Whether we experience good news or bad news, large-scale life changes or small shifts in quotidian routine, a break-up or a job change, relief is commonly found in the reclining leather seat of a local hairdresser and usually results in the cutting of bangs and the dyeing of luscious locks.
There’s no harm in a slight outward identity shift, so long as you know how to care for your new and improved mop. We spoke with Dom Seeley, the International Creative Director of Color Wow and stylist to stars (Selena Gomez, Ashley Graham and Kendall Jenner to name but a few), for some expert insight into the damage caused by hair dye, and how to rectify it.
What are the effects of colour treatment on hair?
“Hair colour swells the cuticle layer to varying degrees depending on the strength of the developer which has been used to mix the colour,” which leaves the hair vulnerable to damage like breakage and frizz, warns Seeley. “With professional hair colour, the peroxide is your developer, and the desired outcome depends on the strength of the peroxide. 10 volume to 40 volume is universal and the lower the number, the slower and gentler the chemical reaction. This gives you a healthier and more balanced result. “If you’re bleaching, 40 volume is the most volatile of the developers. It’s the strongest, so will give you a result faster but can cause more damage over time.”
How can they be mitigated?
For all our chemical cut girls and guys, Seeley tells us that, “the best way to mitigate any damage is to always go low and slow, and ensure your prep and post-care services include deep conditioning treatments or hydrating products to bring back hair health and shine.”
Like a good therapist, products should “Calm (the hair) back to a more pH-balanced state.” Seely recommends The Color Wow Money Masque, “as it works in three minutes to strengthen and hydrate the hair, giving it vitality and lustre. You will get supple, glass-like, silky strands that are protected from heat.”
Are there any ingredients that those with colour-treated hair should avoid in products?
“Any products or formulas with sulfates included. This is because sulfate will strip the hair colour from your hair with each wash. The main ingredient to look out for is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, as it strips the hair, can be drying and can act as an irritant to the scalp and skin. It is often abbreviated to SLS or SLES.
What ingredients should those with colour-treated hair look for?
According to Seeley, “Look for avocado oils, omega-3 oils, and argan oils – all of which can be found in the majority of Color Wow products. Kale or coconut can work incredibly well too. Color Wow has an amazing range of some leave-in products called cocktails that focus on these ingredients.”
What’s the best way to avoid washed-out colour?
“My top tips would be to lower the temperature you wash your hair in, as hot water makes the hair cuticles swell and allows colour to escape. Also lower the heat of your tools, hairdryers or electricals to help stop colour fade”, he recommends. “Use leave-ins, such as Color Wow Money Mist, which works for all hair types and textures, locking in hydration whilst remaining weightless on the hair. It also contains heat protection and UV protection, so will save your hair in the sun.”
What’s your favourite conditioner for colour-treated hair?
“Color Wow Color Security Conditioner is my go-to, as it doesn’t oxidise meaning it doesn’t make hair go brassy or dull. It uses a silicon complex that hydrates, repels surface flyaways and static, and makes the hair soft and supple.”
Do you have any other top tips for maintaining colour-treated hair?
“Reduce heat and apply glosses and toners in between your appointments to refresh and enhance the tone. Opt for air drying or heatless styles whenever you can to give your hair a break from styling, and try and get into a routine of applying a hair mask 1-2 times a week.
“If you swim in chlorine or salt water, protect your hair prior as the chemicals will strip colour. If you can’t do that, then use Color Wow Dream Filter, as it will remove any harsh metals and minerals that will interfere with your hair colour. It also makes blondes, greys and platinum hues look bright and refreshed, having removed any dull residues and deposits.” No more unwanted mermaid green strands.
We’ve curated the best conditioners for colour-treated hair below. Keep scrolling for hydrating, vibrancy-boosting formulations from top brands.
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K18 Hair Damage Shield Protective Conditioner
Known for its cult-favourite Molecular Repair Mask, K18 specialise in miraculously restorative products. The Damage Shield Conditioner strengthens hair and makes it less vulnerable to damage while the brand’s signature Peptide complex replaces protein lost during washing. It’s proven to protect against UV rays, styling and environmental damage for an impressive three days after use.
Buy now £39.00, Space NK
Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner 250ml
Olaplex is one of the bestselling brands at retailers from LOOKFANTASTIC to John Lewis - and its reputation almost speaks for itself. Across the range, you will find the label’s signature Bond-Building Technology that was created to repair strands that have been weakened by a whole host of stress-causing styling.
This is the conditioner and, contrary to what the number may suggest, is not the fifth spot in the line-up of products, but new SKUs are always launching. It follows a pre-wash treatment and the shampoo to triple down on the power of its reparative complex to counteract the prevalence of split ends and flyaways and increase manageability with nourishment.
Best for bleached hair, you only need a small amount to get a glossy shine and it can even be used by those with fine locks as it is relatively lightweight.
