It’s time to get back to basics.

Who doesn’t love a great hair day? Think about how many times you’ve carefully scheduled a hair appointment around the holidays or for a special occasion. It’s a testament to how much our hair influences how we feel, both inside and out.

What people don’t realize is that professionals are sensational because of the fundamentals.
– Barry Larkin

When I need advice on skincare, makeup, or hair care, I always consult the experts—actual trained professionals. In this post, we turn again to our friend Rachel, a hair professional with over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry. Rachel shares valuable hair care tips, including how to maintain your hair color between appointments.

What are some basic hair care tips to maintain your hair color between appointments?
  • Always use professional products.
  • Wash your hair only when needed. Over washing can fade color quicker.
  • Use products with UV protection in it or cover your hair when in the sun.
Are certain colors more susceptible to color loss?

Yes, reds and deep brunettes fade the quickest. The healthier the hair the less your color will fade. Dry and damaged hair fade quickly because the cuticle is open and the color just rinses out. Proper products and regular maintenance is important to keep your color fresh and vibrant.

When washing your hair, does water temperature play a role in hair/scalp health?

Yes, hot or very warm water can dry your hair and scalp out, leaving the scalp itchy and flaky. Hot water or very warm water encourages the hair cuticle to open allowing the color to rinse out faster, as well as, leaving the hair frizzy and dry looking. Using lukewarm water is ideal and if you are brave enough, rinsing with cold water will close your cuticle leaving hair smooth and shiny.

What are the benefits of hair glossing treatments?

There are so many benefits to hair glossing. If you have never colored your hair it is a great way to freshen up your natural hair without the commitment. We often use a glossing treatment with zero pigment to tame frizzy hair and close the hair cuticle to help make the hair more manageable. You can use a glossing treatment after or in-between color services to extent your color longer.

Does your diet or how much water you drink play a role as well?

Your diet is the most important part to your hair. As a stylist I know when something is wrong with the client’s diet just based on the way the hair looks and feels. I know people don’t want to look at hair this way but hair is essentially another form of body waste. What you eat comes out in your hair. A low protein diet can cause the hair to be weak and fall out. Water is important to the health of the body. A healthy body produces healthy hair. It also keeps the scalp from drying out.

With the summer months approaching – what can people do to protect their hair (and scalp) from the sun and chlorine?

If you are someone who spends a lot of time outside or in the pool in the summer, investing in a clarifying shampoo that’s not too harsh is very important. There are different levels of clarifying shampoo so make sure you talk to your stylist about a gentle one you can use regularly.

Also use a leave in conditioner spray on your hair before going into the water. This will help to equal out your hair’s porosity so it won’t absorb too much of the chlorine water. There are a lot of products that have UV protection in them for your hair and scalp. If you have finer hair your scalp is more visible to the sun so it is essential you use products to protect it from burning.


Want to read more about Rachel or her tips/advice? Check out these other posts:

Fortino Family: It’s in the blood
Hairtellers: Sound Advice