Hair-colour devotees swear by the power of a good dye job. After all, a new hair hue can brighten up a dull complexion, boost volume, add extra shine and subtly mask grey hair.  But without the proper care and healthy habits at home, hair can soon cross over to the brittle-side, with brassy tones and frayed ends not far behind.

There’s a certain amount of maintenance required once hair has been coloured: get regular trims to keep split ends at bay (chemically processed hair is more apt to breakage), be extra gentle (no yanking a comb roughly through wet hair during the morning shower) and limit the use of scorching hot temperatures on styling appliances like blow dryers and curling irons.

It’s also important to use the right products and at home care.  “Wash your hair with warm to cold water – not hot,” says Lisap Milan’s Robert Baggio.  “Heat limits the durability of the colour and washes it away, making hair look duller and less shiny.”

Baggio also recommends investing in professional shampoos and conditioners that have been specifically formulated for coloured hair. “You want a shampoo that is not going to fade your colour and will clean hair gently.”

Deep conditioners or leave-in treatments can be used regularly to lock in moisture and prolong the life of hair colour.  If you love to swim, try to stay out of chlorinated pools for the first two weeks after a permanent colour. Before you hit the pool, run a good conditioner through your hair to protect it from the bleaching effects of chemicals in the water.

Vanessa’s picks:

Schwarzkopf Professional BC hairtherapy Color Save Colored Ends is a lightweight split ends treatment that helps to repair delicate ends and prevent breakage.

Lisap Top Care Color Save Vitamin Shampoo and PH Balancer conditioner protect and condition hair with vitamin E and wheat proteins while keeping hair’s PH balance normal.

L’Oreal Vive Pro Hydra-Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner for Very Dry Hair delivers a moisture boost to severely dry strands and leaves hair polished and shiny.

Joico Color Endure Leave in Protectant is a protective conditioner that shields hair from thermal styling and UV rays, which can strip colour and leave hair brassy and dry.