You spend your hard-earned cash at the salon coloring and toning your hair. So how do you make it last? Here are 3 tips for extending and toning your hair color-

1. No More Sulfates

The facts are simple: sulfates and hair don’t mix well, which means the harsh chemicals in most products claiming to keep your color strong are probably stripping the hair of exactly what you are trying to keep in.

In science speak: they’re damaging your natural top layer which is what keeps your dye in. In regular speak: ditch the sulfates. Easy, since all IGK products are sulfate-free.

2. Tone At Home.

Some toning is best left to the professionals, but you can add a few quick drops of  Mixed Feelings, our leave-in toning drops, to combat everyday brass. Bonus: these are infused with Prickly Pear Cactus Extract to soften and shine while keeping your color in check.  

What’s the deal with brass?

When darker hair is lightened, it tends to have warmer underlying pigments which can start to show when the initial color begins to wear off. This usually results in "warming" up the hair color and turning it yellow or orange.

A toner simply cuts down the warm hues, bringing out the blue undertones without absorbing into the hair follicles and drying them out—returning your color to Instafamous status.

3. Damage Control.

The thing about coloring your hair is that damage is sort of guaranteed, but you can revive strands by using the right shampoo and conditioner to lock in color and shine.

 The combo you want to call when things are looking bleak or dull?  Our Bad & Bougie Shampoo and Conditioner duo will work wonders. They:

• Bring your hair back to life by adding moisture.
• Strengthen your scalp with nourishing Alma Oil.
• Cleanse without stripping and help to replenish the lipid layer to keep color locked in.
• And they help to seal and polish the cuticle to keep hair color looking vibrant.

Also try the following styling tips to keep hair, no matter what color, looking good:

1.  Get regular trims
2. Minimize the number of times you wash your hair per week (Hint: more dry shampoo)
3. Go natural when it comes to drying and let the air do its thing.
4.  If you need heat, always prep with a heat-protectant styler
5. Deep cleanse & condition at least once per week. We have a few favorites listed here.

P.S. If you’ve had a particularly traumatic salon visit, don’t worry we’ve been there. Check out our tips for preventing and treating damaged hair to get your hair feeling healthy again.