How to Keep your Red Hair Vibrant at Home(without losing your mind) Tips from a Red Color Specialist

illianaedney12
Mar 26, 2025
2 min read

Updated: May 4, 2025

I love teaching my clients how to maintain their color at home between appointments! As a hair colorist specializing in reds, I know how much extra care those brighter, richer tones need to stay vibrant. But with the right approach, you can keep your color looking fresh and gorgeous between salon visits.

❤️#1 Use a Color-Safe Shampoo

One of the most important steps? Choosing the right shampoo! Regular shampoos often contain harsh sulfates and detergents that strip color molecules from the hair, leading to premature fading. A good color-safe shampoo will help preserve the intensity of your shade while keeping your hair healthy and hydrated. Trust me, this one swap makes a huge difference.

🍒These are my top shampoo recommendations from Amazon

Kevin Murphy Hydrate-Me Wash

Pureology Hydrate Sheer Nourishing Shampoo

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

❤️#2 Rinse with Cool Water

I know, I know—if you love hot showers like I do, this one’s tough! But rinsing your hair with cool or lukewarm water helps seal the hair cuticle, locking in your color and maintaining shine. Hot water, on the other hand, opens the cuticle, allowing color to escape more easily, which leads to faster fading. This is actually my #1 tip for long-lasting vibrancy!

❤️#3 Refresh Your Color with a Depositing Shampoo or Conditioner

One of my favorite tricks for keeping reds, coppers, and golden tones vibrant is using a color-depositing shampoo or conditioner. These add small amounts of pigment with each use, counteracting fading and keeping your color rich between salon visits. But here’s an important note—stop using them about 2-3 weeks before your next color appointment! They can build up on the hair and interfere with the coloring process. These are best for maintenance once you’ve already achieved your desired shade, so always check in with your colorist to make sure you’re using the right tone for your hair.

Here are a few of my favorite Colorwash Shampoos that you can get at Amazon

Celeb Luxury Colorwash Color Depositing Shampoo

For Coppper select Fire Opal

For Gold/Strawberry Blonde select Tourmaline ,,

❤️#4 Install a Shower Filter

This tip is a game-changer—especially if you live in an area with hard water (like me in Southern California!). Hard water is full of minerals like chlorine, iron, and calcium, which can dull your color, dry out your hair, and even cause unwanted color shifts. A good shower filter helps remove those harsh elements, protecting your hair from unnecessary damage and keeping your color looking fresh longer.

🍓These are my top two shower filters from Amazon

AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter(Budget)

The Jolie Filtered SHOWERHEAD with Shower Water Filter System(Splurge)

By following these simple yet effective steps, you can enjoy long-lasting, salon-fresh color right from the comfort of your home. A little extra care goes a long way in keeping your reds radiant!