June 3, 2023

This summer, I got my hair bleached lighter than I ever have before. While I’ve tentatively dipped my toe in hair lightening in years gone by, this time round, I went for a few levels brighter than my usual. For my balayage appointment in July, the base was blonde and then toned to a gorgeous warm light brunette. It was the perfect summer hue, and I was, and am still, obsessed with my look. However, it does take a lot of maintenance to upkeep not only the tone but also the colour itself. 

After using the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask in Cocoa.

When using any colour pigment conditioner, there are two things that you need to remember. The first is to wear gloves if you are worried about staining your hands or nails, and the second is to keep it away from white tile grouting. I’ve made this mistake before, and it’s taken a lot of product and elbow grease to get out. Another colour pigment mask I love is the Josh Wood Colour Gloss. It’s slightly runnier than the Moroccanoil mask, but the pigment is just as great, so it’s a good alternative for finer hair textures that don’t need the thickness of a creamier mask. Plus, the vibrancy lasts for up to six washes.

Josh Wood Colour Chestnut Brunette Gloss
Josh Wood Colour
Chestnut Brunette Gloss
£19

Best Colour Shampoos

Living Proof Color Care Shampoo
Living Proof
Color Care Shampoo
£20

This shampoo is completely free of sulphates and silicones if you are looking for something gentler on your lightened strands.

Maui Moisture Colour Protect Sea Minerals Shampoo
Maui Moisture
Colour Protect Sea Minerals Shampoo
£9

Aloe vera and coconut water are the lead ingredients for this shampoo, making it more hydrating than most other shampoos.

Keracare Moisturizing Shampoo For Colour Treated Hair
Keracare
Moisturizing Shampoo For Colour Treated Hair
£7
£5

Perfect for Afro and curly colour-treated hair, this shampoo contains a patented fibre-strengthening complex to shield textured hair from irreparable damage. 

Color Wow Color Security Shampoo
Color Wow
Color Security Shampoo
£9

Have hair extensions? This one’s for you. It contains Japanese amino-fortified complex, which helps to soften hair as it cleanses but doesn’t strip.

R+Co Gemstone Color Shampoo
R+Co
Gemstone Color Shampoo
£22

With lychee extract, okra-seed extract, vitamin E, sunflower-sprout extract and moringa-seed oil, this shampoo is packed with nourishing ingredients to maintain hair health as it protects colour.

Next up, the best hair colours for thin hair.