The Budget Fashionista

There are a million and one products on the market to help haircolor last and look vibrant, but what really works? I’ve used Tresemme Color Lock Spray, which I think really helps—and is really inexpensive—but lately I’m lucky if I can find it at all (the last time I saw it was on the shelves at Big Lots for 99 cents a bottle—not a good sign).

I love coloring my hair but hate when it fades out before I’m ready (or want to shell out the bucks) to go get it colored. Anyone have tips on a product or products that will help haircolor last?

try using Herbal Essence “Color Me Happy” its rather inexpensive, and it is available in drugstores and supermarket (ex. CVS, Stop and Shop, Target...) good luck.

I love Garnier Fructise color shield conditioner. In general, any ingredients that end in “cone” are forms of silicone, which can weigh down hair, but this conditioner has “amodimethicone,” which helps to hold and maintain color.

I’ve got red highlights, which are notorious for fading quickly, and I like the John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze line. The best advice I have for keeping color vibrant is to avoid washing your hair often, and use a dry shampoo between washings to keep things fresh.

This is going to sound a little “out there,” but it works.

I have naturally curly hair, so I follow the care routine outlined in the book Curly Girl: The Handbook. That routine has me washing my hair with water, conditioner, and my fingers, not with shampoo. It leaves my hair and scalp clean, but still moist. My curls have never looked better. Plus, I used to have flare-ups of dandruff, but since I started this routine, I haven’t had any flaking whatsoever.

One other perk of this routine- my red color doesn’t fade as fast.

I’ve heard about that routine, it’s nice to hear that it works. I’ve always wanted to try the no ‘poo method (cleansing with baking soda and rinsing with apple cider vinegar), but I haven’t been able to get over the idea of the oily 6 weeks before your scalp adjusts. Did you experience anything like that with the Curly Girl routine, Machazait? I’m curious. Thanks :)

I didn’t have any oiliness, but I did have a little itching for the first few weeks. The book said that there might be some itching because the scalp is responding and asking for more moisture. I’m not sure if the itching was my scalp wanting more or my psyche expecting itch from what the book said. Either way, the itch stopped.

It happens that I started this routine when I was in the middle of post-partum hair trauma, and the routine worked wonders. Even my post-partum hair began bouncing back and looking great.

One more thing… As an Orthodox Jew and a married woman, I keep my hair covered. It’s not always easy. But one great perk is that it protects my hair, along with the color in it. Whether it’s a religious issue or not, wearing a hat or some other covering outdoors does protect hair and hair color.

Interesting. Thanks for the feedback on that, I’ll definitely check it out!