I’ve colored my hair since forever. At least now I am not using box dye and doing it myself or having my mom help do it. It may have ended up a not-so-pleasant red too many times.

Here are my tips for colored hair:

• Don’t wash it every day. This doesn’t mean you have to go a week without doing so, but at least waiting a day between washes helps extend color.
• Invest in a good dry shampoo. To extend washes, dry shampoo is a saving grace.
• Don’t wait too long to get it colored again. Waiting can create a band of color where it’s grown out. No one wants a ring of growth showing.
• Use a good conditioner. Keeping hair hydrated and conditioned helps by making it shiny.
• If you’ve added blonde color, invest in a toning shampoo and/or conditioner. I love the Aveda Blue Malva conditioner.
• If you’ve gone darker in color, avoiding the sun can help save color. This can be as simple as throwing on a ball cap.
• Lastly, if possible, get a water softener. The biggest help for my hair is having soft water. It not only saves the color, it helps my hair hold in moisture better because the water isn’t so hard.

What are your tips for colored hair care? Any that I missed and should add?