How to stop hair colour fading: why colour fades and what slows it

Colouring damages hair in a controlled way, and that is not a criticism. To get colour into the hair, the outer layer has to be opened. Bleach goes further and removes the natural colour. Both leave the outer layer more porous than before, so water and colour pass through it more easily.

Why colour fades

This works in both directions. If the outer layer lets dye in, it also lets it out. Every wash takes a little colour away, and heat, sunlight and hard water make this happen faster. Cool, ashy tones fade first. This uncovers the warm tones underneath, which is why brown hair starts to look brassy. Red fades fastest of all.

So fading is less about the colour itself and more about the outer layer of the hair.

What helps

• Wash less often, and with cooler water. Every wash takes some colour away. Hot water opens the outer layer even more.
• Smooth your hair after every wash. A leave-in treatment smooths the outer layer while the hair is still damp, which is when it is most open.
• Protect before heat. A straightener harms your colour in the same way it harms your hair.
• Be careful in the sun. UV light breaks down hair colour. A hat is the best protection.

What to expect

No leave-in product brings back colour that has faded, and none will keep a colour forever. Good aftercare gives you more time between salon visits, and hair that still looks shiny in the meantime. In the Ellips range, Hair Repair is the formula for coloured hair. It is a cosmetic treatment and does not claim to repair hair or restore colour.