How to Take Care of Highlighted Hair? 10 Tips and Tricks You Should Know!
Highlighted hair is a forever popular trend that has been around for decades. Adding highlights to your hair can give it dimension and depth which looks stunning. Although hair care is generally very important, it becomes even more important when you highlight your hair recently.
To take care of highlighted hair, use sulfate-free and paraben-free shampoo, wash your hair in cool water, avoid heat styling tools, trim your hair often, protect your hair from the sun, chlorine, and saltwater, use a leave-in conditioner, avoid harsh chemicals, incorporate a hair mask, and try to use gentle hair accessories.
Want to know more? Keep reading as I will tell you some tips and tricks on how to take care of highlighted hair and keep it healthy, shiny, and vibrant.
How to Take Care of Highlighted Hair?
Taking care of highlighted hair requires some special attention and effort to keep it looking radiant and healthy. Here are some tips on how to take care of highlighted hair:
Use Sulfate-Free and Paraben-Free Products
Using sulfate-free and paraben-free products (shampoo and conditioner) is beneficial for highlighted hair. Sulfates are harsh detergents that can strip the hair of its natural oils, which can lead to dryness, frizziness, and fading of color. Parabens, on the other hand, are preservatives used in hair products that can cause scalp irritation and allergic reactions if used for a long time.
Using sulfate-free and paraben-free products can help keep your hair hydrated, soft, and healthy, while also preserving the vibrancy of your hair highlights.
Wash Your Hair In Lukewarm Or Cool Water
Washing your highlighted hair in lukewarm or cool water can help protect the color and prevent fading of highlights. Hot water can open the cuticles of the hair, causing the color to fade faster and making the hair more inclined to dryness and damage.
Always wash your hair with cool water as it can help close the cuticles, locking in moisture and protecting the color. This can also help make your hair appear shinier and smoother.
If you find it difficult to wash your hair in cool water, try rinsing it with cool water after shampooing and conditioning. This will help seal in the moisture and keep your hair looking healthy and vibrant.
Deep Conditioning Treatment
Applying a deep conditioning treatment regularly can help keep your highlighted hair healthy and sparkling. You can use a deep conditioning treatment once a week or every other week, depending on your hair’s needs. Look for a product that is specifically formulated for color-treated hair and contains ingredients like keratin, coconut oil, or shea butter, which can help hydrate and strengthen your hair.
To apply a deep conditioning treatment, shampoo your hair as usual, then apply the treatment to your hair, focusing on the ends and any areas that are particularly dry or damaged. Leave the treatment on for the recommended time (usually 5-7 minutes), then rinse it out thoroughly with cool water.
After using a deep conditioning treatment, you may notice that your hair is softer, smoother, and more manageable. Regular use can help keep your highlighted hair looking its best and prevent fading.
Avoid Heat Styling Tools
Avoiding heat styling tools can help preserve the color and health of your highlighted hair. Heat styling tools such as flat irons, curling irons, and hair dryers can cause damage to your highlighted hair, leading to dryness, and faded color.
If you must use heat styling tools, just make sure to use a heat protectant spray to minimize damage. You should also use the lowest heat setting possible and avoid using the tool on wet hair, as this can cause even more damage.
Also, it is always better to style your highlighted hair without using heat styling tools. To style your hair without using heat, you can try air-drying your hair or using alternative styling methods such as braiding or twisting your hair while it is damp. Moreover, there are also a variety of styling products available, such as mousses, gels, and styling creams, that can help you achieve your desired style without the use of heat.
Trim Your Hair Regularly
Trimming your hair regularly is important for maintaining healthy and shiny highlighted hair. Trimming your hair every 6-8 weeks can help prevent split ends and hair breakage, which can lead to dryness and damage.
When you get your hair trimmed, always communicate with your stylist about the type of cut you want and how much hair you want to be removed. This can help ensure that you get the desired results and maintain the shape and style of your hair.
Regular trims can also help prevent your hair from looking dull and lifeless, as they can help remove any damaged or faded ends and keep your highlighted hair looking healthy and shiny.
Avoid Prolonged Exposure to Sunlight
Avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight is important for maintaining healthy and vibrant highlighted hair. The sun’s UV (Both A and B) rays can cause damage to your hair, leading to dryness, breakage, and faded color.
To protect your hair from the sun, you can wear a hat or scarf to shield your hair from direct sunlight. You can also use a leave-in conditioner or hair oil that contains UV protection to help protect your hair from the sun’s harmful rays (which I will discuss later).
If you plan to spend a lot of time in the sun, you should also avoid washing your hair beforehand, as this can strip your hair of its natural oils and make it more susceptible to damage. Instead, wait until after you have spent time in the sun to wash your highlighted hair. But do not wash your highlighted hair on a daily basis! Here’s why.
Don’t Wash Your Hair Every Day
Never wash your hair daily if you want to maintain healthy and vibrant highlighted hair. Daily washing can strip your hair of its natural oils, ultimately causing dryness, breakage, split ends and faded color.
Instead, wash your highlighted hair every 2-3 days, or as needed depending on your hair type and lifestyle. If you have an oily scalp, you may need to wash your hair more often but try to avoid using harsh shampoos that can strip your hair of its natural sebum.
