How to Make Your Red Hair Color Last

If I had a dollar for every time someone said, "Do you know how much people pay to get your hair color?" I would be a very rich woman. Natural red hair color is one of the hardest to replicate and even when you achieve the look, it's hard to keep it vibrant.

I'm lucky to have natural red hair color, but Susan Yara kept pestering me to dye it even redder, so I gave it a try. Don't get me wrong, it's a fun color to have and I get a lot of attention with it, but I've learned that the color only really lasts for about two weeks, and that's it you're lucky. That's because red color molecules are much larger than other color molecules, so they don't stick in the hair shaft as long--even if your base color is naturally red like mine, the vibrancy will fade.

So you might wonder why people even bother. I personally don't want to go to the salon every few weeks, and don't really have the patience to dye my hair at home. But that doesn't mean there isn't a solution. It's called Joico Color Infuse Red Shampoo ($16) and Conditioner ($18).

It's designed specifically for red heads, whether they're natural or dyed. And I can attest to it's efficacy. The results are similar to a gloss treatment because it gives my natural red hair a pretty, rosy tone. It still looks natural, but has just a little more kick. Here's a picture from when I met with the Joico team and tried the products for the first time.

For those that color their hair, it slows down the fading process to make the color vibrancy last a little longer. That means fewer salon visits and a happier bank account!

It also promises to make your hair look shinier and calm frizz. It has a Multi-Spectrum Defense Complex that contains antioxidants, green tea, and UV protection that helps prevent environmental factors from fading the color as well. There's also a Bio-Advanced Peptide Complex that repairs your hair and prevents further damage.

It's recommended for use every other time you wash your hair, which is very reasonable. Because my hair feels a little drier since I started using it, I usually have to go in with a second conditioner to make my hair feel softer. But that's not enough to deter me. I love the way it makes my hair look and I love that I can get a slightly different color with ease.

Any redheads out there should give this a try at least once. If you do, let me know what you think in the comments! I would love to know.