This summer, I got my hair bleached lighter than I ever have before. While I’ve tentatively dipped my toe in hair lightening in years gone by, this time round, I went for a few levels brighter than my usual. For my balayage appointment in July, the base was blonde and then toned to a gorgeous warm light brunette. It was the perfect summer hue, and I was, and am still, obsessed with my look. However, it does take a lot of maintenance to upkeep not only the tone but also the colour itself.
It’s a known fact that when you have your hair coloured you have to adjust your wash routine to protect the colour and maintain the integrity of your hair. I did this by swapping my regular moisturising shampoo-and-conditioner duo for a colour-protecting set and trying to be diligent with my hydrating treatments. However, that wasn’t enough. Although the colour-protecting shampoos and conditioners would stop my balayage looking orangey week after week, the pigment would still fade from my locks to the point where I basically had blonde streaks. Yes, ’90s chunky highlights are back, but this was not the vibe I was after; my colour started to look blocky and not at all as seamless as my colourist created.
Before using the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask.
The problem is I wasn’t prepared to have to go back to the salon every couple of months to get it re-toned. It wasn’t so much the cost factor—although this was pricey—it’s also the effort of going. I picked balayage because it’s the lowest-maintenance colour, and this wasn’t in my plan. So I started exploring colour-pigment conditioners. They work by including semi-permanent colour in the formula along with hydrating and remoisturing ingredients to enhance colour and texture. Over the months, I have tried so many, but the one that has kept a permanent spot in my shower is the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask
The salon-quality formula includes a fusion of amino acids, apricot kernel oil and argan oil for stronger-feeling, healthier hair, and the colour pigment is so strong my highlights instantly look more luxe. Every three washes, I swap my regular conditioner or mask for this one, applying from root to tip. As it sits on my hair, I take a wide-tooth comb and gently detangle, leaving it on for about 10 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. I use the shade cocoa, but there are seven to pick from, including a vivid blue, rose gold and natural champagne.
After using the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask in Cocoa. When using any colour pigment conditioner, there are two things that you need to remember. The first is to wear gloves if you are worried about staining your hands or nails, and the second is to keep it away from white tile grouting. I’ve made this mistake before, and it’s taken a lot of product and elbow grease to get out. Another colour pigment mask I love is the Josh Wood Colour Gloss. It’s slightly runnier than the Moroccanoil mask, but the pigment is just as great, so it’s a good alternative for finer hair textures that don’t need the thickness of a creamier mask. Plus, the vibrancy lasts for up to six washes.
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This shampoo is completely free of sulphates and silicones if you are looking for something gentler on your lightened strands.
Aloe vera and coconut water are the lead ingredients for this shampoo, making it more hydrating than most other shampoos.
Perfect for Afro and curly colour-treated hair, this shampoo contains a patented fibre-strengthening complex to shield textured hair from irreparable damage.
Have hair extensions? This one’s for you. It contains Japanese amino-fortified complex, which helps to soften hair as it cleanses but doesn’t strip.
With lychee extract, okra-seed extract, vitamin E, sunflower-sprout extract and moringa-seed oil, this shampoo is packed with nourishing ingredients to maintain hair health as it protects colour. Next up, the best hair colours for thin hair.
