Color-treated hair care: the Nicehair cheat sheet

Color = controlled damage.
Even the most gentle formulas disturb the cuticle and lipid layer.
So longevity of color is 70% aftercare, not the brand of dye.
Below — a protocol that works across blondes, brunettes, coppers, balayage, highlights.

1) shampoo only colour safe / pH 4.5–5.5prioritize gentle surfactants.
look for:

• sulfate free / SLS free / SLES free
• color safe / colour protect
• pH balanced

why: less surfactant aggression = slower pigment wash-out.

2) conditioner after every wash + mask 1–2× weeklyConditioner = cuticle sealing.
Sealed cuticle = less fading.
good ingredients:

• hydrolyzed proteins
• amino acids
• ceramides
• light oils (argan, jojoba)

3) heat protection is non-negotiableheat without protection = accelerated oxidation + dullness.
→ spray / cream heat protectant before blow-drying, straighteners, curling tools.

4) refresh tone every 2–5 weeksespecially:

• blondes → violet/blue pigment (anti-yellow)
• coppers / reds → copper re-pigment masks
• cool brunettes → acidic glaze to prevent warm brassy drift

5) wash less = keep color longersweet spot: 2–3 washes per week.
Dry shampoo is fine, but not a lifestyle — rinse out next day.

6) UV + chlorine = the biggest colour killers

• summer — use UV hair spray
• pool — apply conditioner before swimming + cap

Chlorine is brutal to blondes (can shift to greenish).

Color longevity is not “brand magic” — it’s pH management + surface management.

The color stays where the cuticle stays closed — and the hair stays hydrated, flexible, and heat-protected.