How To Keep Brown Hair From Fading

by POPSUGAR Beauty 11

All this week I'm giving tips on how to keep hair color looking full of life. I've got you covered already, redheads, and brunettes, you're up next. Whether you're a light toffee shade or a bold espresso, brunettes have lots of options. Besides the obvious color-keeping strategies of using a color-safe shampoo like Matrix Biolage Color Care Shampoo ($17) and Matrix Biolage Color Care Conditioner ($16), wash the hair less often, and rinse with cooler water to help lock in the color molecules. For more advice on caring for brown tones, read more.

• Color enhancers: To enrich brown tones on natural or colored hair, try a color enhancing shampoo and conditioner such as Pantene Pro-V Brunette Expressions Intense Hydrating Shampoo ($6) and Pantene Pro-V Brunette Expressions Intense Hydrating Conditioner ($6).
• Add glaze: For a shiny lift between colorings, try a color glaze such as John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Luminous Color Glaze in Chestnut to Espresso ($10).
• Brassless: If you aren't feeling the lovely brassy shades that sometimes occur as brown starts to fade, remedy it with a blue conditioner, which helps counteract unwanted warm/reddish tones. Try Aveda Blue Malva Conditioner ($17). You could also try a special temporary, non-ammonia color that lasts through 28 shampoos, formulated to ward off brassiness: Clairol Natural Instincts Brass Free Brunettes Non-Permanent Color in Light Brown 6C ($9.50) Clairol Natural Instincts Brass Free Brunettes Non-Permanent Color in Medium Brown 5C ($9.50).
• DIY: Make about four to eight cups of strong black coffee, and let cool. Shampoo hair like normal, wringing out excess water. Rinse coffee through hair, let sit about 15-20 minutes, and rinse out.
• Add more natural: Here's a trick I like to use to prevent fading. Whatever hair color I use, I always blend in a little natural brown base to give my brown extra holding power. If using L'Oreal Color Gems Haircolor Gold Copper Brown ($6) for instance, do a 50/50 blend with L'Oreal Color Gems Haircolor Light Natural Brown ($6) added in to soften the golden copper.

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