Your Colour Just Got Real. Here's How to Keep It That Way.
What you do in the first few days decides how long fresh colour stays fresh. Our colourists' quick guide to washing, styling and protecting it between visits.
FROM THE COLOURISTS AT XING PREMIUM UNISEX SALON
The First 48 Hours Matter Most
Colour keeps settling into the hair shaft for a couple of days after your appointment — what you avoid in this window matters most.
Skip the Shampoo
Hold off washing for at least 48 hours. The cuticle needs time to close back around the colour, or pigment rinses out before it's bonded.
Go Easy on Heat
Freshly coloured hair is more porous. Skip flat irons and high-heat drying for a couple of days so the cuticle isn't forced open again.
Stay Out of the Pool
Chlorine and salt water strip new colour fast. If a swim's unavoidable, rinse with clean water and apply leave-in conditioner first.
Build a Colour-Safe Routine
The right products and habits at home matter as much as the service itself.
Sulfate-Free, Cool Water
Sulfates strip colour fast — switch to sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, and wash in cool water to keep the cuticle sealed.
Wash Less, Condition Weekly
Stretch washes to 2–3 times a week with dry shampoo in between, and add a weekly deep-conditioning mask to replace lost moisture and shine.
Protect Colour From Everyday Fade
Sun and heat are the two biggest causes of colour fading between salon visits.
Shield It From the Sun
UV rays fade hair colour the same way they fade fabric. A leave-in UV spray or a hat on sunny days slows this down considerably.
Always Use Heat Protectant
A heat protectant spray before any dryer, straightener or curling iron keeps colour from dulling with each styling session.
When to Book Your Next Visit
Different colour services fade and grow out on different timelines.
Post-Colour Care FAQs
Wait at least 48 hours, and ideally up to 72 hours for deeper or fashion colours. This gives the cuticle time to close back down around the new pigment so it doesn't rinse straight out in the first wash.
Regular shampoos often contain sulfates, which strip colour faster than colour-safe, sulfate-free formulas. Switching products is one of the highest-impact changes you can make for colour longevity.
Washing less often, in cool water, with sulfate-free products — that combination alone makes the biggest difference to how long colour stays vibrant.
Book Your Touch-Up or Colour Refresh
Whichever Xing Premium Unisex Salon is closer to you, we'll help you time your next visit right and keep your colour looking salon-fresh.