Buy now £28.00, lookfantastic
VEGAMOUR HYDR-8 Hydrate and Repair Conditioner
The VEGAMOUR conditioner harnesses the power of a trademarked ingredient known as Karmatin. It’s a vegan silk that mimics that of keratin, a protein responsible for strength and growth. Alongside the likes of moringa seed oil, biotin and macadamia seed oil, it is intensely hydrating and clinically proven to up moisture levels by eight times in just one use.
This is just one of the many benefits of this product. It’s a creamy, thick texture that is regenerating for the strands and as such counteracts the likes of breakages and frizz, leaving a luscious shine after use. The conditioner is almost like a mask in the way that it works - especially if used for detangling - but feels lightweight in comparison. Ideal for parched strands.
Buy now £38.00, Sephora
Living Proof Restore Conditioner
Science-backed label Living Proof has the Restore Conditioner on hand to ensure that each element of the strand gets the nourishment that it needs. The lightweight product coats the locks from the outer layer to the cortex to counteract stressors. This is thanks to a specialised and patented Healthy Hair Molecule, a revolutionary ingredient in the haircare space that gives improved manageability and leaves silky soft strands with each hair wash day.
But this is not where the technology ends. It actually has a repelling quality for the likes of dirt and grime which means you can minimise the amount you wash your hair - and therefore preserve your dye and give you more time between costly salon appointments.
Buy now £29.00, Cult Beauty
Color Wow Colour Security Conditioner
Bleached and coloured hair may notice increased damage and dryness - so look to the specialists at Color Wow to restore nourishment and shine. In order to counteract frizziness, care for chemically treated tresses and enhance the vibrancy of a dye job, the Colour Security formula stars a colour-shielding Sealicon complex that prioritises a glossy appearance without weighing down locks. It has a lovely, fresh scent too and comes in two varieties; one for fine-normal hair types, and the other for normal-thick.
Buy now £21.50, Cult Beauty
Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Conditioner
This post-wash hydrator follows suit from the shampoo in the range in that it is a truly luxurious experience. You only need to look at the exterior packaging to see this but it’s something that continues even as you squeeze the contents into your soon-to-be luscious locks.
The brand combines cypress, argan and maracuja, calling on centuries-old healing oils and setting them alongside its very modern and technologically advanced bio-restorative complex. Where old meets new, it results in a hugely hydrating effect, designed to turn back the clock on damage, sealing in moisture and counteracting colour fade.
Buy now £57.00, Cult Beauty
Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner Duo
Moroccanoil places its signature argan oil at the heart of this shampoo and conditioner combination to treat the hair to its antioxidant benefits from root to tip. There are also keratin proteins mimicking those found naturally to rebuild the strength of your tresses and make your locks more manageable. The formulas are free from sulphates but still have the ability to restore shine.
Buy now £34.70, lookfantastic
Redken Extreme +2 Repair Pack (3 Products)
Redken’s Extreme range is packed with products designed to give hair the support it needs to avoid breakage and further damage. There are shampoos, conditioners, leave-in treatments, and sprays. Look out for the products designed specifically for bleached locks and those for long hair that star the supercharged vitamin biotin that plays a huge part in hair growth.
This three-pack set contains the bare necessities needed for healthy hair from scalp to ends with a powerful, intensive mask to be applied after shampooing and left for three to five minutes.
Buy now £67.86, lookfantastic
Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo and Conditioner Duo
We have long been fans of Pureology’s Strength Cure collection not only for its pleasant aroma and vegan credentials but also for its damage-fighting effects. The products are packed with essential nutrients to repair the effects of colouring and external aggressors as well as prevent future harm.
The range is made up of a shampoo, conditioner, a Superfood Deep Treatment Mask with a blend of Mandarin, Peony, and Jasmine to be used after shampooing for five minutes, and a Miracle Filler Treatment. The latter is a heat-protecting daily-use spray that leaves hair soft and smooth and gives colour a pop. There’s also a collection specifically for blondes.
Buy now £47.25, lookfantastic
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Deep-Conditioning Treatment
There’s a reason why Philip Kingsley Elasticizer is a cult and award-winning product that regularly features in ‘Best’ roundups - it just works. The formula dramatically improves damaged hair after just one application. It provides a wave of moisture to the hair cuticle with UV protection.
You will notice that your locks appear silkier and smoother with extra bounce. Before you jump into the shower, wet your hair and apply this treatment for 20-60 minutes then rinse off. Or better yet, leave overnight. Use once a week to maximise the results.
Buy now £75.00, lookfantastic
Maria Nila Luminous Colour Conditioner 300ml
The trouble with over-treated hair is not only does it dry out your strands but it can make them a nightmare to comb through afterwards too. Tugging and pulling at wet hair can damage them further leading to a vicious catch-22.
This pomegranate-extract conditioner feels like butter and comes with a colour guard complex to increase the longevity of your colour too. As a bonus, it also fights static - buh-bye frizz and flyaways.
Buy now £23.00, Sally
