How to take care of your post coloured dry hair? – My Hair Diary

It has been 6 months since I got my dry hair coloured. The reds are the worst as they fade the fastest. That is how Katrina Kaif managed to spend 55L on the Chinar-esque shade she got which I absolutely fell in love with. My red lasted for 3 months and since then my hair is chocolate brown which is not too bad if I can say so.

In the long run, I can also claim that my dry hair is doing pretty well after the intensive chemical treatment it went through. But, yes, the post coloured dry hair care is an intensive process. You can  let it go for even a week. I do slip off quite a many times and make up for it by getting a hair spa! Anyways, let me share what I did and did not do which you should do.

How to take care of your post coloured dry hair?

Shampoo less but not too Less

I have noticed in the past one year that my hair behaves best when washed on alternate days. The more I go without washing, more hair falls. Find out the optimum time your hair behaves well without shampoo and stick to that. Two should be good if you have normal hair but three is good for both oily and dry hair.

It is a myth that dry hair should not be washed often. The more you go without washing, more it tends to get dry. Instead, wash and condition regularly. And, remember, keep your scalp clean all times. Use clarifying shampoo once in a while.

Hot Oil Treatment

My stylist had warned me not to apply oil and I followed his advice. In hindsight, it was a bad decision. Oiling is extremely important as it leaves a lovely sheen on hair and makes your color look great. Give yourself a hot oil massage once a week. One hour before wash is enough. I would not recommend an overnight treatment as I have found that dry hair gets drier if oiled for a long time.

My favourite is any authentic Ayurvedic oil, especially neelibrigandi. You can also mix coconut with almond. Never apply coconut oil alone on hair as it can be drying for hair because of its high protein content.

How to apply? Never heat or microwave the oil. Pour it in a bottle and put it in hot water. Leave for 10 minutes and then apply directly from the bottle. This works best.

Condition and Deep Condition

Splurge on really good conditioners and hair masks which protect your hair even after the color fades off. These products last really long so they are not as expensive in the long run. The professional range products have all the good chemicals for your hair so do not worry. You could also get organic brands which are equally popular these days.

Leave on the hair masks for 20-30 minutes on freshly washed hair. Wash off and voila, your hair is better than ever. Getting monthly hair spas is a great option if you are lazy or have slipped up in your deep conditioning routine but yes they can get expensive.

Home remedies

There are tonnes of home remedies for dry hair if you google. My favourite is a concoction of  aloevera and hibiscus. It cleanses and conditions the hair at the same time. You can use less of shampoo and protect your color as well.

Also Read :
Aloe vera Hibiscus Hair Pack
Natural Shampoo-cum-Conditioner

Ingredients

• 2-3 hibiscus flowers
• 8-10 hibiscus leaves
• 1 leaf aloevera or 2 tbsp aloevera gel

Method

• Boil hibiscus flowers and leaves in a litre of water.
• Reduce till the water becomes 250ml.
• Strain and cool.
• Mix aloevera gel.

Your DIY is ready. Apply this mixture on scalp and cover hair. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes. Massage and wash off. You need not use a conditioner. Let it air dry.

These are my tricks for keeping my coloured and dry hair in good shape. What do you do?