Why is my colour bleeding and what can I do to stop it in its tracks?

Your colour's started to fade, and you can't get to the hairdressers for several weeks... No worries: here's why it happens and what you can do to keep your colour fresh for longer.

Reasons why a hair colour will bleed

Hair colours that bleed quickly lose their vibrancy in a few weeks and require frequent touch-ups. This could be caused by 3 main culprits: 

• The hair dye is of poor quality or has not been properly applied.
• Your haircare treatments aren't the right ones.
• You regularly use heated appliances (straighteners, hair dryer…) that weaken the hair shaft's cuticles. 

Does colour bleed out when you first wash your hair? Don't panic, this is completely normal. You're just flushing out the excess pigments, and it won't affect the final colour in any way. These pigments are easy to clean off and won't stain tiling or bedlinen 

Tips for keeping your colour for longer

Here's the good news, it only takes a few simple steps to keep your hair colour looking fabulous for longer! Here are our tips for keeping your beautifully-dyed mane shiny and healthy for longer.

Protecting your hair from the elements

To prevent your colour from fading, you'll need to look after the hair shaft so that its cuticles remain closed and and as smooth as possible. 

• Protect your hair from the sun by applying a protective UV filter treatment and wearing a hat.
• Avoid chlorine and salt water and wash your hair immediately after having a dip in the pool or sea.
• Avoid low-quality products that contain parabens, silicones, PEG or other substances that cause long-term damage to hair.
• Use warm or cold water in your shower/bath and use heated appliances as little as possible.

Use appropriate haircare products

Hair dyes work by opening the hair shaft's cuticles so the pigments will bond. This process tends to leave hair duller and more brittle, especially when preceded by bleaching. Applying a protective treatment will help to preserve your colour, strengthen the hair shaft and leave your mane silky-soft and shiny.
What's more, treatments specially formulated for dyed and highlighted hair are enriched with active ingredients that fix pigments, so you can show off your colour for longer.

The ideal haircare routine for dyed hair

Coloured hair has very specific needs and if you want your colour to maintain its healthy shine until your next until trip to the hairdresser's, so you'll need to lavish it with appropriate treatments. Here is the ideal haircare routine for a colour that lasts.