There’s nothing quite like walking out of the salon with freshly coloured hair. Whether you’ve gone brighter for summer, refreshed your balayage or covered those first few greys, you want that colour to last as long as possible.
Unfortunately, summer can be one of the toughest seasons for coloured hair.
The combination of sunshine, UV rays, chlorine, salt water and even washing your hair more frequently can all contribute to colour fading much faster than you’d expect. As a hairstylist, it’s something I see every year, particularly after holidays when clients return with hair that’s noticeably lighter, drier and lacking the shine it had just a few weeks earlier.
The good news is that a few simple changes to your routine can make a real difference.
Don’t underestimate the sun
Most people think about protecting their skin from the sun but forget that their hair needs protection too.
UV rays don’t just dry out the hair, they can also break down colour pigments, leaving blondes looking brassy, brunettes appearing flat and reds fading particularly quickly.
If you’re spending long periods outdoors, wearing a hat or using products with UV protection can help minimise colour fade while keeping your hair healthier overall.
Chlorine and salt water are not your colour’s best friend
A dip in the pool or the sea is one of the best parts of summer, but both can take their toll on coloured hair.
Chlorine strips away natural oils, leaving the hair more porous, while salt water can dry the hair out, making colour appear dull and faded.
One of the easiest ways to help protect your hair is by thoroughly wetting it with fresh water before swimming. Hair behaves like a sponge, so if it’s already saturated with clean water, it’s likely to absorb less chlorinated or salty water.
After swimming, rinse your hair as soon as possible to remove any residue before it has chance to sit on the hair.
OSMO Ambassador Jake Nugent says this is one of the biggest mistakes he sees every summer.
“I always tell clients to wet their hair with fresh water first, as this can help reduce how much chlorinated water the hair absorbs.” He also advises against overusing heated styling tools in hot weather, as excessive heat can leave colour looking dull and dry.
Less washing can help colour last longer
During warmer weather, it’s tempting to wash your hair every day, especially if you’re spending more time outdoors or exercising.
While there’s nothing wrong with keeping your hair clean, frequent washing can gradually strip away colour, particularly if you’re using shampoos that aren’t designed for colour-treated hair.
If you can, try extending the time between washes by using a dry shampoo or simply rinsing with water when appropriate.
Choosing sulphate-free products can also help preserve both colour and moisture.
Adele Clarke, OSMO Ambassador and owner of Spectrum Hair, agrees that switching to a colour-safe shampoo is one of the easiest ways to prolong salon colour.
“A colour-safe shampoo and conditioner are well worth the investment because they’re designed to cleanse without stripping away the colour you’ve spent time and money achieving.” She also recommends using a targeted toning shampoo or mask to keep blonde, brunette and grey tones looking fresh between salon visits.
Colour-depositing treatments are a great way to refresh faded hair
One of my favourite ways to keep colour looking fresh between salon appointments is by using colour-depositing treatments.
Rather than permanently colouring the hair again, these products help revive tone, boost shine and bring tired-looking colour back to life in just a few minutes.
For Adele, colour-depositing conditioners are one of the easiest ways for clients to maintain their salon colour at home.
“Salon colour doesn’t have to lose its freshness between appointments. That’s exactly where the OSMO Colour Revive range comes in. In just three minutes it refreshes faded tones while conditioning the hair at the same time.” She also highlights that the collection’s 11 intermixable shades make it suitable for everything from blondes and brunettes to coppers, reds and fashion colours.
One product that has recently caught my attention is the newly relaunched OSMO Colour Revive collection. Available in 11 shades, the colour-depositing conditioners are designed to refresh salon colour in as little as three minutes while nourishing the hair with avocado oil and linseed oil. The ammonia- and peroxide-free formulas make them a simple option for extending colour between salon visits.
Not every colour fades in the same way
Some shades naturally require a little more maintenance than others.
Cool blondes often become warm or brassy, vibrant reds can lose their intensity quite quickly, while fashion colours tend to need the most regular refreshing.
Understanding how your particular colour behaves makes it much easier to choose the right products and create a maintenance routine that works for you.
Jake also recommends tailoring your aftercare to your colour. For blondes, he suggests using a purple shampoo once a week to minimise brassiness, while clients with reds and darker shades can benefit from regular colour-refreshing treatments to restore tone between salon appointments. He also recommends booking smaller maintenance appointments throughout the summer, such as glosses or toners, to help keep colour looking salon fresh for longer.
A little maintenance goes a long way
Keeping your hair colour looking fresh throughout the summer doesn’t have to mean more trips to the salon.
Small changes, like protecting your hair from the sun, rinsing after swimming, choosing the right shampoo and using colour-refreshing treatments when needed, can all help extend the life of your colour while keeping your hair looking healthy and glossy.
For me, healthy hair will always make colour look better. Looking after the condition of your hair is just as important as maintaining the colour itself, and with the right routine, there’s no reason your hair can’t stay vibrant all summer long.
