I have been doing balayage for several years and every time I leave the salon I feel like my highlights are bright, golden and beautiful. But, inevitably, after a few shampoos, blonde hair seems to stop popping and feels softer. So what is given? Will the highlights fade away after leaving the salon? I spoke to a hair color expert to find out if highlights are actually fading, or if I've completely lost my mind. To my relief, my eyes were n't playing mind games with me.
There's nothing more frustrating than loving your hair fresh out of the salon and watching it fade and change with every wash. I've always heard that color fades, but highlights, which bleach your hair and strip it of its natural pigment, don't. Obviously, I was confused and decided to go straight to the experts. Celebrity colorist and eSalon Color Director Estelle Baumhauer sheds some light on the process, and it turns out your highlights are guaranteed to be more vibrant the day you go to the salon and actually fade over time.
But don't stress, because there are things you can do to help ease the process, you just need to be aware of what's actually happening.
1. The highlights of the first day can be brighter
If you feel like your highlights do "pop" more in the salon, it's due to the toner your colorist used. "Depending on the type of toner your stylist uses, highlights can be made brighter and more vibrant right in the salon. The right toner can cool platinum blonde hair or add buttery blonde color to warm brunette hair," Baum Hall said.
2. Toner fades
Highlights not looking too bright after a few washes? You won’t go crazy—that’s because toner doesn’t last forever. "Unfortunately, toners only last a few shampoos, and when they are rinsed out, highlights may look muted or dull. This can make the overall color look less fresh than when the customer first left the salon," Baumhauer said.
3. Tinted shampoo helps
Tinted Love Color Enhancement Treatment , $15, eSalon
Don't worry, you don't have to schedule a salon appointment whenever your toner fades, you just need to use a tinted shampoo to help maintain your color. "I recommend using them twice a week, or as needed, to refresh your complexion, maintain vibrancy, and help adjust your highlights during salon visits," says Baumhauer.
4. Your highlights will also fade
Just because they aren't all-over color doesn't mean the highlights won't fade easily. But it's not that the color is washed away, it's that the color is oxidized. "As your hair color fades, you'll start to see warm or brassy undertones, which can make the color look dull and lackluster," says Baumhauer.
5. Take precautions to minimize oxidation
Heated Thermal Protection Spray , $14, eSalon
If you use the right product, like a heat protectant mist, it can actually help prevent oxidation. "To prevent oxidation, additional steps should be taken to protect hair from environmental, chemical, and mechanical damage," says Baumhauer.
Want more beauty tips? Watch the video below and be sure to subscribe to Bustle's YouTube page for more tips!
Images: Amazon; E-Salon; Getty Images (4)
