Getting your hair professionally colored is an investment, albeit a worthwhile one - the perfect shade will make you feel your beautiful best, but achieving it (and maintaining it) takes time, patience and money. After spending hours and a small fortune at the salon, the last thing you want to do is wash your money and hair color down the shower drain, so follow these preventative measures to help keep your hue looking vibrant, longer:

Use Natural Shampoos & Conditioners  

Most shampoos that you would buy off the shelf in a drug store contain harsh ingredients and surfactants that will strip your color; thus, choose hair care products that are color-safe, paraben and sulfate-free, and are specifically designed for chemically treated hair. Check out our line of natural Shampoos and Conditioners for every hair type.

Salt’s a Beach

Think about how thirsty you get when you eat pretzels, chips or other salty foods—that’s how your hair feels when you go swimming in the ocean. The salt water can strip and dull your color, so either avoid getting it wet in the ocean all together, or rock a beach hat. If you do decide to take a dip, make sure you rinse your hair in cold water after you get out, and use an more intense conditioner to battle additional dryness.

Hat’s On

If you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time, make sure you wear a hat. The sun’s rays are so strong that nothing else can prevent it from attacking your scalp and your hair’s texture, which will leave it dry and damaged. (I’m not a fan of sun spray for your hair—just go for the hat.)

Pool School

When I was a kid, my grandmother would apply almond or olive oil to our hair before we jumped in the pool; a leave conditioner or a deep conditioning mask (links to ours) can also act as an extra-protective layer from the chlorine. Additionally, always rinse your hair with cold water once you’re done swimming.