Image Map

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Caring for Coloured Hair

A few people have asked me recently about how I look after my newly dyed red hair so I said I may as well do a post on it, share the knowledge and all that! 


My own natural colour is a light brown/dark blonde but I really wanted to change things up so I went to my hairdresser originally and she toned down the remains of my blonde highlights, thereby evening out the overall colour of my hair. She then added red over that and since then I've been topping it up at home with (1) Wella's Colour Fresh semi-permanent colour in 6/34 (dark blonde/gold red). This is a pretty cheap and cheerful dye. I get mine on look fantastic for around €11 a bottle, which is good for hair dye. It doesn't have any frills attached- no little bottle of conditioner for after you've washed out the dye and the plastic gloves provided are a bit useless. That being said, it's easy to apply, I leave it on for 20 minutes and it's sorted for another couple of weeks. 
To help prolong that even further, I use (2) L'Oreal Elvive colour protect shampoo. This was recommended to me by my hairdresser and it was also voted best shampoo for colour treated hair by beaut.ie readers, so that's good enough for me! It claims to boost colour radiance for up to 7 weeks, which I'm not completely convinced of but I do think it's effective. It also smells nice, lathers well and doesn't dry my hair out. 
I then condition with (3) Kerastase Chroma Reflect Radiance Enhancing Milk for colour treated hair. I really like Kerastase products, especially their conditioners. This is lovely on the hair, leaving it soft and just a little bit swishy with a nice shine once dried. 
Lastly, once or twice a week I use (4) Clairol's Colourseal Gloss for radiant redheads (I have in the past used both the blonde and brunette versions and they're also excellent). I love these little tubes. This is a treatment for after shampooing and is designed to prolong your red in between colourings. If I could only recommend one of these things it would be this; my hair is always in better condition after I use it, it's softer, shinier, the colour is definitely more evident and it smells delicious- like coconut. Mmm. 

So that's my lot. I have also been using a hair oil but will save that for a separate post! Anyone using anything else for red hair you'd recommend?
XX

14 comments:

  1. Great post, I love the Clairol conditioning tubes, cheap and really work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Have to try the Clairol tubes, they sound really good :)

    http://pinkelephantbloggin.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are fantastic, really inexpensive and so good! x

      Delete
  3. I never heard of that colour before, it sounds good though and it looks to be more of a salon quality one than what you get in local shops? Btw, I love your name "Nurse Fancypants" - it always makes me smile everytime I see it! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it is definitely more of a salon one, my hairdresser told me to get it from Sally's but it's actually more convenient for me to pick it up online. Thanks so much for that, it's not hard to forget anyway, that's for sure! ;) x

      Delete
  4. Red hair is so hard to keep up - Everytime I change mine & then go back to red, it starts to fade so quickly that I miss my natural colour! Might try go back to it this winter & actually properly care for it with the recommended shampoos & conditioners :) x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True! I love red on you though, I think it really suits you! x

      Delete
  5. Ya, I'm currently using the L'Oreal stuff but considering I actually think my hair is too dark (supposed to be a dark brown, turned out black!) and I want it to fade, maybe I should stop using it?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, might be for the best! If you want it to fade there's always that popular anti dandruff shampoo! ;)

      Delete
  6. The red line from Loreal is fantastic, also the colour sulphate free that they brought out is pretty cool too. I can barely keep my brown mop looking alive so i can imagine the pain with red.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really want to try the sulphate free range from them!! That'll be my next purchase! ;)

      Delete
  7. My hairdresser whispered to me that she loves L'Oreal Elvive, she is suppose to push the Kèrastase that the salon sells.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, brilliant! I love my hairdresser, she always tells me what products to get that work and are a bit cheaper!

      Delete