Now that you’ve spent hours and hard-earned hundreds getting your hair to that just-perfect colour, it’s time to keep it intact for as long as possible. How you take care of your hair colour affects how long it lasts. Truth be told, we’re all guilty of committing one (or all!) of the below hair-colour sins. To make sure your new 'do lasts and your locks remain healthy, we've rounded up a few things you should avoid after leaving the salon.

Don’t trust at-home treatments

When it comes to sealing in hair colour and getting as much longevity as possible, professional-grade treatments may be your best bet. Patented treatments have been proven to seal the cuticle shut, locking the colour molecules into the hair. As every hair type and need is different, we suggest asking your stylist which they would recommend for your strands.

Avoid swimming

Activities such as working out or sweating would not typically affect a fresh colour, but swimming is a big no-no, as both salt water and chlorine will strip or alter your colour. The chlorine in swimming pools is like kryptonite to colour. It’s a bleaching agent, meaning coloured hair should stay far, far away. Blonde hair is susceptible to turning green [from chlorine] while darker hair becomes duller and loses its shine. The reason: Chlorine is attracted to the most porous parts of the hair, which would be your fresh highlights. To curb any damage to your hair during summer months and always, be sure to keep your hair protected whenever you’re outside with a good hat and sun-protecting hair products.

Steer clear of too much sun

Chemicals and chlorine are two of the more obvious colour-strippers, but there’s another huge one we often forget about: the sun. You should avoid direct sunlight for long periods of time and use an SPF designed specifically for hair. Experts always recommend a good UV spray protectant for their colour clients. Another complexion-saving suggestion: Try a hat with UV protection – it’s great for both your hair and skin.

Don’t use a sulfate-filled shampoo

Another surefire way to prematurely strip gorgeous colour? Washing with a sulfate-filled shampoo. Sulfates are what give you the suds and squeaky-clean feeling when you shampoo. Those with fresh colour should lay off the suds as much as possible. Always have a sulfate-free shampoo in your shower that you switch between, especially if you’re someone who showers frequently. This will help your colour last longer as you are not stripping the colour as often.

Avoid hot water

It may seem second nature to just hop in the shower and shampoo as usual post-colour, but freshly-coloured strands should be sure to avoid hot water. Hot water will lift the outer layer of hair colour and cause colour to fade. Instead, rinse with cold or lukewarm water, as it will help seal up the cuticle and lock in your fresh colour.

Don’t forget to stretch out your wash cycle

To keep fresh hair colour intact for as long as possible, we recommend washing your strands two to three times per week – preferably once or twice a week while in quarantine to really get into that hair self-care. If you wash your hair everyday, you are not only washing away a little bit of your colour each time, you are also washing away natural oils that are needed to moisturise your hair and scalp which keep it looking fresh and healthy.

Keep away from box dye

If you don't love how your colour came out, trying to fix it yourself with hair colour from the drugstore could end up making it much worse. Resist the urge to throw something over-the-counter onto your freshly highlighted hair. Most box dyes are permanent colours and will be more drying. Instead, have a pro do your colour correction.

Refrain from drying roughly with a towel

Scrubbing too hard can fade colour and make the ends look dry. Instead, gently blot your hair and let it air dry as much as possible.

Do protect and hydrate the hair

Colour-treated hair can get dry and brittle, especially in the summer months. Apply a deeper conditioning mask or hydrating oil treatment (coconut, avocado, or grapeseed) on processed hair to restore and keep hair strong. Leave it on for 30 minutes or overnight for the best results to maintain the quality of your hair.