How to Keep Green Hair from Fading

Co-authored by Kelsey Morey and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: February 11, 2022 References

Dyeing your hair green is a fun way to express your personality and switch up your style. Keeping your hair vibrant at the shade you want can be a frustrating process, especially since green tends to fade pretty quickly. By using the right products and protecting your hair from damage, you can make your green color last longer and spend less time worrying about your hair color.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Dyeing Your Hair

1
Use a deep conditioner 1 week before you dye your hair. Wet your hair in the sink or shower and apply a deep conditioner from the ends to the roots. Let the conditioner sit for 10 to 30 minutes, then rinse it out with cool water.^{[1]
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- Since most green hair color requires you to bleach your hair, it’s important to protect your hair health before you get it done.
- If you start out with healthy, moisturized hair, your hair color will last a lot longer.
2
Dye your hair a darker shade of green to minimize fading. Neon and pastel greens look great, but they do tend to fade faster since they are already so light. Try going for deeper, richer greens to keep your color longer.^{[2]
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- Emerald green, turquoise, and hunter green are all deep shades that look beautiful.
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3
Refresh your color every 2 weeks with a color-depositing product. Find a product that deposits a small amount of green color into your hair. Put on gloves and apply the product instead of your normal conditioner. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse it out.^{[3]
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- Color-depositing products add a small amount of dye to your hair to freshen up the color. You can find them at most beauty supply stores.
- Try to only use a color-depositing product once every 2 weeks to avoid changing your hair color too much.
Tip: If you can’t find a color-depositing product, add 1 to 2 drops of green hair dye to your normal conditioner and then apply it to your hair.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing Your Hair

1
Wait 72 hours after dyeing your hair before shampooing it. Your green hair color needs time to sit on your hair and lock into the cuticles. Try to wait at least 3 days after you initially dye your hair to get it wet or use shampoo.^{[4]
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- Your hair may feel dry after you dye it as well. Giving it time before you wash it will help it to recover and replenish some moisture.
2
Go as long as you can in between wash days. Depending on how much oil your scalp produces, you may need to wash your hair as often as every other day or as little as once a week. Try to go without washing your hair as long as you can to protect the dye from fading.^{[5]
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- You can train your hair to go longer without shampoo by sticking to a wash day schedule. Within a month or two, your scalp will adjust to the new routine and stop producing as much oil.
Tip: Use dry shampoo or baby powder to get rid of some grease on days that you don’t wash your hair.
3
Use cold water when you wash your hair.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Kelsey Morey
Professional Hair and Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 11 January 2022.} Hot water opens up your hair cuticles and strips them of their color. When you do wash your hair, use cool or cold water instead.^{[7]
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- If you don’t want to cover your entire body in cold water, try washing your hair in the sink or tub before you turn the shower on.
4
Shampoo with a color-safe product formulated for chemically-treated hair. Purchase shampoos and conditioners that protect the longevity of your hair color and don’t strip away moisture. Look for products that say “color-safe” or “color-protecting.”^{[8]
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- You can find products like these at most beauty supply stores.
- Avoid clarifying shampoos because they tend to strip color and natural oils from hair.
5
Apply a rich conditioner after shampooing to lock in moisture. Most shampoo will dry out your hair because it washed away the natural oils from your scalp. Use a conditioner on the ends of your hair every time you wash it and let it sit for about 5 minutes before rinsing it off.^{[9]
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- You can also use a deep conditioner once a week for extra moisture.
- Look for ingredients like Argan oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil.
6
Stick with hair styling products that are silicone and sulfate-free.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Kelsey Morey
Professional Hair and Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 11 January 2022.} Silicones and sulfates dry out your hair which can cause your color to fade faster. Look for hair products that say “silicone and sulfate-free” on the bottle to make sure they are high quality.^{[11]
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- Avoid products with alcohol in them, as alcohol dries out your hair as well.
- Look for products that have natural, non-toxic ingredients.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Damage

1
Blot your wet hair gently with a towel to dry it. Instead of scrubbing your hair with a towel after a shower, try squeezing the ends of your hair gently in the towel. Use a microfiber towel to prevent frizziness and breakage.^{[12]
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- Scrubbing at your hair with a towel can damage it and make the ends look more dry.
- If you don’t have a microfiber towel, you can also use an old T-shirt to dry your hair.
2
Avoid using heat styling tools on your hair. Hair straighteners, curling irons, and hair dryers all damage your hair and make your color fade faster. If you can, try to limit the amount of times you use these tools throughout the week.^{[13]
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Tip: Try non-heat methods of styling your hair, like braiding it while it’s wet to create waves, or putting it in curlers for large curls.
3
Spray heat protectant on your hair when you do use heat styling tools.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Kelsey Morey
Professional Hair and Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 11 January 2022.} If you want to use a hair straightener, curling iron, or hair dryer, spray a fine layer of heat protectant onto your hair and wait 30 seconds for it to dry. You can use your heat styling tools with the heat protectant to add a layer between your hair and the heat.^{[15]
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- You can find heat protectant sprays at most beauty supply stores.
4
Wear your hair in a swim cap in chlorinated pools. Chlorine is very drying and can strip your hair of moisture and color. Tuck your hair into a swim cap any time you use a chlorinated pool, and make sure to rinse out your hair when you’re done swimming.^{[16]
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- Chlorine can also mess with the shade of your green hair if it sits on your hair for too long.
5
Protect your hair from the sun with a hat, hood, or UV spray. If you are going to be out in the sun for more than 1 to 2 hours, spray your hair with a UV protectant spray or bring a hat with you to put on outside.^{[17]
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Expert Source

Kelsey Morey
Professional Hair and Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 11 January 2022.} Make sure your entire hair-length is covered to avoid fading.^{[18]
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- You can find UV protectant sprays for your hair at most beauty supply stores.
- Try bringing a large umbrella with you when you’re at the beach or a park.
6
Trim the ends of your hair regularly to get rid of split ends. Set up a schedule with your salon to go in and get a trim every 6 to 8 weeks. This will keep your hair looking healthy and avoid fading on the drier ends.^{[19]
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- If your hair grows quickly, you may need to get a trim more often. Talk to your hairstylist about the right schedule for you.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I maintain my hair after coloring it?

Kelsey Morey
Professional Hair and Makeup Artist
Kelsey Morey is a Professional Hair and Makeup Artist, Model and the Owner and Founder of Haus of Pretty based in Westport, Connecticut. With more than ten years of experience, she specializes in balayage, hair care, color care, and photoshoot styling. Kelsey received her training from Brio Academy of Cosmetology and John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center. She also completed her apprenticeship with Warren Tricomi luxury salons.

Kelsey Morey

Professional Hair and Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Use some kind of color conditioner or refreshing mix that has a bit of pigment. Each time you wash your hair, spritz this product to deposit a little bit of color into your hair.
Question

Do sulfate-free shampoos really make a difference?

Kelsey Morey
Professional Hair and Makeup Artist
Kelsey Morey is a Professional Hair and Makeup Artist, Model and the Owner and Founder of Haus of Pretty based in Westport, Connecticut. With more than ten years of experience, she specializes in balayage, hair care, color care, and photoshoot styling. Kelsey received her training from Brio Academy of Cosmetology and John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center. She also completed her apprenticeship with Warren Tricomi luxury salons.

Kelsey Morey

Professional Hair and Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Absolutely! The cuticle, or the outer layer of your hair, covers the strand like scales on a fish or shingles on a roof. Sulfate shampoos open up these shingles or scales, which causes the color molecules to fall out.