It’s normal to want to enhance your red hair. Maybe it’s fading due to age, or maybe it’s just feeling a little dull and lifeless. Some redheads may choose to enhance their natural hair color with dyes or highlights to achieve a specific shade or tone that they find more flattering or interesting. Additionally, societal beauty standards and trends can also play a role in why individuals, including redheads, may seek to enhance their natural hair. Giving your red hair more vibrancy at home is totally doable, and can be much more affordable than hitting the salon. No matter why you want to enhance your hair at home, it’s important to follow a few do’s and don’ts to make sure that you don’t end up with any hair regrets:
DO: use a glossy shampoo!
Using a non-color depositing shampoo like Finally Glossy® will give you the shine and luminosity you want from your red hair, without impacting the color. This is a great option if your color is fine, but your hair is just feeling a little lackluster.
DON’T: try to dye it yourself
If you’ve never dyed your hair before, today is not the day to try it at home for the first time. It’s really easy to mess up home hair dyeing and then you’ll have to pay hundreds to get it fixed professionally. If you’re thinking of touching up your color with permanent dye, visit your stylist.
DO: try a temporary treatment
Instead of dye, try a temporary treatment like a gloss or glaze. Redheads can look for temporary hair color treatments specifically formulated for their hair shade, like copper or auburn tones. Opt for products labeled as “semi-permanent” or “temporary” to avoid long-term commitment. It’s also wise to do a patch test first to ensure compatibility and to consider consulting with a hairstylist for recommendations tailored to your hair type and desired results.
DON’T: bleach your hair
Highlights can look really good on natural red hair and are great for enhancing your natural color. But here’s the thing, highlights on red hair mean you need to use bleach and that can go south really fast. Bleaching red hair can be particularly challenging and damaging due to its natural pigment composition. Red hair contains a higher concentration of pheomelanin pigment, making it more difficult to lift to lighter shades without significant damage. Bleaching can result in a brassy or orange tone, and the process itself can weaken and damage the hair shaft. It’s generally recommended that redheads avoid bleaching and instead opt for less damaging color treatments or enhancements that work with their natural hair color.
DO: keep your hair healthy
Enhancing your hair might sound fun, but make sure whatever you’re doing is still keeping your hair healthy. After any dye treatments, you can use a hydrating mask to add moisture. Healthy hair always looks best, so really keeping it healthy is a form of enhancement.
To keep red hair healthy:
1. Use sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners formulated for color-treated hair to prevent color fading and maintain moisture.
2. Deep condition regularly to keep hair hydrated and nourished, as red hair tends to be drier.
3. Protect your hair from UV rays with hats or hair products containing UV filters to prevent color fading.
4. Minimize heat styling and use heat protectant products when necessary to prevent damage.
5. Limit washing to every other day or less frequently to preserve natural oils and color.
6. Consider using leave-in treatments or oils specifically designed for red hair to enhance shine and vibrancy.
7. Trim regularly to prevent split ends and maintain overall hair health.
8. Drink plenty of water and maintain a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals to support healthy hair growth.
Rock it like a Redhead!
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