Maintaining vibrant hair takes the patience of a saint – or a few handy tips from those in the know!
If you have ever had vibrant hair, you know that it is a different situation all together to your regular hair colour; without the right hair care, vivid hair can fade from blindingly bright to flat and dull in a few washes.
At Ethan Thomas Collection, we love Pigment AF hair dye (who doesn’t!) for so many reasons. Pigment AF hair dyes:
- Are highly pigmented, semi-permanent hair colours that bleed less;
- Fade within the original colour spectrum (vibrant purple will fade purple etc);
- Condition your hair with each use (keeping your hair moisturised); and
- Contains no harsh chemicals, drying alcohols or PPDs
However, using a good quality, highly pigmented hair dye like Pigment AF is only part of the puzzle - how do you keep your Pigment AF colour looking exceptional for longer?
How Long Does Pigment AF Generally Last?
Pigment AF has been developed to be one of the longest lasting semi-permanent hair colours on the market, with each colour lasting between 4-8 weeks, depending on your hair care routine.
Tips to Make Pigment AF Last Longer
Take it from us – whether you come into the salon for your colour or you DIY at home, we want your hair colour to last as long as possible.
There are a few key tips to follow to keep your hair looking dreamy, vibrant and lush.
1. Pre-Lighten Hair
To get your hair is bright as possible; you need to start with a good base. The lighter your hair is, the more intense the colour will be.
HOWEVER – you also need to be realistic about just how much bleaching and lightening your hair can cope with. It’s unlikely you will maintain the structure of your hair if you are trying to go from dark brown to blonde in one sitting and we definitely don’t advise doing this at home!
When we pre-lighten your hair in the salon, we use Olaplex to protect and strengthen the bonds of your hair, which prevents excessive breakage, keeps the moisture locked into your hair and results in less porous hair strands. Healthier hair = the colour will bleed less and is more likely to hold for longer.
2. Prepare Properly
Once you have bleached your hair, it might need some TLC to bring it back to a healthy state. Invest in some conditioning hair masks from your favourite salon or check ours out online and avoid using heat on your hair without a heat protector.
You should also learn to stretch out how often you wash your hair – see tip number four for more information.
Around 24-48 hours before you apply the dye, shampoo hair with a clarifying or non-conditioning shampoo to remove any build up on your hair and create the perfect canvas.
If you are applying the dye at home, make sure to cover everything in your bathroom with towels, pop some gloves on and apply moisturiser around your hairline, on your ears and on your forearms where you are likely to get dye; this will help to prevent the dye from staining your belongings, hands and skin as badly.
Also, remember to do a patch test or strand test before you apply Pigment AF all over your head. While Pigment AF is free from harsh chemicals and is cruelty free, you should always do a small test to see how your skin and hair will react to the dye.
3. Let It Fully Develop
Apply your Pigment AF colour evenly across your hair and let it develop for at least 30-60 minutes.
It may be worthwhile to have a friend on hand who can make sure your dye has been evenly applied and can help you apply a shower cap or some cling wrap to keep your hair out of your face.
4. Lengthen Time Between Washes
If you’re now the owner of stunning, colourful hair thanks to Pigment AF, we want you to know that dry shampoo is your new best friend.
Washing your hair regularly can strip the colour out, especially if you are using abrasive shampoos and conditioners with sulfates. Over time, your hair will adjust to your new hair-washing routine and it won’t get as greasy or ‘dirty’ as it may have before.
When you do have to wash your hair, be snappy about it and use cold water. Between washes, use a dry shampoo to keep your hair looking fresh.
5. Use a Colour Shampoo and Conditioner
A colour shampoo will do wonders for the longevity of your Pigment AF hair colour. Colour protect shampoos are designed to repair and moisturise your hair, whist locking in your hair colour for longer. At Ethan Thomas, we love to use Milkshake Colour Care Pack.
6. Turn Off The Heat
When you’ve turned the heat up with your hair colour, you have to remember to turn the heat down when you shower and when you use any heat styling products.
Heat speeds up the oxidation process of the chemicals in hair dyes and will cause your gorgeous new Pigment AF hair colour to fade faster. It will also dry your hair out and damage the structure of your hair, resulting in split ends and breakage.
7. Avoid Prolonged Sun Exposure
Much like the sun’s UV rays can cause damage to your skin; it can also cause damage to your hair. Excess exposure to the sun’s UV rays will result in your Pigment AF hair colour to fade and your hair to dry out.
To protect your Pigment AF hair colour, you can slap on a hat and use a sun protection spray on your hair before you head outdoors.
Start Colouring Now With Pigment AF!
If you’re on the hunt for the best semi-permanent hair colour, look no further than Pigment AF.
Pigment AF hair colour is a vibrant hair dye that is made to last longer in your hair, all while being cruelty-free, vegan and free of harsh chemicals!
Stock up on your Pigment AF dye today at Ethan Thomas Collection or come into the salon where we can do the hard work for you.