There comes a time in every color enthusiast’s journey when they can’t help but wonder: Why is my hair color fading, no matter what I do? Why aren’t my ‘color-safe’ hair products working? What actually keeps dyed hair from fading?
These questions are as old as professional hair dye itself—and the inspiration behind everything we do at Colorproof. Because for as long as people have colored their hair, they’ve struggled to prolong their chosen shade. And although we can’t permanently alter your color (just yet!), our formulas are living proof that fast color fading doesn’t have to be inevitable.
From shampoo to stylers, masks to leave-ins, where drug store products fall short, Colorpoof formulas rise to the occasion by addressing the root causes of color fading. But choosing the right products is only half the battle—to maximize their performance, it’s also important to ensure your routine itself addresses the root causes of color fading, too!
Ready to revamp your hair routine for maximum color vibrancy? Here are five mistakes that fade hair color faster and what to do instead.
5 Mistakes That Fade Hair Color Fast
You're Cycling Through Too Many Random Products
When shopping for hair products, do you usually grab whatever says ‘color-safe’ at the drug store? If that label is the extent of your shopping research, odds are high you’re lathering your strands with loads of color-stripping ingredients like added salt, drying alcohols, and harsh surfactants. Because no matter what the front of the label says, the ingredient list is what determines your color retention!
At Colorproof, we always formulate with the Advanced Color Last System™, our proprietary blend of powerful proteins and potent antioxidants designed to repair, preserve, and protect against fading and environmental factors. Thanks to this system, even our clarifying Clear It Up® Shampoo supports color preservation.
But to really make the most of any color-boosting formula, remember it can take 4-6 weeks of consistent use to see results, and constantly switching hair products disrupts your hair's natural balance.
In other words, your shade will last longer if you commit to one set of products at a time instead of trying new ones back-to-back!
Pro-tip: The consistency rule is particularly important for our Biorepair® Thicken Collection. For maximum growth, use only Biorepair Thicken Shampoo and Biorepair Thicken Conditioner for at least 6 weeks!
You're Treating Your Hair Like It's Invincible
No matter how well you nurture your strands, no one’s hair is immune to external damage. And as any color enthusiast knows, heat-damaged hair isn’t great at retaining added color (to put it lightly!).
The reason is rooted in science. Heat tools cause the cuticle to swell and lift, creating gaps where color molecules can slip right through, leaking out much faster than necessary.
Think of it this way: Without heat protection, every styling session is literally cooking your color right out of your hair!
But you don’t have to give up styling tools to retain your color. Instead, take every opportunity to incorporate protection throughout your routine by choosing leave-ins and stylers that include heat shields—and don’t rely on just one formula alone!
Luckily for Colorproof customers, a wide range of our formulas protects against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit:
- Essential Leave-In
- Moisture Styling Crème
- Super Plump® Whipped Mousse
- Lift It® Mousse
- Biorepair® Thicken Blow Dry Spray
- Plush Locks Leave-In Smooth®
With multiple heat shields in place, your color will have an easier time sticking to your strands between salon visits.
Pro-tip: In tandem with heat protection formulas, experiment with lowering the temperature on your curlers, straighteners, and blow dryers.
You're Ignoring Signs of Damage
Is your color still leaking from styling, no matter how many heat protectants you use? The underlying cause might be ongoing, unaddressed damage. When your hair becomes dry and brittle, the cuticle layer—which should lie flat—starts to crack, chip, and lift, allowing color to leak away prematurely.
Enter The Recovery Collection, a line of luxurious formulas designed to nourish, strengthen, and help repair damaged or fragile, color-treated hair. Powered by the African superfruit, Baobab, this elite trio of Baobab Recovery Shampoo, Baobab Recovery Conditioner, and Baobab Recovery Treatment Spray is a fan-favorite for its regenerative, curative properties.
The result: stronger, smoother, shinier strands, creating the foundation for manageable, color-ready hair.
Your Shampoo Routine is Too Aggressive
Did you know there’s a right way and a wrong way to wash colored hair?
If you use scalding hot water, rub your strands vigorously from root to end, and shampoo when you don’t need to, you’re scrubbing away your color with each wash!
Instead, try to:
- Wash your hair with lukewarm or cool water (at least during the shampoo stage). While hot water opens up the cuticle to color leaking, cool water keeps it sealed tight.
- Focus the shampoo on your scalp rather than dragging it through your ends. Aggressive scrubbing physically abrades the cuticle layer, creating even more gaps for color to flee through, and the length of colored hair is typically more vulnerable than the roots. Gentle root-focused shampooing will maintain the cuticles, therefore preserving your color.
- Shampooing about 2-3 times per week. Although all Colorproof shampoos are safe for daily use, your natural scalp oils can support smoother color retention. Letting those oils sit for a few days helps them do their job!
If a tamer texture is your top hair goal, try Smooth Shampoo. You’ll love how it adds slip, fluidity, and effortless movement while leaving a shiny, silky finish.
You're Letting the Sun Strip Your Strands
Finally, every time you head outside to enjoy some sunshine, remember to shield your colored hair as you would your skin. UV light can penetrate your hair shaft, creating free radicals—unstable molecules that break down color pigments from the inside out.
Wearing a hat is the easiest way to shield against UV rays, but you should also apply Essential Leave-In every time you leave the house! Like SPF for your hair, it provides ongoing protection against environmental stressors while you go about your day.
To make this a standard haircare habit, think of Essential Leave-In and face sunscreen as one in the same. If you’re using sunscreen, you should be using leave-in, too!
Cheers to a new era of color preservation! Let us know how Colorproof is helping overcome color fading with a tag on Instagram and TikTok (@colorproofhair) with the hashtag #ColorproofHair.
Xx,
Colorproof
