hair from heat is key to helping maintain your gorgeous hair color this summer.

6. Protect Your Strands from UV Rays

If you wouldn’t step outside without broad-spectrum sunscreen on your body, you should also keep your hair protected from the sun. The same way hot tools can cause hair color fading, so can the sun’s powerful UV rays. Try spritzing hair with the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold with UV filter for Color-Treated Hair before going outside.

7. Color Correct Brassy Tones

If you have blonde hair, then you know that it can turn brassy pretty easily — especially during the summer when you’re out in the sun and swimming in a chlorinated pool more frequently. Stock up on a toning hair gloss that can help neutralize the look of brassiness, like the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss. It comes in 16 shades that deep condition the hair while boosting color and tone.

8. Add Shine with Hair Spray

If you’re styling your color-treated hair and it’s looking a bit dull, one great product to have on hand is a shine-enhancing hair spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Satin Extra Strong Hold, Light Hairspray Unscented. Simply shake the can, hold it about 12 inches from your hair and spray to set your style and add a touch of shine.

9. Hide Your Roots

At this point you already know that fading and root growth is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not concealable. All you have to do is add the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up to your routine to conceal grays and any new growth in seconds (it washes out in one shampoo). The lightweight formula leaves no smudging or sticky residue when it dries which means you’re just left with tresses that look fresh out of the salon.

Next: Blonde Hair with Dark Roots Is the Lived-In Color Of the Summer

Edited by: Shannon Stubbs, Photo Credit: Chaunte Vaughn