How to take care of highlights

It’s true what they say about going blonde; my lighter, brighter hair color changed my whole personality. In fact, I now identify as a natural blonde. As such, keeping my hair color looking its best through at-home highlight maintenance is one of the most important parts of my beauty routine.

According to Rita Hazan, colorist to blonde stars like Beyoncé and Sydney Sweeney, if you don’t take care of your highlights at home, they won’t maintain their glow. “Highlight maintenance is so important for several reasons,” says Hazan, who also does my color. “First, you want to keep your hair healthy. Second, you want to keep vibrant color all the time.”

Another consideration: Highlights sensitize your strands, which means they require an extra dose of nourishment, says colorist Jeannetta Walker-Rodgers. “It’s important to use products that care for both the inside and outside of the hair, strengthening the overall structure of the hair and preserving its integrity,” she says.

From prioritizing humidity to using at-home color options, here are all the steps you can take to keep your highlights bright and vibrant between appointments.

Use color-safe products

To start, it’s essential to use color-safe products that won’t dull or compromise your locks. “They won’t strip hair color or contribute to longevity,” says Walker-Rodgers, global technical director of hair care brand Joico, and recommends the brand’s Defy Damage line with that in mind. Another foolproof strategy? “It’s essential to use the professional at-home products your stylist has recommended,” she says.

Deep State

“People often think their hair is damaged when in reality it’s just thirsty,” explains Hazan, emphasizing the importance of deep hydration. “It just needs a hydrating conditioner, then it plumps up again. “Recently, I fell in love again with an old trusty product, Design Essentials Almond Butter. Express Instant Moisturizing Conditioner ($14). I apply it for five minutes and it makes my hair incredibly soft.

Keep Purple/Blue Shampoo Use Minimal

Purple and blue shampoos work by depositing temporary color on strands to neutralize unwanted brassy tones, i.e. yellow and orange hues. But Hazan and Walker-Rodgers note that they should be used very sparingly.

“I’m not a big fan of it because people overuse it, and then it dulls the hair,” says Hazan. “If you use them once a month, that’s more than enough.” Walker-Rodgers adds: “If you use them often, it’s time to consult your colorist for a maintenance gloss or toning service.”

Try a tinted gloss at home

Over time, your hair color will inevitably lose its shine. Using a sturdy tinted hair gloss adds a touch of shine and color to your locks to keep them vibrant. Hazan compares a gloss to a nail polish top coat. “You get a manicure, and at first it’s shiny and the color is vibrant,” says Hazan. “Then, towards the end of the week, your manicure oxidizes and becomes a little dull, so you put a top coat on it to bring it back to life.”

A gloss does the same thing with your hair. “Every time you wash your hair, if you’re in the sun or if you have minerals in your water, your hair oxidizes,” she says. “A gloss adds shine to your hair, and if you have a colored gloss, it will add a touch of tint, a little bit of color.” After shampooing and conditioning, apply the gloss, leave it on for a minute and rinse. “It doesn’t take time,” says Hazan.

She recommends the three glosses from her eponymous line. “There’s one that’s clear and gives you full shine and a little conditioner; then there’s Sunkiss, which will give you a tan, more buttery yellow; and then Breaking Brass, which will take away the orange or reddish color of your hair.

Always use a heat protector

“Heat can destroy hair, especially highlighted hair,” says Walker-Rodgers. “Overheating can leach hair tone, create brassy highlights, and also cause toner longevity issues.” So keep the heat to a minimum, for example, literally turn down your irons and always use a heat protectant. “You should use a heat protectant product before putting any type of flat iron or curling iron on your hair, especially after getting highlights,” adds Hazan.

Don’t Touch Up Your Highlights Too Often

The less you can use a color service, the happier and healthier your hair will be. Opt for your touch-up every three to four months, “or less often — if you can push it, push it,” says Hazan. “If you have to do highlights every four to six weeks because your roots are growing out, then it’s time to do a single process.” She suggests lightening your overall base. “Something has to change. You can’t highlight every four to six weeks. It’s too hard on your hair and it will break.”

Be careful of hard water

Hard water deposits minerals and metals on the hair, which can make it dull, dry, brittle, etc. And if you have well water, “it can turn hair orange or green depending on the minerals in it,” says Hazan. If you live in a place with hard water, invest in a shower filter or commit to regular detoxes, as long as you have a place with soft water to do this detox. detoxification. “If you’re considering detoxing, do it somewhere with a different water type. At the gym, your friend’s house, or anyone who doesn’t have the same water type,” says Hazan.