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Farbe

Why the colour is gone after three washes

Red pigments are the largest molecules on the colour shelf. What that means for care at home.

10 min read

Freshly coloured hair looks best the day after the appointment. How long that state lasts is decided not in the salon but in the shower.

Pigment size decides

Red and copper pigments are comparatively large and settle only in the outer layers of the fibre. Every wash rinses some of them out. Ash and brown tones sit deeper and therefore last longer, without the colour being any better.

What actually makes colour last

  • Do not wash for the first 48 hours after colouring.
  • Rinse lukewarm rather than hot -- heat opens the cuticle.
  • Use silicone-free, sulphate-free shampoos.
  • Reduce heat when styling, or work with heat protection.

Chlorinated and salt water speed up the loss further. If you swim daily on holiday, book the colour appointment afterwards, not before.

For intense red tones we can work with a colour mask for home use. It refreshes the shade between appointments without opening the fibre again.