Why Red Hair Fades & How to Keep Your Red Hair Vibrant

Lately, our Instagram feeds have been full of burgundy hair inspo and these hair looks are full of vibrancy, making us super excited! But burgundy is a complex color that will fade fast with incorrect maintenance. But when it looks good, it looks so so good! Ahead, we explore the reasons why red hair dye does fade faster than other hair color shades, and what you can do to keep hair color longer.

Why does red hair color fade so fast?  

Regardless of the color kit brand or manufacturer, the color molecules in red pigment are much larger than the molecules in other colors,  so it doesn't penetrate the cortex of the hair as deeply as other color molecules. This also means it slips out of the cuticle faster with each wash.  Even with the most talented colorists, red hair dye will noticeably fade in around three months, so the hair is looking orange or brassy.  Our factory repeated dyeing four or five times to get the red pigment to stick to the hair until it fully penetrate the cuticle and stain the hair, and through high-temperature steam treatment, the hair retains color longer, fade slowly. It's important to only use hair care products designed for color-treated-hair, and protect your strands from things like heat, chlorine, and environmental pollution.

How to prevent red hair from fading?

These tips will help you maintain your red hair in between touch-up visits with your colorist.

1. Use cold water when you wash your hair

The temperature of the water you use when you wash your hair plays a huge role in how fast your color fades. It's best to ditch the hot showers in favor of cold showers to keep your red hair vibrant. Hot water opens up the hair cuticle, allowing the color to slip out. Keep it cool to make the most of the dye job.

2. Shampoo less often

The biggest cause of red hair fading and turning brassy is over-shampooing. Water and shampoo both affect the cuticle, which causes hair color to dull. This is especially true with red hair. Hold onto your hue by shampooing as little as possible. Try to wash your red hair 2 times a week at most.

3. Condition your hair after every wash

Anytime you wash your hair, you have to re-seal the cuticle. Washing roughs it up and allows for faster fading. A sealed cuticle means nothing gets into your strand or out of it. Conditioner seals the cuticle, keeping color in and environmental aggressors that can accelerate fading out. Use a conditioner as the final step every time you wash.

4. Be gentle with your wet hair

Wet hair is much more fragile than dry hair because when it's wet, the structure of the hair strand changes. Brushing wet hair is more likely to stretch color-treated hair to its breaking point. Be gentle with your freshly washed strands and only use a brush designed specifically for wet hair to reduce breakage.

5. Use only products suitable for color-treated hair

Especially when it comes to shampoo, which can strip hair color, it's important to always use color-safe hair products. These types of products contain antioxidants, proteins, and amino acids to strengthen the hair cuticle and prevent pigment from leaking out. The Davines line of color-safe shampoos gently cleanses hair, protecting your color and keeping it shiny for longer.

6. Protect your hair in the sun

Just like your skin needs SPF to protect it from UV rays, so does your hair. Using hair products with SPF helps prevent color from fading. If you're planning on spending the day at the pool or beach, slather your strands with a UV-blocking conditioner to protect your color from fading.

How to maintain and care for dyed red hair?

The following tips will help you keep your red hair vibrant.

1. Refresh your color with a color depositing shampoo

Whenever you feel like your strands could use a refresh, swap out your color-safe shampoo with a red color depositing shampoo. Formulated with red pigments, it'll instantly revive your red between color touch-ups.

2. Use a hair mask

Everyone can benefit from a hair mask and that includes redheads. A hair mask keeps color-treated hair hydrated, which is a must for keeping hair color vibrant. To keep your red from fading, use a hair mask like The Quick Fix Circle once a week. Apply it to towel-dried hair after shampooing, leave it on for 3 minutes, comb through, and rinse with cool water.

3. Use dry shampoo in between wash days

We already told you that you should be washing your hair 2 times a week tops. This will help you hold onto your shade longer. But what do you do if your hair gets greasy on the off days? You get yourself a good dry shampoo. Look for an invisible formula, so you don't get white residue on your red.

4. Wear a hat

To protect your hair from weather that can strip your hair of moisture and leave it looking dull, wear a hat. Extend the life of your red hair (and protect yourself from UV rays) by throwing on a cap whenever you plan to be outdoors.

5. Avoid swimming pools

If you can't avoid the pool completely, avoid over-chlorination by wetting your hair with tap water and adding conditioner before you go in. Even better, stock up with a swim cap so hair is covered — any funny looks you get will be worth it when you remove the cap to reveal the appearance of gorgeous, shiny, and bright red hair.

6. Ditch heat styling

Colored hair is more vulnerable to heat than natural hair. So while heat styling is damaging to all hair, it's especially harsh on hair that's been dyed. To preserve the life of your red hair color try to avoid styling with heat. But if you absolutely must use a blow-dryer or use a flat iron, be sure to protect your hair with a heat protectant spray.

Red is the hair color of the moment. It's a complex color that is notorious for fading fast, but if you get it right, it's so pretty! There's a red for everyone, and as long as you use the right products and give your strands a little extra TLC, it can be the most amazing hair color you'll ever try. If you're thinking of trying a red wig, arm yourself with our tips and tricks to keep your red hair hot.