On the days that you don’t wash your hair, you can use a dry shampoo to help absorb excess oil and refresh your hair. This can help you go longer between washes without compromising the health or appearance of your highlighted hair.
Use a Leave-In Conditioner
Applying a leave-in conditioner on highlighted hair is a great way to help keep your hair healthy and hydrated. Leave-in conditioners are formulated to provide extra moisture to your hair, which can help prevent dryness and damage, particularly in highlighted hair.
To use a leave-in conditioner, shampoo and condition your hair first, then towel dry your hair to remove any excess water (Don’t rub your hair too hard as the friction can damage your hair). Apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner to your hair, focusing on the ends and any areas that are particularly dry or damaged avoiding the scalp. Be sure to gently comb the product through your hair to ensure even distribution.
Leave-in conditioners are available in a variety of formulas, including sprays, creams, and serums, so you can choose the one that best suits your hair type and needs. Look for a product that is specifically formulated for color-treated hair and contains ingredients like coconut oil, argon oil, jojoba oil or shea butter, which can help hydrate and strengthen your hair.
Using a leave-in conditioner regularly can help keep your highlighted hair looking its best and prevent damage and breakage. It can also help make your hair appear shinier and smoother, making it easier to style and manage.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Avoiding harsh chemicals is essential for maintaining the health and vibrancy of your highlighted hair. Chemicals like sulfates, parabens, and ammonia can remove natural oils from your scalp, damage the hair cuticle, and fade the color of your highlights.
To avoid harsh chemicals, look for hair care products that are labeled sulfate-free, paraben-free, and ammonia-free. These types of products are gentler on your hair and can help preserve the health and color of your highlighted hair.
You should also be cautious when using styling products, such as hair sprays, gels, and mousses. Some of these products can contain harsh chemicals that can dry out your hair and lead to damage and breakage. Look for styling products that are formulated specifically for color-treated hair and are free of harsh chemicals.
When you visit the salon for touch-ups or new highlights, always communicate with your stylist about the products and chemicals they will be using on your hair. Ask about gentler alternatives, such as ammonia-free hair color or natural hair care products, to help minimize the risk of damage to your hair.
Apply Hair Mask
Applying a hair mask is a great way to keep your highlighted hair healthy, hydrated, and vibrant. Hair masks are formulated to provide deep conditioning and nourishment to your hair, helping to repair damage and restore its natural shine.
To use a hair mask, start by shampooing your hair and rinsing it thoroughly with lukewarm water. Then, apply the hair mask to your damp hair, from the roots to the ends. Use a wide-tooth wooden comb to evenly distribute the product through your hair.
Leave the hair mask on your hair for the recommended amount of time, which can vary depending on the product. Some hair masks are designed to be left on for just a few minutes, while others can be left on overnight for maximum benefit. Be sure to follow the instructions on the product label for best results. Now, rinse your hair in lukewarm water to remove the hair mask thoroughly.
Bonus Tip: Limit Your Use of Hair Accessories
People ask me, How to take care of highlighted hair? The simplest way is to limit using hair accessories for a short period of time. Why? Let me explain. Limiting your use of hair accessories can help keep your highlighted hair healthy and prevent damage. Hair accessories like elastics, clips, and headbands can cause tension and friction on your hair, leading to breakage and damage, particularly in highlighted hair that is already more delicate and prone to damage.
If you do use hair accessories, opt for gentle and non-damaging options like soft hair ties or scrunchies made from materials like silk or satin. Avoid using tight elastics or hair ties with metal parts that can get caught in your hair and cause damage.
When wearing headbands or other hair accessories that require tension to stay in place, try not to wear them for extended periods of time. Give your hair breaks in between wearing accessories to help prevent damage and let your hair rest.
Another thing to keep in mind is to avoid using hair accessories that are dirty or have rough edges, as these can also cause damage to your hair. Be sure to clean your hair accessories regularly and inspect them for any signs of wear or damage before using them on your hair.
Final Words
All in all, for those wondering, how to take care of highlighted hair? Well, the process is a little time-consuming but totally worth it. To take care of highlighted hair, it’s important to wash your hair in cool water, apply deep conditioning treatments regularly, avoid heat styling tools, trim your hair regularly, protect it from the sun, use a leave-in conditioner, and avoid washing it every day. By following these steps, you can help prevent damage, split ends, and color fade, keeping your highlighted hair looking stunning for longer!
Also Read: Can Hair Oil Go Bad? Unveiling the Truth About Hair Oil Shelf Life!
FAQs
How to Moisturize Highlighted Hair?
Using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for colored or highlighted hair can help in moisturizing your highlighted hair. Also, using a hair mask with ingredients like avocado or coconut oil once or twice a week can deeply nourish and restore moisture to your highlighted hair.
How to Keep Highlighted Hair From Fading?
Limiting exposure to the sun and using a UV-protectant spray can help prevent fading of highlighted hair. Additionally, avoid using hot tools too often and consider getting regular touch-ups to maintain the vibrancy of your highlights.
Is it Okay To Wash Hair After Highlights?
Yes, it is generally okay to wash your hair after getting highlights. However, it’s important to wait at least 24-48 hours before washing your hair to allow the color to fully set. This helps prevent the color from fading or washing out too quickly.
