Hooked on Dyeing Hair Like a K-pop Idol? Here are 6 Ways to Maintain Your Hair Health

It’s true what they say, once you lose the black, you’ll never go back. On purpose, at least. Dyeing hair to electric rainbow hues is a massive trend perpetuated by celebrities and influencers, including your favorite K-pop idols. Can you even count how many times Jimin or J-Hope have dyed their precious locks? It’s seriously addictive, not to mention liberating and cool. However, it also causes irreversible hair damage every time.

This is why hair dyeing fans always swear that they’ll stop coloring their hair. Years of bleaching and chemical treatments can take their toll on your hair cuticles and follicles, causing them to become weak and eventually too brittle to even stay on your head. If you still want to keep dyeing your hair, you can help it out by practicing these hair care habits.

The most damaging step in dyeing hair is bleaching. Still, you need it if you want to achieve bold, electric hues such as flamingo pink, purple, or midnight blue. Through oxidation, bleach strips the hair of any pigment, leaving it looking almost platinum. This process dramatically raises the hair cuticle (the scale-like surface of the hair shaft) so that the bleach can travel to the cortex and oxidize melanin.

The hair cuticle doesn’t return to the way it was after coloring hair or bleaching. It will never fall flat again. The more you color, the more raised your hair cuticles will become, preventing them from retaining moisture. Hence, hair becomes dry, rough, and brittle.

A weekly deep conditioning mask can help restore moisture to your strands. Look for intensely moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil to help seal the moisture in for a bit longer.

Every time you wash your hair, a little bit of pigment goes, too. It returns to the state of your hair cuticles post-coloring and how it becomes less and less capable of holding anything in with every coloring treatment. No matter how “clean” or “organic” your hair products are, washing your hair will inevitably cause color fading. The fact is, it’s not the ingredients in your shampoo that strip the pigment — water and hair damage are to blame.

The solution? Wash your hair less often. If you wash your hair twice a day, try doing so only at night. If you wash it once a day, try to do it every other day instead. Washing your hair less frequently will allow your hair to keep the color longer and retain more moisture.

The National Institutes of Health notes that color fading stems from hair dye solubility in water and not any particular ingredients in shampoo. However, this doesn’t mean that the type of shampoo you use will not matter. Choosing products for colored hair can contribute a lot to your hair health and its appearance.

TRESemmé Pro-Color Series Color Radiance Shampoo, for example, works well with browns, reds, and warm tones by depositing the same pigments into the hair cuticle with every shampoo. Hair color washes out, but this product puts it right back. It also contains jojoba oil, which helps seal in moisture and leaves your hair smoother and shinier.

TRESemmé Pro-Color Series Blonde Brilliance Shampoo, on the other hand, maintains the brilliance of blonde shades by depositing purple pigments to neutralize brassy tones.

The International Journal of Trichology notes that the primary function of conditioners is to leave the hair soft and smooth after the cleansing detergent (shampoo) strips it of its natural oils or sebum in the process. It makes conditioning essential to hair care since every time you take away moisture from your hair, you must put some back in. Otherwise, it will get dryer and dryer over time.

Condition your hair after every shampoo to replenish lost moisture. It will also soften your hair and add shine to keep your hair color looking fresh and vibrant. Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Repair & Shine Ultra Conditioner combines the benefits of three keratin products to revive frizz and revive damaged locks. Massage on the hair, concentrating on the ends, which tend to be dryer. Rinse well after one minute.

Heat protection is also essential for color-treated hair. Heat, whether it comes directly from the sun, from the water in your shower, or from your hair styling tools, can make your hair look dry and brittle.

Even if you don’t dye your hair, avoid subjecting it to high heat by showering with warm — not hot — water. You could also try airdrying your hair occasionally instead of using a blow-dryer to let it rest. Direct heat from the sun also dries out your hair, so if you’re expecting lots of sun exposure, try to wear a hat or a stylish scarf, or use an umbrella to give your hair some protection.

If you love dyeing hair like your favorite K-pop idols, make sure to help it out by practicing these hair care habits. Do these daily to avoid further dryness and damage, while keeping your hair color vibrant for as long as possible.