The 3-step secret to hair color that lasts

Find that your color needs a touch-up every four to six weeks? These tricks help extend it at all stages of the process for a hair hue that shines up to 12 weeks long!

Before coloring: Prep with clarifying shampoo

A shampoo with citric acid–rich lemon essential oil, like Avalon Organics Clarifying Lemon Shampoo (Target.com), removes impurities from roots and hair’s cuticle so dye can better absorb into strands. Tip: Wash hair once, two days prior to coloring. Natural scalp oils help prevent dye-related irritation.

While coloring: Protect with this mix-in

Adding a powder packed with malic acid to bleach or dye before applying “re-seals” broken hair bonds to reduce damage created from coloring. One we like: Step one of pH Plex Protect & Repair (Amazon.com). Bonus: The step two packet is a post-dye hydrating mask that locks in color.

After coloring: Enliven with a clear gloss

Using a colorless gloss, like L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Clear (Walgreens.com), twice a month coats hair with sheer, shine-inducing molecules to sharpen color and boost vibrancy. Plus, it comes in tinted versions to amp up allover color as well.