Approved by the top hair colorists in the business

Get thee hair to the kitchen, stat.

Whether you just spent half your rent money on a killer dye job, or your entire Sunday morning on a five-step hair-coloring kit, your emotional response will be the same: This shit better last. Sadly, it won't (even most permanent colors start fading within six weeks), but that doesn't mean you can't help slow the inevitable decline with a few hella cheap DIY tricks.

I'm talkin' magical Kool-Aid mixtures, booze-filled rinses, and fruit-filled masks, all vetted and approved by the top hair colorists in the business. Get ready to push that salon appointment back a month.

Vodka

Perfect for your next boozy Friday night in, since, hey, you've already got the vodka out, right? "Mix a half-cup of vodka with four cups of hot water and pour it over your damp hair, avoiding your eyes," says celebrity colorist Aura Friedman. "The warm vodka will help remove chlorine and mineral deposits that can cause your color to fade faster."

Apple Cider Vinegar

"Once a week, mix a capful of apple cider vinegar with three cups of warm water and pour it over your wet, freshly shampooed hair to seal in color and add shine," says Friedman. Rinse it out, then follow with your usual conditioner.

The Trick: Ketchup

<p>"If you're swimming in chlorine too much and your hairâany shadeâturns green, try using ketchup all over your strands to neutralize it. Warning: Very pale blondes may turn a little beige." âMarie Robinson, colorist at Marie Robinson Salon</p>

Yes, the idea of slathering ketchup on your head sounds gross, but it really, truly works. "If your hair turns a little green after swimming in chlorine, try raking a handful of ketchup through your hair (wet or dry) and letting it sit for 15 minutes to neutralize the green and keep your color from fading," says Marie Robinson, colorist at Marie Robinson Salon. "Very pale blondes may turn a little beige, though, so tread carefully."

Cocoa Powder

Brunettes and auburns can reverse summer fade by enhancing their color with a cocoa powder–based mask. Just mix a tablespoon each of cocoa powder, yogurt, honey, and apple cider vinegar and apply it to your recently shampooed hair, leaving it on for 20 minutes before rinsing out.

"The natural acids in these foods will help each strand absorb the cocoa pigments to make the results more pronounced," says Julie Gabriel, author of the Green Beauty Guide.

Chamomile Tea

<p>"Brew a pot of chamomile tea with a few drops of lavender oil, then add three tablespoons of honey and let it cool to a lukewarm temperature. Pour it over your hair and leave in for five minutes. The chamomile gives blondes a nice golden tone, while the honey makes hair super-shiny and the lavender oil soothes the scalp." âVictoria Hunter, Whittemore House Salon</p>

I know this story seems like a big ruse to punk you into pouring your favorite condiments and beverages on your head, but these classic kitchen ingredients, like tea, really do work. "Brew a pot of chamomile tea with a few drops of lavender oil and three tablespoons of honey, then let it cool to a lukewarm temperature," says colorist Victoria Hunter of Whittemore House Salon.

Pour the mixture over your freshly shampooed hair, leave in for five minutes, then rinse and condition as usual. "The chamomile and honey restore your dye's original shine and any golden tones, while the lavender oil helps soothe your scalp," she says.

Some Oily Eggs

<p>"Mix raw eggs, olive oil, and vinegar into a hair mask, and keep it on for 30 minutes to help color shine." âZoe Wiepert</p>

We're gettin' into real DIY territory now, but if your hair color has turned dull and blah, this hair mask is the quickest way to restore it. "Mix two raw eggs with equal parts olive oil and white vinegar, then apply it all over your dry hair," says colorist Zoe Wiepert. "Keep it on for 30 minutes (to help your color really shine), then rinse it out thoroughly."

Carrots and Berries

<p>To prevent fading from sun exposure for redheads, Gabriel <a href="http://www.wholeliving.com/134636/diy-hair-color-booster?czone=b&center=136762&gallery=136724&slide=134636" target="_blank">also recommends</a> creating a hair mask with blended carrots and berries (she says cranberries work best for brassy undertones). Mix the blended fruits and veggies into a paste of yogurt (it allows the natural ingredients to seep into hair) and honey (which locks in moisture) and apply to hair after a shampoo. </p>

Anyone with bottled red hair knows that once you find a shade that works for you, you'll do anything to keep it from fading. Which is where fruits and veggies come in, says Gabriel. Purée a handful of carrots and raspberries (which cancel out brassy undertones) with a dollop of yogurt (which helps the pigments better penetrate your hair) and honey (which locks in moisture) in a blender until smooth. Then, apply the mask to your damp hair for 15 minutes before rinsing out.

Source: br.pinterest.com

Previous article Next article

Recover password

Create my account

SUBSCRIBE