Red Hair Care

Because Merida is my all time favorite Disney character and has the best red hair EVER.

Since going red I've been asked several times how I keep it staying red. If you've ever been red, in any shade of red, you know how hard it is to keep it vibrant. The color molecules in red are larger than any other color so they are much harder to keep in your hair. Hot water, sulfate shampoo's, lots of washing all aggravate the molecules and wash that gorgeous color right down the drain.

I have been researching different tips to make this color stay and so far here's what I've been doing.

First off, I think you have got to have GOOD COLOR. I am so beyond impressed with the Clairol Flare line. I have now used it 4 different times (on friends and myself) and can't believe the color you get with such minimal damage to your hair. I swear to you, my hair is softer and shiner now than it has been in years. If you are going from super blonde to any darker color I'd highly recommend using a PROTEIN FILLER before you color.

MOISTURIZE. Dye doesn't want to stick around in dry, straw like hair. Even if it does, it won't LOOK pretty. Your split ends show up like white dots with darker hair so get regular trims and moisturize your hair. I've been using Argan Oil on the daily and deep conditioning treatments every other shampoo. Avoid hot styling tools as often as possible.

SKIP SHAMPOO'S. Get a shower cap and a good dry shampoo and stop washing your hair. I used to have to wash every single day and by the end of the day my hair still felt greasy and limp. About 2 years ago I started washing every other day and I can now go 3 days between washing my hair before it gets bad. Your scalp will adjust and your hair will thank you.

When you do shampoo, for the love of all things holy get a SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO and make sure it's safe for color treated hair. Your regular shampoo won't hold your color in. It's designed to scrub and your color is all too happy to be washed right out. Also wash and rinse in the COLDEST WATER you can handle. Right now, I'm absolutely obsessed with the Renpure Originals Argan Oil Luxurious Shampoo. It is honestly the best shampoo I've used in years (high or low end) and has transformed my parched hair into something that actually looks nice. Smells great (actually smells a lot like the original Moroccan Oil) and I can see a noticeable difference in the color of the water when I shampoo. What used to be deep orange is now barely salmon tinted. You need this shampoo like...yesterday.

Get a COLOR DEPOSITING CONDITIONER. They make the color depositing shampoo's but for my money, I feel like a shampoo is removing grime while a conditioner is already leaving moisture so having it also leave color makes good sense to me. I've been using and loving the Riveting Reds conditioner from Sally Beauty Supply. It's safe for all shades of red, but if you are lighter than a level 6, I'd be careful because it seriously DEPOSITS color and lots of it. I use this every single time I shampoo but I also use it once a week (usually on a Sunday) as a deep conditioner. I'll shower, shampoo and towel dry my hair. Once I've gotten some of the water out, I'll apply the Riveting Reds and then comb through with a wide tooth comb to make sure it's even. I pile it on top of my head and leave it on about 20-30 minutes. Be careful, this stuff will stain. Then rinse with the coldest water you can stand and you get an instant color boost and tons of sparkly red.

Crimson, Red, Auburn, Burgundy...It's all GOOD!

Ta-da! Another hair change, what's new??!!

This color has been one in the deep compartments of my brain for a VERY long time. I've always been obsessed with dark red hair. I've had the underneath section of my hair died various shades of red multiple times but could never dive all the way in and go for it all over. My dalliances with any shade other than a blonde have usually just been deep brown. Until now!

I was in Sally's a few days ago picking up some supplies and saw that they carry a new line of hair color from Clairol. My hair has always gotten good results with any version of Clairol hair color so I was interested. It's called Flare. It's a permanent cream color with a built in gloss. Sounds great...then I read the first line about Alpha-Red Technology and was like, DO IT!

sallybeauty.com

 

I actually ended up buying 6 tubes of different colors and figured I'd come up with the color recipe later. What I ended up using was 2 ounces of the 4BB (Light Intense Brown-Chocolate), 1 3/4 ounces of the 3RRV (Intense Red Violet-Crimson) and 1/4 ounce of the 5VVR (Light Intense Violet Red-Burgundy). Ounces are clearly marked on the side of the tube which makes measuring super easy. 4 ounces of the Flare 20 volume developer and apply with brush and bowl and GLOVES. For the love of all things holy use gloves!! I applied vaseline around my hairline, ears and neck, then I sectioned my hair off into quarters and applied in small, thin sections. I don't ever just flop dye on my hair and hope for the best. The neater you apply, the better your coverage. Make sure to saturate each strand and be tidy. I let it sit about an hour, on accident. I started cooking dinner in the middle of processing and kind of got distracted. Rinsed, and rinsed, and rinsed and rinsed some more with cool water until it ran mostly clear (oh my gosh my shower looked like some kind of gory halloween set.). Applied a leave in conditioner and let it mostly air dry before blow drying the final bit. I would not go to bed with this hair color wet...you'll end up with pink pillows. So definitely wash and dry before bed or wash in the morning. Also, use OLD towels for the first few washes.



Scary red on...turned VERY dark, almost black before I rinsed it off.

Makeup-free and RED! Fresh after drying and crappy kitchen lighting!

I know that from going so blonde to this color I will have some definite fade out for the first few times I touch up. I plan to combat with cool rinses, skipping as much shampoo as I can, using sulfate free shampoo and making a red conditioner. I found a recipe mixing Manic Panic with a deep conditioner and using once a week, we'll see if it helps.

So far...I am completely in love. I just feel so DIFFERENT with red hair, but it's so much fun and talk about SHINE. Blondes never get shine. It also definitely makes blue eyes POP! It's not a natural red color but also not a "punk red" or clowny red. It's a flattering unnatural shade I think.

I am really impressed with the "Flare" colors. They are thick and creamy and don't smell too offensive. It really deposited the color I was hoping for and the color is deep and rich. My hair was left soft and vibrant, I will definitely use this line of colors again and highly recommend.