Hair colour refresh: these are the best methods and products

It is not always necessary to recolour your your entire head of hair to refresh your hair colour. There are numerous ways to make your hair shine again. Through targeted care and with a few tips and tricks, the colour intensity can be maintained and the hair can appear more vibrant and shiny overall:

Special hair colour shampoos contain pigments that attach themselves to the hair and ensure that the colour is as strong as ever. You can buy such shampoos for almost any hair colour – whether brown, blonde or red. They not only provide a refreshed colour, but also moisturise the hair, giving it back its shine.

Colour masks also contain colour pigments that provide a slight tinting effect. They are ideal for refreshing faded colour tones without stressing the hair as a full head of colour can. Colour masks are easy to apply: simply apply after washing your hair, leave on for 5 to 15 minutes and then rinse out.

Shine sprays are ideal for intensifying the radiance of a hair colour – this also applies to natural hair colour. The hair immediately becomes more luminous and the colour appears more intense. What is particularly practical about these products is that they can simply be sprayed into dry hair and thus provide a fresher look without any effort.

Natural oils such as argan oil can also help to refresh hair colour and maintain colour brilliance. After all, a colour-intensive look requires moisture, which such hair oils can provide. In addition, the application of hair oil protects the hair from harmful environmental influences that can lead to colour fading and gives it a natural shine.

Tints are another great way to make your hair colour shine again. The colour then washes out again within six to eight washes, preventing colour issues with the roots. Tints provide additional care for the hair as they often contain less aggressive chemicals than permanent dyes. They are an ideal choice if you want to refresh your hair colour without making long-term changes. They also offer a gentle way to intensify the colour or add small shades of colour without damaging the hair.

Depending on the hair colour, there are different products that are suitable for refreshing the hair colour:

• Brown and black hair: For darker hair, colour shampoos with warm or cool pigments are particularly suitable for intensifying the hair colour. Colour masks with brown tones can also refresh the hair colour.
• Blonde hair: It is also possible to refresh blonde hair with silver shampoos, for example, which work against a yellow tint. A blonde refresher with bluish or violet pigments is also a good option to refresh the hair colour.
• Red hair: Colour masks with copper or red tones can make red hair shine again.

Colours fade quickly, especially in blonde hair, causing it to appear dull or develop an undesirable yellow tint. To prevent this, the right care is crucial. If you use a silver shampoo that is supposed to neutralise the yellow tint, it is important that you do not leave the shampoo in for too long. Otherwise a purple haze can appear on the hair, as it contains violet pigments that neutralise the yellow tint.

In addition, blonde tinting masks or blonde conditioners are an excellent choice to preserve the cool blonde look and moisturise and condition the hair at the same time. These products not only work on the colour, but also provide the hair with valuable nutrients that make it look supple and healthy. Regular use of deep conditioning hair masks or moisturising serums helps to protect hair from dehydration and the damaging effects of UV rays or heat styling.

Here are some more tips that can help your hair colour last longer and reduce the need for frequent touch-ups.

1. Wash your hair with colder water

The hotter the water is when you wash your hair, the worse it is for your hair. This is because hot water can cause the hair cuticle to open, which washes out the colour pigments more quickly. It is therefore recommended that you wash your hair with lukewarm or cool water to preserve the colour for longer.

2. UV protection products

UV radiation causes hair colour to fade. Although sprays or care products that contain UV protection can be used to refresh colour that has not faded, they can ensure that the colour remains intense and bright for longer and does not fade so quickly. Wearing a hat or cap on sunny days can also help to prevent your hair colour from fading so quickly – it can also protect your face, scalp and hair from the sun.

3. Don’t wash your hair so often

Every time you wash your hair, colour pigments are rinsed out of your hair, causing the colour to fade over time. If you want to keep the colour as long as possible, you should only wash your hair two to three times a week and use dry shampoo on bad hair days.

4. Use heat protection

If you like to style your hair with curling irons or straighteners, your hair might not get off scot-free. It can dry out, making the colour look dull. With a heat protection spray, you can protect the structure of your hair and ensure that your hair shines for longer and retains its colour better.