Nine Ways to Make Your Hair Color Linger Longer

The absolute best way to preserve your hair color doesn’t require you to visit the salon or purchase another product; just wash your hair with cool water rather than with hot. Washing can strip your hair of valuable oils, and hard water can leave mineral deposits. When you use hot water, the hair’s cuticle further opens up , thereby accelerating the process. It’s also a good idea to wash your hair less frequently (every other day is fine), especially if your color is prone to fading.

Shampoos that are designed specifically for color-treated hair are gentler than regular shampoos and provide extra moisture. TIGI’s S-Factor is free of sulfates, which can cause color to fade faster.
($29.95, BeautyEncounter.com)

If root growth is a concern, a tinted dry shampoo can lighten or darken roots when sprinkled on the scalp. Since it also absorbs oil and dirt, it cuts down on washes, too.
($35, Bumbleandbumble.com)

A regular color-safe conditioner seals and protects hair, but a color-depositing conditioner also deposits small amounts of temporary color to enhance natural or dyed hair. Great for redheads and anyone else whose hair is prone to fading.
($18, Aveda.com)

Clairol’s root-covering kits can match any salon or home hair-color shade, and they easily and quickly camouflage growing roots and gray hairs.
($5.99, ULTA.com)

The sun is one of the greatest enemies of color-treated hair. Instead of wearing a hat or staying indoors, spritz your locks with a serum that protects against UV rays, which can dry out and damage hair and fade color.
($14, VictoriasSecret.com)

This Level 3 hair-coloring kit contains a Week 2 Color Refresher. Used fifteen days after the original coloring, it deposits additional pigments to fight fading and increase shine.
($8.99, Drugstore.com)

A glaze (also called a gloss; many companies use the terms interchangeably) adds a boost of demi-permanent pigment to fading color and can also be used on virgin hair to intensify its color for two to four weeks. If you’re uncomfortable doing it at home, or if you want a quick color pick-me-up during a trim, salons also offer glazing/glossing treatments.
($8.99, Amazon.com)