Are hair-coloring chemicals harmful?
A. Dyeing your hair can weaken it, which is why colorists stress the importance of using conditioning treatments and color-specific products. Coloring formulas can also irritate your scalp if it’s extremely sensitive, says Nicolay Loor, a colorist at the Stephen Knoll salon, in New York City. Q. How do I keep my hair color from fading? A. You can’t stop fading completely, but you can slow it down. Don’t shampoo for at least a day after you color. From then on, wash only every two to three days, says Jasen James, a color specialist at Maxine Salon, in Chicago. Stick to shampoos and conditioners made for color-treated hair, since “these products are designed to keep the hair shafts closed, and that keeps color in,” explains Crawford. Shield hair from the sun with a hat or a color-protecting styling product. Salt water and chlorine can fade your shade, too, so create a barrier by wetting hair with fresh water, then applying conditioner. Q. I had my hair colored and I hate the shade. What
