When you’ve invested time and money into a salon colour, the goal is simple: keep it looking vibrant for as long as possible.
But between UV exposure, heat styling, saltwater dips and humidity, even the most expert dye job can start losing its sparkle sooner than you’d like. A fresh colour is at its glossiest the moment you leave the salon – after that, every wash, swim and styling session can cause pigments to fade, shift or dull.
The good news? With the right habits (and a few smart product choices), you can make your hair colour last significantly longer.
Colourists say longevity comes down to a combination of scalp health, gentle cleansing, targeted protection and understanding how your hair behaves in the Australian summer. These expert-approved strategies will help you make hair colour last, so it stays glossy all season.
1. Start with healthy hair and a balanced scalp
A strong scalp–hair foundation helps colour hold better – and for longer. As hairstylist and professional educator, Lauren McCowan explains, “Your scalp thrives when it’s clean, balanced and hydrated. That healthy micro-environment is what allows strong, vibrant hair to grow.”
She says the real enemy in summer is anything that disrupts the hair’s natural lipid layer: “UV rays, saltwater and chlorine can all break down that protective barrier, leading to dryness, dullness and faster colour fade through pigment migration.”
For everyday care, the St Louis Says Scalp Salvation Anti-Dandruff Duo, $50, helps maintain that balance. Its hydration-focused formulas support both scalp comfort and hair softness – key to keeping colour molecules locked in and reflective for longer.
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St Louis Says Scalp Salvation Anti-Dandruff Duo
$50 at St Louis Says
2. Use colour-safe shampoo
One of the fastest ways to fade a fresh colour? Harsh cleansing. According to Vincent Nobile, co-owner and colour director of Sydney’s Headcase Hair, “Using strong, high-sulphate shampoos is the biggest mistake people make after a colour appointment; they strip the colour straight out.”
Instead, choose gentle, colour-safe formulas. If you’re blonde, Hairification H24 Complex Hair Repair Blonde Shampoo, $25, is ideal for maintaining brightness without drying the fibre.
Lauren adds that wash frequency is less important than product choice: “Healthy colour depends on balance – not over washing or under washing. For most people, that means anywhere between one and four washes per week.”
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Hairification H24 Complex Hair Repair Blonde Shampoo
$25 at Priceline
3. Baby your hair for the first 48 hours
Freshly coloured hair is far more vulnerable than we often realise. Lauren explains, “After a colour appointment, the hair fibre is temporarily alkaline, which makes it more porous and vulnerable. If you style with high heat too soon, pigment can fall out before it’s even had time to lock in.”
Both experts agree that the first two days matter most, which means you should wait 24–48 hours before washing, avoid heavy-heat styling, and keep your first blow-dry low and gentle.
4. Use at-home toning and touch-up products wisely
Colour-refreshing products can be helpful – when used with restraint. Vincent is cautious about over pigmenting at home: “I don’t believe in at-home toners – they need to be applied evenly to keep the colour balanced. But coloured conditioners can help maintain the colour. I prefer those over coloured shampoos because shampoos can dry the hair out.”
For root touch-ups, he suggests temporary options. “Root powders and sprays work well for blending regrowth without causing long-term colour problems.” A product like Thanks to Nature Root Concealer, $30, offers quick, low-commitment coverage.
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Thanks to Nature Root Concealer
$30 at Thanks to Nature
If you do choose to colour at home, a gentle formula such as Done Ultimate Root Retouch Kit, $65, is the safer path – but always follow your colourist’s guidance on shade and frequency.
5. Treat UV exposure like a real threat
While being outdoors is relaxing, the sun is one of your colour’s biggest enemies. “Colour tends to fade from sun exposure and swimming,” says Vincent. “Wearing a UV hat or using UV protective products helps prevent your hair from fading in the sun.”
Lauren puts it simply: “Think of your hair the same way you’d think about fabric left in the sun – prolonged exposure fades pigment and breaks down the cuticle.”
Your best defence is consistency. Vincent advises reapplying UV protection as often as sunscreen: “I recommend my clients top up their UV leave-in spray every time they apply sunscreen.”
The TRESemmé Bond and UV Repair Serum, $23, is an easy option to shield colour while strengthening strands.
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TRESemmé Bond and UV Repair Serum
$23 at Chemist Warehouse
6. Turn the heat down on your styling tools
Heat is another major contributor to colour loss. Vincent warns, “Excessive heat causes issues with hair fading, so use tools that allow temperature regulation and use the least heat possible.”
Lauren explains that hair has a “glass transition phase” between 150°C and 190°C where you can style safely. “Once you push past 190°C, you begin to denature keratin and double the colour fade,” she says.
A high-quality styler with precise temp control – such as the ghd Chronos Hair Straightener, $475 – helps you style without sacrificing shine or longevity. Always pair your heat tools with a thermal protectant to shield pigment and preserve smoothness.
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ghd Chronos Hair Straightener
$475 at ghd Hair
7. Rethink your daily habits over the holidays
Often, it’s the smallest rituals that have the biggest impact on colour. The top three to keep in mind? Invest in a good colour-safe shampoo, apply a UV protection spray to your hair every time you use sunscreen and turn the heat down on all your hair equipment.
To really go the extra mile, swap rough towel-drying for a soft T-shirt or microfibre towel to reduce cuticle damage, rinse hair with fresh water before and after swimming to minimise salt and chlorine absorption and don’t underestimate weekly treatment masks – they maintain elasticity and help hair hold onto pigment more effectively.
