Simply put, the best way to keep your hair color vibrant for as long as possible is to choose a shade close to your natural tone. For example, if your natural hair is relatively dark, warm colors tend to last longer, while cool shades fade more quickly. On the other hand, if your natural hair is lighter, such as dark blonde with an ashy tone, cool colors like beige tend to hold well, whereas copper or honey blonde shades may fade faster.

That being said, hair coloring is all about enjoying shades you don’t naturally have! In that case, pre-lightening or toning with a slightly deeper shade after regular coloring can help maintain a rich color for longer. While it may initially appear darker, it will fade beautifully over time. A double-process toning technique, in particular, allows you to enjoy the transition as your hair color gradually changes.

After coloring, it takes about 24 to 48 hours for the pigment to fully settle into the hair, so avoiding washing your hair during this period can help prevent fading. Most importantly, using a color-safe shampoo makes a significant difference. From my own experience, the CRES Gemme series color shampoo and hair mask effectively minimized fading. I highly recommend giving them a try!