The Color Mistakes I See Every Week (And How to Avoid Them)

Last Tuesday, a client came in almost in tears. She'd gotten her hair colored at another salon just three days before, and the beautiful auburn she'd paid good money for had already faded to a muddy brown. "What did I do wrong?" she asked.

Honestly? Probably nothing she knew was wrong at the time.

After fifteen years behind the chair here at Bokaos Salon & Spa, I've learned that most color disasters happen in those first crucial days after leaving the salon. And the worst part? They're usually completely preventable.

So here's what I tell every single client before they walk out our door on Hugus Alley.

The 48-Hour Rule (Yes, It's Real)

I know, I know. You want to wash your hair. Maybe you got a little product buildup during the coloring process, or your scalp feels weird. But here's the thing – those hair cuticles are still settling. Think of it like a fresh manicure. You wouldn't immediately start doing dishes, right?

My regular client Maria learned this the hard way. She colored her grays on a Friday and shampooed Saturday morning before her daughter's wedding. By Sunday, those grays were peeking through again. Now she calls it her "$200 lesson."

If you absolutely must do something, grab some dry shampoo. But trust me on this one – wait it out.

Your Shower Temperature Matters More Than You Think

This might sound dramatic, but I've seen beautiful platinum blondes turn brassy after one hot shower. Heat opens up the hair cuticle, and when that happens, your color literally washes down the drain.

I'm not saying you need to suffer through cold showers (nobody's asking for that level of commitment). Just turn it down a notch. Lukewarm works perfectly fine, and if you can handle it, a cool rinse at the end actually helps seal everything in.

Pool Season Problems

Summer in Pasadena means pool parties, and pool parties mean chlorine damage. I've fixed more green-tinted blonde disasters than I care to count, especially after Memorial Day weekend.

If you're heading to a pool within the first week of your color service, please – PLEASE – wet your hair with regular water first and put in some leave-in conditioner. Your hair can only absorb so much, so if it's already full of clean water and product, there's less room for chlorine to sneak in.

Or just wear a swim cap. I promise it's worth looking silly for an hour to avoid looking green for weeks.

The Heat Tool Temptation

Fresh color makes your hair look amazing, which makes you want to style it and show it off. I get it completely. But newly colored hair is also more fragile than usual, and high heat can cause breakage you won't even notice until it's too late.

One of our stylists, Hasblady, always tells her clients: "If you can't hold your hand near the heat for five seconds, it's too hot for your hair." Smart woman.

When you do style, keep your tools on a lower setting and never skip the heat protectant. Ever.

Sun Protection Isn't Just for Your Skin

You know how your car's interior fades if you park in the sun all the time? Same concept with your hair. UV rays break down color molecules, and it happens faster than most people realize.

I have a client who works outdoors near the City Hall area, and she learned to keep a hat in her car after her first color appointment with us. Three months later, her color still looked fresh. Her coworker, who didn't take the sun protection advice? Not so much.

The Drugstore Shampoo Trap

Look, I'm not trying to sell you products (okay, maybe I am a little), but this one's important. Most drugstore shampoos contain sulfates, which are basically detergents. They're great for getting things really clean, but they don't distinguish between dirt and your expensive hair color.

You don't have to buy the most expensive stuff on the market, but investing in a color-safe shampoo will literally save you money in the long run by extending the time between color services.

Why This All Matters

Here's the reality: a good color job isn't cheap, and it shouldn't be. When you invest in professional color – whether it's with me, Alfred, Suzi, Andrew, or Aly – you're paying for expertise, quality products, and time. Protecting that investment for the first few days means you'll get to enjoy it for months instead of weeks.

Plus, there's something to be said for that fresh-from-the-salon feeling lasting as long as possible. We all deserve to feel that confident.

Next time you're in our chair at One Colorado Square, I'll probably remind you of most of this stuff anyway. But now you'll know I'm not just trying to complicate your life – I'm trying to help you keep that color looking as good on day 30 as it did on day one.

Ready for your next color appointment? Give us a call or stop by – we'd love to see you.