Why Red Hair Color Fades Fast and How to Maintain It

Heat is red hair’s No. 1 enemy. In particular, hot water swells up and opens the scale-like cuticles protecting each strand of hair. This lets the hair dye escape, resulting in faded red hair. Washing with lukewarm or cool water seals up the cuticles to keep your color inside the strands and lasting longer. Also, don't be a shampoo fiend: two or three times per week is ideal.

When it comes to heat styling your red color-treated hair, Slatterly says, “Use in moderation” and recommends “avoiding heat tools like straighteners or curling irons, or even your blow dryer.” These and other styling tools like flat irons can strip color, dry out your locks, and lead to red faded hair. We know it’s not always easy to skip the hot tools, so be sure to apply a heat protectant product like Flat Iron Perfector as a shield against damage.

Pro tips:
• Tie your hair up in a towel to let it air dry, then wear it out in beachy wave or up in a ponytail or braid.
• If you do use a hot tool, give your hair a break with next day with a simpler style like a ponytail or topknot.

Even in the winter, it’s helpful to manage exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Add a hat and scarf to your look as a barrier between your hair and the environment. Since there is less moisture in the air in winter, Slattery recommends opting for deep hair treatments throughout the season. Deep conditioners lock in moisture and help hair look healthy. Slattery says deep conditioning color-treated hair is important, “especially one week before you’re ready to recolor.” This also applies in the summer. Look for UV hair sprays and remember to wear a hat or scarf to protect your red locks.

Slattery also advises redheads that less is more when it comes to summertime water activities. “Less contact with water” is one way to help maintain color pigment, says Slattery. Before diving into a chlorine pool, Slattery recommends you “wet your hair with tap water and condition your hair.” This simple step helps protect hair color because “your hair acts like a sponge, soaking up the tap water so less chlorinated water gets in,” says Slattery. No time for a pre-pool rinse? Cover your hair. “A swim cap really helps, especially if you’re swimming laps often,” she says. Post-swim she says to “act quick after chlorine exposure”: rinse hair thoroughly and wash with a color-safe shampoo.

Pro tips:
• Stick bottles of color-safe shampoo and conditioner in your beach bag so you won’t forget to take a rinse.
• Stock up on swim caps so your hair is totally covered. It's much better than if your red hair washed out.

If your red hair faded before reading this guide, it's not too later. There are some surprisingly effective color refreshers and root touchup products out there designed to reboot your red before your next dye job. Try Red Garnier Color Retouch, an ammonia-free formula that only takes 10 minutes to work.