Five easy ways to maintain your highlights longer
By Alexandra Samuel,
SELF magazine
When Kelly Mickle, one of our amazing editors, mentioned she wanted to update her color, we sent her to CK, a colorist at Paul Labrecque. The result? A gorgeous (and super on-trend) head of contrasty balyage highlights that perfectly fit Kelly's personality. But, as anyone who colors her hair knows, maintaining highlights can be...well...difficult.
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1. Shower water tends to have a mix of minerals and metals which can dull or shift the color of your hair. Keep your balayage blondes bright by using a chelating shampoo once every few weeks, which cleanses the hair of heavy metals. Try Joico chelating shampoo.
2. A dose of lemongrass oil can brighten color and moisturize winter dry scalp. Lemongrass oil is a naturally beneficial hair treatment which is lighter than coconut oil and enhances the shine and color of hair. A couple droplets on towel dried hair is all you need.
3. Avoid shampooing too much with sodium laurel sulfate shampoos as these can dull the hair. If you have dry hair and dull color, try "shampooing" every other time with a light conditioner instead.
4. Avoid alcohol heavy stylers: alcohol dries the hair thus making highlights look lifeless, opt for alcohol free sprays, gels etc.
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5. All hair, especially highlighted hair, is weaker when its wet then when it's dry. Only comb hair with a wide tooth comb with conditioner or leave-in conditioner.
For more tips, check out how to Get The Perfect Haircolor, or try on a new color with the SELF Virtual Makeover tool.
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