Straightening, curling, and blow-drying are staple in many of our haircare routines, but did you know that the wrong tools could be doing more harm than good to your coloured hair?
Excessive heat exposure doesn’t just run the risk of causing dryness and breakage, but hair colour shift too. So, if you’re hitting the salons to top up your colour regularly, but noticing faded, dull, or brassy hair quicker than expected, it might just be time to reconsider the tools and temperatures you’re using on your hair.
Here's our simple guide on how heat impacts coloured hair and what you can do to keep your hair vibrant, healthy, and strong for longer.
How heat impacts coloured hair
The typical hair straightener and hair curler can reach temperatures of up to 185°C – a temperature far too hot for most hair types.
At such a high heat, or at any temperature that exceeds what your individual hair type can handle, the hair cuticle (the outer layer) lifts and weakens. This allows pigment molecules to escape, leading to heat damage and dyed hair that appears lighter, brassier, and dull – a stark contrast to the rich, vibrant shade you left the salon with.
Further, the higher the fragility of your hair, the more dramatic the colour shift from heat exposure will be. This is why understanding your individual hair type is so important, determining how long your colour will last if not treated with the right heat or care.
Maintaining colour on fine, straight hair
Though fine, straight strands are often low porosity, they can still scorch easily if styled at an excessive heat. Blondes might notice brassy hair tones, while darker shades may notice reduced shine – not ideal after investing so much in changing or maintaining your coloured hair.
Top tip: Turn down the heat of your styling tool to somewhere between 100°C to 150°C and turn on Revive Mode®. This pressure-reducing, vibrating technology Revive Mode® delivers harmonic vibrations at 8,000x per minute, minimising direct heat, eliminating breakage, and boosting shine. You can check your exact temperature setting, unique to your hair type and colour, with our Temperature Calculator.
Maintaining colour on wavy hair
Wavy hair often has uneven porosity, meaning heat can fade highlights and balayage quicker, especially around the mid-lengths and ends where the hair tends to be drier.
Top tip: Always use a heat protectant before styling to shield your gorgeous waves from heat damage. For extra protection and smoother results, apply a nourishing formula like Magical Remedy before using your straightener, curling wand, or hair dryer to style.
Maintaining colour on coily hair
Coily hair is the most fragile and most porous hair type, meaning it’s highly prone to both colour shift and heat damage. Excessive heat from styling with the wrong temperature can cause reddish undertones to appear in darker hair colours and cause significant dryness, leaving the hair brittle and dull.
Top tip: Use a steamer with Magical Remedy to help open the cuticles and deeply infuse amino acids and collagen. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse. Apply a small amount of hair formula, such as Magical Remedy, to the most porous areas of the hair and finish with a spritz of heat protectant to lock in your hair’s natural moisture before styling with Revive Mode®.
Choosing the right styling tools to protect your hair colour
Hair straighteners
When choosing a straightener, the right technology makes all the difference. Here are features that you should consider when looking to protect your hair against unwanted colour shift:
- Straighteners with multiple temperature settings – to help style at the optimum heat for your unique hair type.
- Vibrating Revive Mode® – to reduce pressure and excessive heat transference for long-lasting shine and colour protection.
- Floating plates – to support consistent heat transfer when styling.
Hair dryers
Kinder hairstyling on coloured hair starts with the blow-dry. Here are some tips for finding the perfect hair dryer to add in to your routine if you have dyed hair:
- Choose an ionic hair dryer - Cloud Nine’s Ionic Technology reduces the amount of negatively charged particles in every strand to promote shine for healthier results and glossier coloured hair.
- Opt for a hair dryer with temperature control - just like straighteners, one temperature setting isn’t enough to tailor for different hair types. That’s why all Cloud Nine hair dryers come with three temperature settings.
Hair curlers
- Choose a curling wand with more than one heat setting - for personalised heat styling that will prevent unnecessary damage to your fresh colour.
- Pick a mineral-infused barrel – to lock in moisture and distribute heat evenly for a glossy, salon-perfected finish.
Shop our kinder range of hair straighteners, hair dryers, and hair curlers all designed with advanced technology that is kinder to hair.
Coloured hair FAQs
Does hair dye damage hair?
While hair dyes can weaken and damage your hair, making it more prone to breakage and split ends, there are plenty of ways to prevent unnecessary damage while still enjoying the colours that make you feel your best. For example, using conditioners and shampoos specially formulated for coloured hair can help repair and strengthen it.
How do I get rid of brassy hair?
A great way to neutralise brassy hair and banish unwanted tones is by using a purple-toned shampoo, or by visiting the salon for a professional toning service specific to your desired hair colour.
How long does coloured hair last?
Many factors can influence the longevity and brightness of a hair colour, including excessive sun exposure, frequent swimming, using the wrong shampoos for your hair type, and excessive heat styling. But on average, the vibrancy and tone of a colour last around a month – based on the assumption you shampoo your hair once or twice a week and use the correct water temperature and aftercare for their hair type.
Expert stylist tips for preventing hair colour shift
Group Education Manager and stylist with over 39 years of professional experience, Marie Nieuwoudt, shared her top tips for preventing colour shift after your salon trip:
1. Always use a heat protectant before applying heat of any kind, whether you’re using a hair straightener, hair curler, hair dryer, or heated brush.
2. Lower the temperature on your styling tools, making sure you’re styling at the heat that is right for your unique hair type, colour, and length.
3. Consult the Temperature Calculator when you make or notice any changes to your hair – from changes you make to your hair colour or natural changes in the hair throughout menopause and periods of hormonal change.
4. Invest in the right tools – whether that’s choosing straighteners with Revive Mode® – or hair dryers and curlers with Personalised Temperature Control – your kinder hairstyling routine starts with kinder tools.
5. Use products tailored to your hair type and colour – like purple shampoo for blonde or bleached hair, blue shampoo for brunettes, and colour-protecting formulas for red or vibrant tones.
So, no matter your hair type, with the right heat styling tools and haircare routine you can enjoy coloured hair that keeps its salon-finish for longer.
Save this guide for the next time you’re topping up your colour to ensure you’re caring for your hair from the moment you step out of the salon. Share your coloured hairstyles with us on TikTok, Instagram or Facebook for a chance to be featured across our channels.