Spent a bomb on that fantastic dye job and want to double its lifespan? Fight the fading and dry hair by following these simple tips and tricks to make your new colour last twice (or even thrice) as long so you can cut down on those costly salon retouches. You may even be able to save up to $800* a year!

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*Our savings of $800 is based on average spending of $100 salon touchups every six weeks.
Right after colouring, wait at least two days before washing your hair. This gives your hair cuticles more time to seal in your new colour longer. And space out shampoos – we’re talking twice a week, max.
Label.M Brunette Dry Shampoo uses rice starch to soak up excess oil, and leaves hair with a matte, slightly texturised finish.
To tackle greasy roots or smelly strands, try a scented, coloured, dry shampoo. It’ll absorb any oil, prevent more from building up and give your locks a refresh in-between washes.
When you do shampoo, opt for formulas that don’t contain sulphates such as sodium lauryl sulphate. While these foaming detergents are good for those with oily scalps, they can strip away colour and cause premature fade.
READ MORE: 10 Shampoos That Contain Natural Ingredients For Shinier, Healthier Hair
Moist Diane Perfect Beauty Extra Moist and Shine Shampoo contains organic argan oil and keratin to repair damaged strands while enhancing vibrancy of coloured hair.
If you have a sensitive scalp, the Vichy Dercos Ultra-Soothing Color Cleansing Cream is formulated without sulphates, and contains scalp-soothing active ingredients that won’t cause colour fade.
Percy & Reed Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Wash Shampoo also contains colour-preserving ingredients and a wheat protein complex to guard against UV rays and humidity.
The more moisturised your hair is, the better it holds colour. However, styling or treatment products that have alcohol listed in the top five ingredients can dry your hair out and strip the colour.
Protect and quench dehydrated hair with the nourishing IGK Thirsty Girl Coconut Milk Leave-in Conditioner which also helps keep frizz in check.
Activated by steam, the L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Intense Repair Hair Sheet Mask saves you time by letting your moisturise your mane in the shower.
Neutralise brassy tones and put the radiance back in highlights with the Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care Nutritive Mask with Temporary Coloring.
Hot water is the biggest culprit for fading colour, so keep the water temperature as cool as possible when showering to make your shade go the distance.
Using hot styling tools for your daily blowdry or weekly straightening contributes to colour fade too, as heat fries the colour by opening the cuticle (where colour is locked in), lifting it out from the hair in the same way hot water does. Limit your use of heat tools as much as possible, and when you do use them, always apply heat protectant beforehand.
The Aquis Lisse Luxe Hair Turban, $46, boasts the ability to cut drying time by 50 per cent, keeping your hair vibrant, shiny and soft for longer.
READ MORE: Can These Towels Really Cut Hair Drying Time By Half?
It has a vitamin-enriched formula to strengthen hair fibres from within, while protecting it from the harsh heat of your heat-styling tools.
Sure, there are products made for colour-treated hair that work to preserve your just-dyed mane, but the next best things are in-shower pigments to help improve colour longevity, adjust the shade of your locks and lightly cover any greys.
Hydrate hair and enhance your colour with Aprilskin Turn-Up Color Treatment, a temporary hair tint that lasts about two weeks.
Refresh your colour or switch shades with L’Oreal Paris Colorista Washouts, a semi-permanent hair colour treatment that slowly fades over one to two weeks.
Lengthen the life of ashy hues with Kevin.Murphy’s coloured hair treatment, which helps neutralise brassy tones and nourish your hair to keep it shiny.
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Text: Elizabeth Liew