4 Reasons for Faded Hair Color

If you’ve noticed that your color-treated hair is starting to fade, you might not think to look at your water for the answer. However, the truth is that your tap could because of your hair quickly fading from bright to dull— on top of hair breakage, dryness, frizziness and more.

That’s right: One of the biggest reasons for faded hair color is hard water. The same hard minerals that cause limescale around your home can also strip away hair dye. The more you wash your hair with hard water, the worse the problem will get.

The good news is that a water softener can help, along with a few DIY hair care products. Here’s what to know and how to keep your hairstyle bright and healthy.

Why Your Hair Color Might Be Fading

Even the best hair dye can fade without proper care. The problem is that everyday parts of your routine could be causing damage without you even realizing it. it’s important to understand what can cause hair color fading and why:

#1: Using Hard Water

Hard water is perhaps the most frustrating cause of fading hair color. That’s because hardness isn’t immediately obvious — which means you could use this water on every wash and inadvertently make things worse.

Hard minerals can fade your hair dye and cause other issues. Those minerals also build up over time — so the longer you wash with hard water, the more pronounced your hair struggles can become.

The challenge is that hard water hair problems often look like other issues, such as hair damage or natural dryness. That’s why it’s important to know the other symptoms of hard water, including:

• Limescale
• Soap spots
• Limited water pressure
• Smelly, stiff, fading laundry
• Reduced efficiency and lifespan of water-using appliances

Do these symptoms sound familiar? Download our FREE Hard Water Solutions Handbook to find answers.

#2: Shampooing Too Often

All hair dye has an expiration date, but its lifespan depends on what kind you use:

• Temporary dye: 1 – 4 days
• Semi-permanent dye: 3 – 6 weeks
• Permanent dye: 6 – 8 weeks

The brightness of your hair color is directly affected by how often you wash it.  If you use shampoo too frequently, your dye might fade faster — so it’s best to wash only two or three times per week and use dry shampoo in between washes.

#3: Using Harsh Shampoos

It’s no surprise that the quality of your shampoo matters. But what does that mean for color-treated hair?

Most commercial shampoos contain sulfates — the “cleaning” ingredient. Although sulfates clean away dirt and oil, they can sometimes strip too much, including our hair dye. They can also cause scalp irritation, dryness, frizziness and more.

Next time you’re shopping for shampoo, look for bottles that are labeled “gentle” or “color safe.” These can better help prevent hair color fading. Just remember to make sure the ingredient list has no “sodium laureth sulfate” or “ammonium laureth sulfate”– these disrupt the cuticles and cause color molecules to escape.

#4: Skipping Heat Protection

Hot styling tools might seem great for achieving that perfect look, but they’re actually stripping your hair’s natural oils, causing water molecules to evaporate and oxidizing the color of both dyed and natural hair. They can impact the whole hair strand including the hair cuticle– the protective outer layer that can cause split ends when damaged.

Of course, you don’t have to give up heat styling. Instead, find a protectant spray and apply the solution to your hair before applying heat to prevent damage.

4 Solutions for Fading Hair Color

If you want to prevent color fade and promote healthy hair, it’s best to take a look at your routine. Here are a few solutions to keep your style looking its best:

#1: Water Softening

Water softening is one of the most effective hard water hair treatment solutions. A softener will address the problem at its source: hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium.

A water softener uses tiny resin beads to attract, trap and flush away the minerals. The result is softened water that has two main benefits for hair care:

1. It won’t add to existing mineral buildup on your scalp and hair.
2. It will help you wash away existing build up more easily and efficiently.

One secret to soft water success is that hardness can prevent soap and shampoo from lathering. Softening eliminates this problem and lets your hair care products do their work.

• The same is true for issues elsewhere in your home. Soft water can:
• Prevent mineral buildup in your plumbing and around your fixtures
• Eliminate soap scum or spots on dishes
• Keep your laundry smelling fresh and looking bright
• Help your water-using appliances operate more efficiently and for longer

#2: Water Filtration

Did you know that other water problems can potentially cause fading and damage? For example, chlorine — a common disinfectant added to city water — can potentially fade your hair dye. Iron can cause similar issues.

Fortunately, whole house water filtration can help address these issues at every tap. Along the way, it can also help protect your home from corrosion and stains, improve your water quality and provide solutions for municipal or well water.

#3: Hair Care Products

Remember to choose the right products when treating or caring for colored hair. That means looking for:

• Gentle, sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners
• Heat protectant sprays
• Dye that doesn’t irritate your skin or scalp
• Hair oils to protect natural moisture
• Brushes and combs that don’t break hair

#4: Hair Health Habits

There are plenty of small changes you can make to improve your overall hair health. For example, it’s often best to avoid hot showers when you’re trying to prevent color fading. You can also use protein products to address split ends, increase the amount of fish and nuts in your diet, avoid tight hair styles and more.

What To Know About Hard Water and Hair Health

We know that hard water is a problem for both dyed and natural hair. However, it’s important to understand why these problems exist so you can choose the right solutions.

The main problem is the hard minerals themselves. They can build up on your scalp and cause irritation, thinning and hair loss. They’re also responsible for stripping away dyes and healthy oils, leaving your hair frizzy and faded.

On top of that, hard minerals can impact your skin and nail health. If you’ve noticed excessively dry, irritated and itchy skin or brittle, discolored nails, water hardness may be to blame.

It’s important to note that hard water generally isn’t a significant health concern in drinking water. After all, calcium and magnesium are present in some of your favorite foods and play important roles in your body. Because they’re such a problem for your home and hair, skin and nails, it’s best to get these minerals from your diet instead of from hard water.

Better Water for Better Hair Care

You’ve spent time, money and effort choosing the perfect dye — so don’t let hard water ruin it. Instead, improve your whole hair care routine by first improving your home’s water quality. Both softening and filtration can help address the issues that might be ruining your style.

The first step is to learn what might be in your water, from hardness minerals to chlorine and iron. That means you’ll need a professional water test.

Get started today by scheduling your free, in-home water test and consultation.