How to slow the hair dye fading process?

[EJCC]

Does this depend on the color? The brand? Both?

I've started dying my hair dark reddish-purple, and it starts off really rich and dark and lovely, but within two weeks fades to a near-unrecognizable medium-dark red. Not much trace of the purple at all.

I exclusively use sulfate-free, paraben-free, etc, hair products, due to my hair being curly. So that's not part of the issue.

Is there anything else I can do about this?

 

[Betty Blue]

Yes there is... some specific types of conditioner will keep the dye locked in better. Also it is better to wash your hair in cooler water rather than warmer, hot water will especially fade the colour quicker. I have looked into this a bit but forget the rest right at this minute.... there are more ways to help it... theres also ways to speed up the dye washing out like using a specialised swimming shampoo (used for cleaning chlorine out of hair) and as already mentioned hot water for washing.

 

[ChocolateMoose123]

Just so you know, red is the color that fades the fastest out of all dyes. Hellenoftroy is right on about the cool water. There are also pigmented conditioners that can deposit small amounts of color that should help too.

 

[Dyslexxie]

What hair color is your base? I find that if you have really light hair to start (especially bleach blonde or a veeeery light blonde), reds don't want to let go.

 

[EJCC]

What hair color is your base? I find that if you have really light hair to start (especially bleach blonde or a veeeery light blonde), reds don't want to let go.

Good timing on reviving this thread -- I am mere minutes away from re-dying my hair. (En route to the salon now.) My hair is naturally medium/dark brown.
[MENTION=9160]HelenOfTroy[/MENTION] Good idea re: using cool water. My shower is so finicky and old that I tend to err on the hotter side out of laziness, but cooler is better. I'm also going to try to wait as long as I possibly can before washing my hair, after the dye. I usually go a day or two but this time I'm going to try to use dry shampoo (and Scalpicin) and go even longer.