Red Hair Don't Care...Kinda

It's all about the RED hair!

One of the questions I get asked the most often in regards to hair and makeup is, "How do you keep your hair so red?" I think when people think of dying their hair red they think of showers of red water and faded hair. While some of that is inevitable, you can keep red hair vibrant for a long time. I have had red hair for about two years now. I know what your thinking, that I go to the salon every month and that is so not true. I go about every 2-3 months and we only pull color throughout my whole strand every other time. What that means is that every other time I go to the salon, so once every 4-6 months I get my whole head colored, the other times she just does the roots. I do that because I want my hair to stay relatively healthy...or as healthy as it can be. What that also means is that it is essential that I take good care of my color and limit the fade. I compiled a list of tips and tricks to keep your red hair RED. 

1. Color is Key: 

What I mean is that where and how your color your hair is important. I go to a salon and have a wonderful stylist who has done my hair for years. She is trained on what will look good and how to make it last. I know there are some die hard "dye at home" girls out there, but in my experience the at home colors, especially reds, do not last and a lot of times do much more damage to your hair. I trust my stylist and she know what I like. I don't honestly know what color exactly my hair is because Ashley, my stylist, creates a custom color for my hair. I know she does a little brown, a little copper, and a bright red. What is great about going to the same stylist is I can tell her I want it a little redder, or more brown and she can adjust the color. That is why the type of color you use is KEY. 

2. Dry Clean Only: 

Just kidding, obviously you have to wash your hair. Honestly though...I only wash my hair once a week. Now before you say "Gross" I do use dry shampoo a few times a week and shower every day. The less often you get your hair wet the better. Dry shampoo should become your best friend. Also it depends on your hair type. My hair is thick and course and overall very dry so I never get oily. Like never. I can go a whole week because I don't get greasy. If my sister tried to go a week her hair would be an oil slick. So wash your hair only as often as you have to. Try twice a week and see how it goes. Your hair will eventually produce less oil and you will not need to wash it as often. Spray some dry shampoo at the roots and brush it through. 

3.Cool your Jetts: 

I am literally talking about cold water here. This is one of the rules that can be hard to live by. I am not saying you need to take an ice cold shower, but you do need to get your shower as cool as you can stand, at least when washing your hair. I try to keep it pretty cool when washing my hair and warm it up for the rest of the shower. Cold water helps keep more of the red in your hair. 

4. Speaking of Showering...Get yourself some pink stuff. 

I have specialty shampoo and conditioner designed for red hair. Yes it looks bright pink. It is supposed to. It keeps my hair red by re-depositing color while I wash it. I love Davines Alchemic Shampoo and Conditioner for red hair. This stuff if bright pink so be careful. It will stain, but it will also keep your red hair nice and red. The conditioner runs about $30 a tub, but it lasts a long time...remember you are only washing your hair 1-3 times a week. I use it only once a week. If I use anything else I make sure it is sulfate free. 

5. It is all about Protection: 

When using hot tools you must protect your hair from damage. You can watch videos where people strip hair color just by flat ironing it. Yes hot tools can fade hair so protect it. I use a couple different color protectants. Put a thermal protectant in your hair before using any tools. The sun will also fade your hair. Make sure if you are going to be out in the sun you use a sunblock or styling product designed to protect your hair from UV rays. Also if I am going to be in the sun for a long time, I try to wear a hat to keep the sun off my hair.