My Highlights Have Never Looked Healthier Thanks to This Colour Conditioner

This summer, I got my hair bleached lighter than I ever have before. While I’ve tentatively dipped my toe in hair lightening in years gone by, this time round, I went for a few levels brighter than my usual. For my balayage appointment in July, the base was blonde and then toned to a gorgeous warm light brunette. It was the perfect summer hue, and I was, and am still, obsessed with my look. However, it does take a lot of maintenance to upkeep not only the tone but also the colour itself. 

It's a known fact that when you have your hair coloured you have to adjust your wash routine to protect the colour and maintain the integrity of your hair. I did this by swapping my regular moisturising shampoo-and-conditioner duo for a colour-protecting set and trying to be diligent with my hydrating treatments. However, that wasn’t enough. Although the colour-protecting shampoos and conditioners would stop my balayage looking orangey week after week, the pigment would still fade from my locks to the point where I basically had blonde streaks. Yes, '90s chunky highlights are back, but this was not the vibe I was after; my colour started to look blocky and not at all as seamless as my colourist created.

Before using the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask. 

The problem is I wasn’t prepared to have to go back to the salon every couple of months to get it re-toned. It wasn’t so much the cost factor—although this was pricey—it’s also the effort of going. I picked balayage because it’s the lowest-maintenance colour, and this wasn’t in my plan. So I started exploring colour-pigment conditioners. They work by including semi-permanent colour in the formula along with hydrating and remoisturing ingredients to enhance colour and texture. Over the months, I have tried so many, but the one that has kept a permanent spot in my shower is the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask 

After using the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask in Cocoa.

When using any colour pigment conditioner, there are two things that you need to remember. The first is to wear gloves if you are worried about staining your hands or nails, and the second is to keep it away from white tile grouting. I’ve made this mistake before, and it’s taken a lot of product and elbow grease to get out. Another colour pigment mask I love is the Josh Wood Colour Gloss. It’s slightly runnier than the Moroccanoil mask, but the pigment is just as great, so it’s a good alternative for finer hair textures that don’t need the thickness of a creamier mask. Plus, the vibrancy lasts for up to six washes.

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