I commonly get asked what I do to maintain such a vibrant color in my hair, and what I often use.  “How do you do your hair?  What do you use?  Doesn’t it fade fast?  Who does it?” are questions that commonly pop up with people I’m just meeting, so I figured, what the heck, I’ll write a blog and let everyone know!

Firstly, I need to say I typically color my hair myself.  I often have my friend Tristan (also a cosmetologist) help with my cut, however it’s pretty simple to maintain on my own.  How I color my hair is relatively simple.  I use a level 3N all over (though I’m switching to a mixture of 1N + 4V), and apply this to the sides and back.  Here comes the difficult part.  I then proceed to foil all of the top of my hair.  This is because I use one inch of regrowth to be the dark color, then the rest is bleached out (I don’t have to lighten the ends since they are already lightened, so instead I just lighten what needs to be).  Once this is rinsed and shampooed, I apply Joico’s semi-permanent violet color to the lightened portions of hair.  I let this process for however long I feel like (it’s a conditioning color, so it is non-damaging to your hair), and then rinse with cool water.  I do not shampoo this out, in fact I typically don’t shampoo it for 24-48 hours after this is applied.

It also helps to sometimes use heat to help process your semi-permanent color.  A hair-dryer will work for doing this at home, anything to open up the cuticle and help the color penetrate.  I have another trick, but I don’t think it’s safe for anything except in a salon because if done improperly it can burn the scalp. 

Doesn’t it fade fast? To be honest, no.  I don’t have problems with Joico fading.  I also sometimes use Pravana, and again have very few issues.  These aren’t products that mass consumers can get, it’s not the stuff at Sally’s, it’s high-end color available to professionals.  I don’t think it’s necessary that semi-permanent colors be done by a professional, so I am honestly tempted to check the legality of me selling these online would be — since they are non-damaging hair color and kind of vital to own your own tube for maintenance!

I often will also wash my hair in the sink so that I can utilize the effects cold water has on my hair.  Cold water is great to wash color-treated hair in.  Heat opens the cuticle of your hair, making it more porous and allowing the color to fade.  Cold water will help to keep that cuticle sealed, and protect your color!  The kitchen sink is especially handy for this, due to the material it doesn’t stain as easily as a bathroom sink.  And let’s be honest, nobody likes cold showers.

I also use professional products for shampoo, conditioner, and styling products.  My favorite color care shampoos and conditioners are from Pureology.  Each line is specifically formulated for color-treated hair, and is very gentle.  My hair gets absurdly soft from using any of these products, which is why sometimes I switch over to using sulfate-free TIGI products (Rockaholic and Bed Head Superstar are my personal favorites).  They don’t make my hair as soft so I can actually style it, something that is necessary with my short hair!  I use a styling product that leaves the finish to my hair matte, so that it doesn’t look so greasy if I don’t shampoo it every day (which also helps with making your color last).

I like to keep a tube of the purple just in case I need to touch it up between sessions (which…. well, hasn’t happened yet).

Any other questions?  Leave them in the comments!

Readers, what is your favorite color to use for semi-permanent color?  Color and brand!  Sound off!