How To Prevent Your Dye Job From Fading

Maintaining highlights takes effort, and the time and cost are factors that certainly don't make going lighter anymore seamless, but it's actually not that hard for a brunette to go lighter. What's actually really difficult? Finding ways to prevent blonde hair from showing through brown dye. Yes, fighting off your bright locks is about as problematic as trying to keep makeup on in the pool (and I'm not talking the waterproof kind!).The struggle is real, ladies and gents.

Semi or demi permanent dyes are great (I mean, if you hate it, it rinses out eventually!), but there's a flip side if you love it — it rinses out eventually. If you already have dark hair and are just going darker, the fade out won't look as obvious, but if you're naturally light and bright (or artificially — once that pigment is stripped from your hair, depositing dark dye over it doesn't make you a natural brunette again!), you'll definitely notice your dark color lightening over time as you wash it. And that never-ending battle of dye, wash, and fade is not a fun one.

Here's a handful of tips to help keep your dark color rich and bold.

1. Don't Wash It As Often

It's obvious, but the more you wash, the faster the color will fade and blonde will pop through underneath, so wash as infrequently as you can. Plus, there's tons of other benefits to not washing your hair often.

2. Use A Sulfate Free Shampoo

Bumble & Bumble Sulfate Free Shampoo, $28, Amazon

When you do lather up, make sure you're using a sulfate free shampoo to clean without removing your color.

3. Try A Color Depositing Product

Aveda Shampoo, $40, Amazon

A color depositing shampoo or conditioner lightly deposits color with each wash to help keep your color rich and shiny. It's important to note that this isn't a substitute for hair dye. It will only extend your time between salon visits, not replace it!

4. Beware Of The Sun

L'oreal EverPure, $7, Amazon

The sun might darken your skin, but it's definitely going to lighten up your hair. If you're going to spend prolonged periods in the sun, always put on a hat and/or spray your hair with a UV protectant. Your hair needs sunscreen, too!

5. Deep Condition

Kerastase, $30, Amazon

Dry, brittle hair won't hold color as well, so make sure you're doing a weekly hair mask with a deep conditioner to keep your hair moisturized and healthy.

6. Cool Off

Hot water can cause color to fade, so wash with warm or cold water if possible.

Images: Big D2112/Flickr; Kerastaste; Amazon; Aveda; Bumble and Bumble; Piotr Marcinski/Flickr