9 Tricks to Stretch the Time Between Your Hair Color Appointments

Hair experts share their tips for how to keep your hair color looking fresher and brighter for longer when you can't go to your stylist.

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Keeping hair color fresh

If you like to dye your hair, protecting your colored strands involves two things: Hair care and maintenance. Typically, this involves touch-up visits at the hair salon. However, in coronavirus quarantine, businesses like hair salons and barber shops, are closed due to stay-at-home orders.

So, what can you do to extend the lifespan of your hair color at home? We spoke with a celebrity stylist and hair colorist on how you keep your hair looking fresh and bright in between salon appointments (or until your hairstylist can see you again). Hereโ€™s how to extend your hair color at home like a pro.

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Don’t stray too far from your natural hue

The closer you are to your true shade, the less color maintenance your hair will require. If you naturally have jet black strands and you bleach them Gwen Stefani platinum blonde, regrowth is going to be swift and glaring, meaning you’ll probably need your salon on speed dial. Unless you’re committed to upkeep, stick to a color within two shades of your natural base. (Hairstylists reveal the worst things you can do to your hair.)

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Change your part

Switching up your part can make roots look less obvious. Rita Hazan, celebrity colorist and owner of Rita Hazan Salon in New York City, recommends flipping hair so it falls in a different direction, or creating a zig-zag part, which helps break up the root area, making re-growth less apparent.

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Get glossy

An at-home gloss can be used to tone color and add luster, according to James Corbett, New York City-based top colorist. “While a gloss won’t change your roots, it will make your hair shiny and pretty,” adds Hazan. She offers a True Color Ultimate Shine Gloss that you can use in the shower two to three times a week. Also try Madison Reed Color Reviving Gloss, a line of sheer tints that rehab faded color (it comes in seven shades, plus a clear gloss). Check out these tips for healthier, more attractive hair.

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Try a temporary root concealer

If you’re battling gray hairs, consider a product such as Ever Pro Gray Away Temporary Concealer, with three universal shades that come in a spray or a touch-up powder. Hazan offers a Root Concealer Touch-Up Spray for other shades that comes in five colors.

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Use an at-home root color

Whether your goal is to cover grays or mask dark re-growth, giving your roots a little TLC (tender love and color) can make a big impact. “Apply a product like Nice’n Easy Root Touch-Up to your roots, focusing on the hairline and part, and let the color develop for 10 minutes,” says Corbett. “This will keep your regrowth and grays covered for up to three weeks.” Also, follow these hair color tips to protect your pigment.

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Rock a braid

It’s OK to get twisted. “Braids and knotted styles are a quick and a stylish way to hide hair that may be due for a touch-up,” says Corbett. And Hazan notes that braids create dimension in hairโ€”similar to the zigzag partโ€”which helps to break up the harsh line of visible roots.

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Don’t straighten your hair

When you straighten your hair, the roots become more obvious. “When hair is wavy or curly, the roots appear shorter and not as noticeable,” explains Hazan. Since heat styling and constant coloring can make hair dry, consider using these home remedies to repair damaged strands.

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Opt for a blowout or beachy waves

Did you know a great bouncy blowout or loose waves can help make roots appear less visible? Styles with more movement separate harsh lines, so you’ll see more of the style and less of the roots.

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Keep strands clean

When your hair is dirty, it tends to look darker (dirt and oil flatten tresses and give it that greasy look). Dry shampoo is a wonder for soaking up oil while adding texture and lifting strands. Try Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk, which mops up grease and adds amazing volume. Also, here’s how clarifying shampoo may be ruining your hair.

Sources
  • Rita Hazan, celebrity colorist and owner of Rita Hazan Salon in New York City
  • James Corbett, JC Studio, New York City
 

Lindsay Cohn
Lindsay Cohn has a B.A. in Creative Writing & Communications from the University of Miami. Her work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Brides, Fodor's, Travel + Leisure, PureWow, USA Today, and more.