If you read my previous blog about color fading and were left saying "Jes, I follow ALL of your directions, and my hair color is still fading!" then this is the post for you. In that previous post, I mentioned three specific reasons your haircolor may still be fading.
2.) Your hair is unhealthy, porous, or damaged.
3.) You're going too long between color appointments.
This post is going to address the second problem: Your hair is unhealthy, porous, or damaged.
So let’s talk about what healthy hair looks, feels, and acts like.
Healthy hair depends somewhat on your natural body chemistry and hair texture. My hair, at its healthiest, can still be frizzy if I am not styling correctly.
Typically, healthy hair will have a luster and a shine to it. Shine is more easily seen on darker hair colors, but some blondes can look shiny as well (though usually not without a product like this). Healthy hair will feel soft and will be harder to break than damaged hair.It will stretch a bit when wet, but should return to normal with no snapping or small broken bits. Typically, healthy hair will be easy to brush and not tangle easily (though there are certain hair disorders that have nothing to do with any of this.)
If you hair is not damaged, a typical service, be it extensions, highlights, color, or even texture services like perms, keratin treatments, and relaxers, your hair will respond well to the service with little to no damage incurred.
So what does unhealthy hair look, feel, and act like?
I want to say that’s an exaggeration, but it kind of isn’t. Unhealthy hair is dry, brittle, and stiff. It lacks luster and shine, and it’ll snap off if you look at it wrong. It won’t respond to styling well, and chemical services are a terrible idea.
Many times, a person’s hair will become so damaged it will break off on the ends and will end up shrinking up in length. Extensions may seem like the perfect solution for this, but depending on they type of extensions utilized, they can cause more damage in the long run. No extension method is going to outright tell you that their method may not work for everyone, or may cause damage to some hair types, so it’s super important that you do your research. (More on that a little later.)
How to maintain healthy hair
There’s a lot that goes into keeping your hair healthy, but I’ll make another big post about that later. For now, here’s a brief overview.
All hair starts out healthy. Your hair grows out from your scalp, so think of your scalp like the soil for your hair. Little things like drinking enough water and eating well can have a really positive effect on your scalp and hair health.
Maintenance is easier than repair. Keep that in mind when selecting a cleansing system. Your shampoo and conditioner should be a professional system recommended by your Artist. You should be using a deep conditioning mask at least once a month, as well as Olaplex No. 3. Blow drying and heat styling should only be done once or twice a week and always with heat protectant.
Make sure to select an Artist that you trust when it comes to hair color and extensions. Education makes all the difference when it comes to extensions and hair color, and undereducation can become a major issue when it comes to the health of your hair.
How to Get Unhealthy Hair
Some of the easiest ways to destroy your hair are the simplest. Blow drying and heat styling daily can cause the most damage the fastest. Wearing a ponytail in the same spot daily can cause breakage. One of the biggest causes? Putting hair up while wet! The hair stretches back to the ponytail but is restrained so it can’t return back. This will cause severe breakage over time.
Chemical damage is also a big culprit. Over-lightening, pulling color or lightener through your ends every time, perms and relaxers, can all damage your hair beyond repair.
I Got Damaged, Now What?
Now, it’s time to pause all chemical services until your hair is in better shape. Olaplex treatments will be your best friend. Olaplex will help rebuild your hair from the inside out. I recommend starting with Olaplex stand alone treatments and deep conditioners at least once a month until your hair feels better. You may need a haircut as well. The best thing to do? Let me know! I can recommend and perform several different treatment options to help you heal your hair!
Is this why my color is fading?
It could be! Perhaps you’ve had some chemical damage, perhaps you’ve accidentally damaged your hair with heat at home. If your hair is damaged and porous, your hair cuticle is open and the color molecules are more exposed, causing your color to fade more quickly.
The best way to make sure your color stops fading so quickly is to invest in your hair’s health with routine Olaplex and deep conditioning treatments.
You can also protect your hair color by investing in Natural Beaded Row hair extensions. Adding in extensions can alter your color so you don’t have to damage your natural hair as much. Natural Beaded Rows is the least damaging extension method available, and I am proud to be in the DKW Styling Academy. I am consistently training in the method of Natural Beaded Rows to ensure that I am the best Artist I can be. I'll be traveling to California (safely of course) in March to have an in-person intensive session so my work will be amazing!
Ready to reserve your Natural Beaded Rows or Couture Color appointment? Click here and I’d be happy to reserve a virtual consultation for you.