How to Maintain Blonde Hair: Your Essential Color Care Guide
Celeb stylist Chris Appleton, the man behind hundreds of A-listers' chameleon hair color changes, has a firm belief, “Everyone should go blonde at least once in their life.”
The beguile of blonde hair, from Gaga icy platinum to girl-next-door deep honey, never loses its appeal. But one thing is true for this ever-popular hue...
Whether you were born with natural blonde hair or count on your colorist to create your perfect shade of blonde, taking care of fair hair requires a dedicated blonde hair regime to keep the color fresh, light, bright and keep the hair strong and supple.
Here at Color Wow we have a wealth of experience when it comes to understanding how to keep blonde color beautiful and how to keep bleached hair healthy.
We rigorously vet ingredients in our formulas to screen out any substance that could darken, discolor or in any way adversely affect hair color, contribute to fading, or compromise the condition of the hair.
Today, we’re sharing our 10 most important blonde hair tips to help you keep your color bright and beautiful.
Is Blonde Hair Hard to Maintain?
Maintaining blonde hair, especially if it's dyed, is definitely more challenging than caring for darker hues. Colored blonde hair is susceptible to dryness, damage, and color fading, often necessitating a more detailed and regular maintenance routine.
Environmental factors such as sun exposure, chlorine, and hard water can also lead to brassiness or an unwanted green tint. So, blonde hair might require more effort to maintain its color clarity, healthy elasticity and shine.
According to Dr. Joe Cincotta, Color Wow Chief Chemist and VP R+D:
Bleaching breaks down hair’s protein bonds which makes strands weaker and opens the cuticle layer which makes hair porous and dehydrated.
Repeated color processing means cumulative damage, so every time you renew your blonde color, the process makes your hair a bit more fragile, prone to damage and breakage.”
How to Keep Blonde Hair Healthy: 10 Top Tips
1) Use a Color-Safe, Sulfate-free Shampoo and Conditioner:
These products are formulated to gently cleanse without stripping away color, helping to extend the life of your blonde.
Our Color Security Shampoo and Conditioner range is suitable for all hair types - both colored and non-colored!
- Color Security Shampoo is the only 100% clean, sulfate-free shampoo that leaves no residues behind that can dull or darken blonde hair. Unlike most shampoos, every ingredient rinses off for optimal clean, fresh hair and scalp.
- Color Security Conditioner (available in fine-to-normal and normal-to-thick) paves the way for easy detangling and weightless hydration. It won't oxidize and turn blonde hair yellow or brassy so your color stays glossy and bright.
See why the Color Wow Dream Clean Duo is your ultimate solution for truly clean hair below:
2) Add a Toning Foam to Your Routine:
Our Color Control Purple Toning + Styling Foam is a no-mess alternative to purple shampoo that can be used on wet or dry hair to neutralize yellow and brassy tones instantly.
Watch Kristen’s video for more info:
3) Deep Condition Regularly:
Color-treated blonde hair is especially prone to dryness. A weekly deep conditioning treatment works wonders on all hair types, but is critical for overprocessed blonde hair to replenish moisture and strengthen hair strands, keeping them resilient against breakage and environmental stresses.
Our pick? Chris Appleton’s Money Masque - your 1-step-prep for luxe, super healthy hair, that can be used once a week or every three shampoos.
4) Protect Against Heat:
Heat styling can further damage vulnerable blonde hair. When it comes to safeguarding fragile strands with the right heat protectant before using tools like straighteners or curling irons, Color Wow is the go-to brand for blondes!
We deliberately build heat protectant properties into every single conditioning and styling formula we make so that there is no need to apply another thermal protectant formula.
You can also opt for “heatless” styling to benefit the condition of your blonde hair. Try reducing the use of harsh drying methods, such as blow-drying on high heat. Instead, gently pat your hair dry with a soft towel and let it air dry as much as possible.
5) Trim Regularly:
Even the healthiest hair is prone to split ends, especially when it's colored.
Regular trims, every 6-8 weeks, can prevent splits from worsening and help maintain the shape and health of your hair.
6) Avoid Chlorine:
Chlorine can cause significant damage to blonde hair, leading to dryness and discoloration.
Rinse your hair with fresh water before and after swimming, and if possible, wear a swim cap to protect your locks. Discover more tips on how to protect your hair from chlorine here.
7) Adjust Your Water Quality:
Hard water, which contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, can leave deposits on your hair, making it dull and causing your blonde to look brassy.
Installing a shower filter that softens water can protect your hair from these mineral deposits, keeping your blonde hair bright and preventing it from becoming dry or discolored.
You can also apply a mineral remover like Dream Filter to your hair to strip out some of those color-distorting minerals in just 3 minutes!
Watch Connie’s guide to using this product below:
8) Stay Hydrated and Eat Well:
Proper hydration and nutrition are foundational to healthy hair.
Ensure you're drinking plenty of water and consuming a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals like biotin, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids.
9) Limit Sun Exposure:
Just like your skin, your blonde hair is susceptible to damage from the sun's UV rays.
Excessive exposure can dry out your hair and cause your color to fade or turn brassy. Before heading outdoors, consider applying a leave-in conditioner or hair spray with UV protection.
10) Avoid Metal in Hair Accessories:
Metal clips and elastic bands with metal parts can snag and break hair, and some metals may even react with blonde hair, especially if it's chemically treated, leading to discoloration.
Opt for silk scrunchies, plastic hair clips, or fabric-covered elastics that are gentle on your hair.
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When it comes to blonde hair maintenance, it’s all about sticking to a few key habits. If you always use a gentle color-safe shampoo, avoid products that contain color-warping ingredients, if you don’t skip or skimp on conditioning, and if you limit sun exposure, you're setting yourself up for success.
Simple steps like these can make a big difference, helping to keep your blonde color bright and your blonde strands strong and resilient.
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For more color care tips and tricks, check out some of our other articles:
