So, you decided to take the plunge. You don't want to be just blonde or brunette and basic red isn't your style. No. Not you. You're more of the rainbow, mermaid, unicorn type. You opted for a fashion color.
You sit for hours at the salon, lifting out old hair color or lightening your natural. Your tresses get blow dried, then the mystical bold colors come out.. now you're getting excited.
Finally, you have the end result! A fun, bright, no-one-has-time-for-boring-hair, hair color! But, fashion colors are typically direct dyes. That means, the color molecule doesn't mix with your natural hair color like permanent dyes do. It rests on the cuticle layer. This is why your stylist has to 'pre-lighten' your strands. Pre-lightening opens up the cuticle so the direct dye can stick to the hair. After your color process, it important to keep the cuticle shut down so the direct dye molecules can't escape. 
If you go home and treat your hair like it was natural, you may end up stripping your hair of all that hard work and money! Here are a few tips to keep your color fresh!
1) When you wash, only use COLD water. Hot water opens up the cuticle and your color will go right down the drain.
2) Shampoo with sulfate-free, salt-free shampoos. I highly suggest ColorProof's Baobab Shampoo and Condition . This system is so gentle, and strengthens your hair. (Remember, your stylist pre-lightened your hair. You need to replace proteins and moisture that is lost!)
3) Only shampoo when you NEED to. Even with the best shampoo, each time you lather up, a little bit of your color comes out. (Watch out for your light colored towels and pillow cases.. they make become as colorful as your hair.) But, don't think you have to walk around with dirty, stinky, colorful hair. Dry shampoo will become your best friend. I like ColorProof's Dry Spell ColorProtect Dry Shampoo. You'll fall in love with it because it doesn't leave a powdery residue. It also protects your color from fading!
4) Every time you use a hot tool (blow dryer, curling iron, flat iron... etc.) use a heat protector! Heat opens up the cuticle. I have seen color literally disappear after one pass of the flat iron.
5) Find fun ways to show off your color. Dirty hair make great up style hair! Use that to your advantage. 6) It's important to blow dry your hair after you get it wet. If you hair is left to dry from its wet state, the water fills up with pigments and can stain your skin, clothes, and anything else it touches. Good news, by using a heat protector while blow drying, you will be sealing in your color!
Long live your color and many great hair days to you!
Here's some Fashion Color Inspiration:
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