Caring for Color-Treated Hair

My balayage was crafted by Brianna at Citrine Salon, an oasis for the blondes of the Hudson Valley. According to Style Seat’s pricing data, full balayage appointments can cost between $76 and $452 on average. I don’t know about you ladies, but I pay closer to the expensive end of the spectrum both in New York City and upstate New York.

Purple Shampoo

First and foremost, ask your colorist for product recommendations. Don't assume you always need purple shampoo. For those of you who don’t know, now you know that it’s a special shampoo that contains a purple pigment to neutralize brassy, yellow tones on lighter hair. There’s also blue shampoo, which is a cleansing toner that helps to keep brunette hair cool and ashy. In case you do need either one, here’s my preferred purple shampoo by Verb and blue shampoo by Matrix.

Just a quick tip from my last visit, you don’t need to use these special shampoos every time you wash your hair. I chatted with Brianna, a Master Hair Artist over at Citrine that I’m proud to call my stylist, about how often you should use purple shampoo. And it turns out… “It depends on how often you wash your hair.” If you wash once a week, then throw in some purple shampoo every other week. Brianna explained, “You should only use purple shampoo every couple of washes because it can dry out or overtone your hair, turning it a funky greyish-purple color.”

Something else I learned… Because purple shampoo is considered “depositing” (not a cleanser), you still need a regular shampoo to actually clean your hair. Be sure to use a sulfate-free shampoo first. Then, use a little bit of purple shampoo and finish with a moisturizing conditioner.

Damage Control

Make sure you mask often to prevent any damage post-treatment! Your locks can get a little dry after getting colored, or any sort of chemical treatment really. Amika has some great “clean” moisturizing treatments for your hair that are sulfate- and paraben-free. Another recommendation… Join the Olaplex cult with me and try their bond builder — Olaplex No. 3 Hair Repair Perfector.

Maintain Moisture

Keeping your mane moisturized could require daily maintenance. I use a little bit of hair oil every day to keep my hair moist, but it also helps lay down any flyaways. Try Olaplex’s No. 7 Bonding Hair Oil or Bread Beauty Supply’s Hair Oil Everyday Gloss, which won Allure’s Best of Beauty award in 2020. Both of these products are available at Sephora.

Your Next Appointment

Keep up with your appointments so you can maintain your color. A balayage is easier to maintain than having to deal with constant root touch-ups. Here’s a quick tip from a trendy millennial working in Corporate America… Bring your laptop with you, so you don’t feel stressed about taking time away from work.

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Please note that I’m not a hair care professional and I got most of my info in this blog post from my basic beauty knowledge and a Google search. If you have any questions about the info provided here, ask your local hair stylist and drop some knowledge for us in the comments below!

This is an IG reel from earlier this Summer showing off my new locks. And here are some more tips on caring for blonde color-treated hair from the girls over at Somewhere, Lately. Stay blonde, my friends! xoxo

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