Experimenting with color is one of the most fun ways to play around with your hair. Women color their hair for different reasons; whether you want to see what it’s like to wear purple hair for a few months, cover those gray strands, or simply want to highlight your natural color, the only limit to the fun you can have is your imagination.

However, too much coloring can have an impact on your hair’s health and can even result in hair loss. Coloring entails the use of many chemicals, some of which can strip your hair of its natural oils, resulting in lost volume over time. Here’s what you can do to protect your lovely colored mane:

1. Wait 72 hours for your first shampoo after coloring: During the coloring process, the cuticle layer is opened, which is necessary to allow color to penetrate into the shaft of your hair. Washing your hair right after the coloring appointment can result in washing your color down the drain – that’s because the cuticles are still open. It will take up to 72 hours to ensure that the cuticles are completely closed, so if you’re patient enough to wait three days, you can ensure your hair soaks up more pigment.
   
   
2. Use cool or warm water when showering: Hot showers may feel great on your skin, but this isn’t doing your hair color any favors. Switch up to cool or warm water unless you want to see your hair color go down the drain little by little. The best way to shower is to start with warm and end with cold; warm water enables the shampoo and conditioner to cleanse then cold water seals in moisture.
   
   
3. Only use shampoo and conditioner that’s sulfate-free: Sulfate is an added ingredient that helps your shampoo foam, but sulfates can be tough on color There are tons of great, inexpensive sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners out there that will help you preserve hair color.
   
   
4. Do the necessary prep: Months before you get a color job done, you can do steps ahead of time to prepare your hair and ensure it stays healthy right after it’s colored. One of the most important things you can do is to make sure your hair is hydrated and nourished. Many people find that taking hair-nourishing supplements helps them prep their hair easily and efficiently, because they are formulated with good-for-you ingredients that support hair growth through months of color.
   
   
5. Hydrate: Dryness and moisture loss is inevitable for most people after a color treatment. This can lead to hair loss. But that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to solve: use a rich hair mask once or twice a week to restore moisture to your locks while indulging your locks in an inexpensive yet effective treatment.

Modern-day hair color treatments are designed to be a lot more gentle than in the past. Still, a little extra effort will help you keep your color vibrant and your hair healthy!