Red hair is one of the most common trends and it seems to never go out of fashion. But how long will your red hair dye last in your hair and how will it change over time? This is a common question that many people ask before putting such a vibrant color in their hair.
You can expect red hair dye to last about a month on your hair before it starts fading away. After four months, you will notice the red in your hair severely fading but it will not go away.
What Color Does Red Hair Fade to?
Once you died your hair red, you should know that the color will not remain intact forever.
Even if you used semi-permanent hair dye, the shade will still fade over time. The speed at which it fades out depends on the original color and condition of your hair as well as the quality of the hair dye.
As a general rule, your hair can turn out either orange or brown once the red fades out of it.
This depends on the shade of red you choose initially. If you choose to die your hair a bright shade of red, it will fade out into an orange shade. On the other hand, if you choose to die it into a dark shade of red, you might end up with a brown color.
The fading will be a gradual process, though.
So, you will observe the different tones as they change after every time you wash your hair. Red tones are challenging to keep intact and they get to be high maintenance if you choose to go for a bright shade.
Also Read: How to Dye Black Hair Red Without Bleaching?
4 Reasons Not to Dye Your Hair Red
Dying your hair red is tempting but you might want to consider both the pros and the cons of this before doing it.
While red hair can highlight your features beautifully, it can also be a struggle to get rid of. So, here are a few aspects to consider that might detour your plan of having red hair.
Red doesn’t get so deep in the hair follicles easy
You will not be so thrilled to find out that red is a color that attaches harder to the hair. This happens because the red molecules are bigger than other color molecules. So, it will take more coloring sessions to penetrate your hair follicles the way you want to and get to the shade of red you aim for.
Red might fade faster than other colors
Because red color molecules don’t penetrate your hair so easily, you might notice that the color washes out faster. This is normal and it will happen less as you keep adding new layers of red dye to your hair. The more you dye your hair red, the less fading you will have to deal with overtime.
It’s a hard color to remove
Once you go red, it might be a struggle to remove that shade from your hair. If you enjoy your new red color, in the long run, this is not a problem. But if you know that you can get tired of it fast, it might not be a great idea.
After just a few hair dye sessions, the red color will be very well stuck inside your hair.
To remove it, you will have to go through one or more bleaching sessions. You can also cover the red with a darker shade of brown if you want. But one thing is for sure, you can’t get rid of the red easily.
You will find it difficult to get the shade you want
Once you decide to dye your hair red, be ready to choose from a wide range of shades. You will find anything from bright and light red, to fire red, to cherry red or strawberry red, and even brown-red.
Some colors will look good on the samples you see but you might not be as happy with your shade of red once you put it on your hair. This is a risk you should be prepared for as it is also hard to fix it.
The ideal way to do it is considering your initial hair color and talk to a stylist at least the first time you try the red out. Take your skincare into account as well.
Warm skin tones call for warm shades of red while cool skin tones call for cool shades. You can apply this rule anytime you dye your hair, regardless of the color you want.
How to Make Red Hair Dye Darker?
In case you chose a shade of red that is too light, you don’t have to panic. There are ways to make it darker and still get the shade you aimed for. Considering that you dyed your hair to get the light shade of red, the first option to fix it is dying your hair again with a darker shade.
It recommended though, to wait at least a day before you redye your hair so that you give it time to recover.
The second time you dye it, you should follow the same instructions, if you do it at home. But, when you choose the darker shade of red you want, keep in mind that you will apply it on red hair already.
So, you might want to go for a shade that is one tone lighter than the original shade you expect to have at the end of the process. This is because since your hair is already red, any other layer of red you apply will intensify the shade and darken it a little.
A good trick is to choose a brown hair dye that has gold undertones.
This will darken your red hair without turning it brown. Your red shade will break through the brown shade that you add on top of it but it will not be altered by it more than becoming one or two tones darker.
How Can I Make Red Hair Dye Last Longer?
Now that we know red hair can fade out fairly fast, you might want to know if there are any tricks to prevent this unpleasant side effect. And you will be glad to discover that there are. Here are some of the most efficient methods to keep your hair red longer!
Use products that block UVs
Sun can damage the color of your hair quicker than you imagine. If you spend some hours in the sun, during a hot summer day, with no protection, your red shade will fade a tone. Get used to protect your hair against UVs just like you protect your skin and your color will last longer.
Leave-in conditioner will help as well
Leave-in conditioner is not just very convenient to use but it is also very efficient in protecting your shade of red.
The leave-in conditioner should replace your regular shower conditioner. Once you are done washing your hair, you should add a layer of leave-in conditioner.
This type of conditioner will keep your hair hydrated throughout the day and maintain your color. It is a protective layer that won’t allow external factors to damage your hair as easily.
Wash your hair less and use dry shampoo more
Washing your hair too often will accelerate the fading away of the color. Especially if you recently dyed your hair red, you should choose to reduce the washing frequency and try out dry shampoo instead.
Dry shampoo will make your hair look clean between washes but it will also smell very nice.
So, it is a great option to wash your hair less and still enjoy a fresh look. With red hair, washing it once or twice a week should suffice if you use a quality dry shampoo in between.
Also Read: How To Fix Hair Color That Is Too Red?
Conclusion
Red hair can be a major change in image. But it does require a lot of maintenance and you should not neglect it because it will fade out relatively quickly. Use the information in this guide to keep your shade of red vibrant and fresh for a longer time.