How to make natural hair dye last longer

Freshly dyed hair has a beautifully rich shade. But with every wash, the colour can gradually fade and lose its intensity. If this happens to you often, a few tweaks to your hair care may be all it takes to make your shade last much longer.

Why does natural dye fade over time?

Natural pigments don’t settle into the hair the way synthetic dyes do. They coat the hair fibre from the outside and wash out little by little with every wash. That’s why the colour doesn’t disappear overnight but fades gradually.

What makes colour fade faster?

How quickly the colour washes out depends mainly on how soon after dyeing you wash your hair, how hot the water is, and how much you expose your hair to sun or heat from blow-drying or straightening. If you want your shade to last as long as possible, focus on a few simple steps:

• wait at least 48 hours before your first wash after dyeing,
• wash your hair with lukewarm water instead of hot,
• before dyeing, wash your hair with a vitamin C detox to remove build-up so the colour takes better,
• if you have dark hair, treat it to the nourishing Amla Voono mask once or twice a week,
• if you spend a lot of time in the sun or straighten your hair often, reach for a protective product.

Have lighter or grey hair? Consider pre-pigmentation. It won’t make the colour last longer, but it will help you get a richer, more even result.