TOP 10 TIPS FOR YOUR MOST GORGEOUS RED

When they said Orange is the New Black, they were a few shades off.  Nowadays, it seems like all the rage in Hollywood is beautifully rich and vibrant red hair.  And who can blame that?  When you find your perfect red, copper, or strawberry, you feel like a million bucks!  However, when you go red, you quickly learn one painful truth on your first wash: all your precious red can wash so easily down the drain.  Fortunately there’s hope!  Gorgeous red hair is here to stay if you’re armed with these Top 10 Tips from our expert colorists at eSalon.

Tip #1

MAKE DRY SHAMPOO YOUR SECRET WEAPON

When you go red, you realize your mortal enemy real fast.  WATER.  Water fades red hair like no one’s business; it’s just the nature of the pigments in the red family.  The solution?  Wash your hair as little as possible.  For some, this may sound dirty.  But that’s where your new best friend comes in: Dry Shampoo!  When used properly, dry shampoo absorbs oil at the scalp and extends the time you can space out your shampoo-washes.  Plus, one of the best dry shampoos in the market is none other than eSalon’s Without a Trace!  Not only does it absorb oil, but it has moisturizing panthenol and vitamin E, which cares for your scalp and adds shine to your red.

Tip #2

USE COLD WATER

When it does come time to wash, always remember to use cold water.  Cold water seals the cuticle down, which in turn holds color molecules in the hair better.  Avoid hot water.  When hot water is used on the hair, it opens up the cuticle or outer layer, allowing color to escape.  Nothing is more painful than watching your beautiful red color escaping down the shower drain.

Tip #3

USE COLOR-ENHANCING PRODUCTS

Forget 8 glasses of water a day because when you go red, it’s color-enhancing products that you need to survive.  Fortunately, eSalon makes two of the best ones around: Tinted Love and Devoted to Hue.  These color-enhancing treatments deposit red pigments onto your hair and keeps your red vivid and bright.  The more you use them, the more effective they will be.  Regularly adding these products to your hair routine will keep your red always looking rich.

Tip #4

FOLLOW YOUR PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

When you color red, following personalized instructions will be most crucial.  This is because when hair color is applied incorrectly, the mistake shows most obviously with redheads.  In a worst case scenario with straying from instructions, you end up with red roots and brown ends.  If that’s the case, let your colorist know right away.  If you need to refresh the red on your ends or even if you simply have questions about your application, your eSalon colorist is always happy to help.

Tip #5

DEEP CONDITION YOUR HAIR

The richness of your red is strongly affected by one important thing: the condition of your hair.  For red at its shiniest, deep conditioning is crucial.  eSalon’s deep conditioning treatment, Deeply Invested, is a nourishing hair mask that’s packed with moisturizing agents like shea butter.  Always deep condition your red the day before your color application and at least once a week thereafter.  Doing so consistently will make your hair soft and reflect multi-dimensional color.

Tip #6

LIMIT SUN EXPOSURE

Red hair enemy number 1 is water.  Red hair enemy number 2?  Well, that’s sun.  Although red hair looks gorgeous as it shimmers in the sunlight, don’t get too comfortable.  The sun’s powerful rays will soon fade your red and bring out brassy tones.  But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to be a red-haired Dracula avoiding the sun!  All you’ve got to do is arm yourself with a chic sun hat to protect your locks, and you can bask under the sun all you want!

Tip #7

DAMPEN HAIR AND CONDITION BEFORE POOL PARTIES

Once summertime pool parties hit, you don’t want to miss out on all the fun.  Unfortunately, chlorine is red hair enemy number 3.  Chlorine can wreak havoc on your beautiful color, bleaching out your red and changing the tones.  An ideal situation calls for you to wear a swim cap or avoid chlorine altogether, but what kind of pool-party-pooper is that?  The next best option is to at least dampen your hair with tap water first and apply a conditioner before touching pool water.  Doing this will keep the chlorine out of the inner layers of your hair and protect your sensitive color.

Tip #8

PAY ATTENTION TO PRODUCT INGREDIENTS

Think of all your hair care products as your arsenal to combat premature fading.  And one thing you’ve got to do is ensure that your arsenal is 100% color-safe.  Therefore, with every hair product you own, take great care to study its ingredients.  Does it contain sulfates or parabens?  If so, steer clear, as those ingredients will cause fading.  To be extra safe, use eSalon’s arsenal of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products, all of which are color-safe, sulfate-free, and paraben-free.

Tip #9

USE A GLOSS

Part of the price you pay for being a gorgeous redhead is that you need to refresh your all-over color more frequently than your brunette and blond counterparts.  To make sure your red is refreshed properly, use a Color Enhancing Gloss, which your eSalon colorist will especially create to be a part of your color application.  Glossing will refresh and enhance your red tones while ensuring glimmering and even color from your roots to your tips!

Tip #10

USE LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER TO PROTECT

The products you choose to style your red hair is significantly important.  To put your best red forward, you want to choose products that have UV protectant properties and adds shine.  Leave-in conditioner is one product that’s a must-have for maintaining red color.  eSalon’s Perfect Ending is an excellent choice that not only moisturizes the hair but protects it against color-fading UV rays.

When you choose to go red, you’ve got to understand that you’ve chosen the most-high-maintenance color of all that requires much more care in order to maintain its beauty.  But if you employ these Top 10 Tips, you’ll soon find that being a gorgeous head-turning redhead is more than worth it.