10 Hair Washing Mistakes That Ruin Your Hair Colour

Washing your hair the wrong way can strip colour, fade tone, and leave your strands looking dull, especially after dyeing or bleaching. From using hot water to skipping conditioner, simple habits can ruin your salon results faster than you think.

Imagine you’ve just spent hours (and monthly salary) getting that perfect shade, maybe a rich chocolate balayage or icy ash blonde.

Two weeks later, your tone is gone and the colour looks lifeless. Sound familiar? It might not be your dye, it might be your hair care routine.

Today, Top Secret will reveal the 10 most common hair washing mistakes that destroy colour vibrancy and tone, plus the simple fixes to keep your hair looking freshly coloured, longer.

1. Washing Hair Too Soon After Colouring

Your new colour needs time to set, and washing too early can strip it immediately.

After a colouring session, your hair cuticle is still open and more vulnerable to pigment loss. Washing it within the first 24 to 48 hours can cause the dye to rinse out prematurely.

Wait at least 48 hours before your first post-salon wash.
Use a gentle, colour-safe shampoo when you do.
For bleached or high-lift colours, your stylist may recommend up to 72 hours.

“The first wash is make-or-break for colour retention. You want to let the pigment settle fully before introducing water or product.” REDS hair salon KSL stylist team.

2. Using Hot Water Instead of Cool

Hot water opens the hair cuticle, allowing colour molecules to escape more easily.

Even if you're using a colour-safe shampoo, hot water can undo your toning work and fade dye faster. It also dries out the hair, making it more porous, and porous hair fades quicker.

What to do instead:

Rinse with cool or lukewarm water
Use warm water only during the cleanse, then finish with a cool rinse
This helps seal the cuticle and lock in colour

Cool water also boosts shine, a bonus for dull, processed strands.

3. Over-Washing Your Hair

We all love clean shiny hair, but washing too often removes the natural oils and pigments your coloured hair needs.

Many people with coloured or bleached hair over-shampoo out of habit, especially if they have an oily scalp. But coloured hair requires a different rhythm.

Smart shampooing tips:

Wash 2–3 times per week max, unless advised otherwise by your stylist
Use dry shampoo between washes if needed
Choose sulphate-free, low-foam formulas that don’t strip pigment

Frequent washing can cause brassiness, especially in blondes and red tones. Over time, you’ll lose vibrancy and need more salon touch-ups. For more information on how often you should wash your hair, check out our guide!

4. Using the Wrong Shampoo

Not all shampoos are safe for coloured hair, and the wrong one can strip tone fast.

Generic shampoos often contain harsh surfactants like sulphates and salts that aggressively cleanse but also fade pigment. If your hair colour keeps dulling out, your shampoo may be the culprit.

What to look for:

Labels that say “colour-safe” or “sulphate-free”
Low-foam or pH-balanced formulas
Added moisturisers like amino acids or oils for post-colour care

We highly recommend shampoo that’s gentle enough to preserve salon tones, especially after a bleach or balayage session.

5. Skipping Conditioner or Mask After Shampooing

Toning shampoos and colour treatments dry out hair, skipping conditioner leaves it unprotected.

When you shampoo, especially with a clarifying or toning formula, you open the cuticle. Without follow-up care, the hair becomes rough, dull, and more prone to fading and breakage.

What to do instead:

Always follow with a moisturising conditioner or deep repair mask
Use masks once a week for bleached or processed hair
Look for bond-repair or keratin-enriched products for coloured hair

Healthy, hydrated hair holds colour longer and reflects light better—making it look fresher even between salon visits.

6. Scrubbing the Scalp Too Aggressively

Vigorous scrubbing lifts pigment, causes tangling, and damages already-processed hair.

Many assume that the cleaner the scalp, the better, but dyed hair needs a gentler approach. Over-scrubbing roughens the hair shaft, increases porosity, and dislodges colour molecules near the roots.

Proper cleansing technique:

Massage with gentle circular motions using fingertips (not nails)
Focus shampoo at the roots, let suds glide down the strands naturally
Rinse thoroughly to avoid product buildup that can cause dullness

This is especially important for those with fashion colours or toners that fade easily (ash blonde or pastel pink).

7. Not Using a Filtered or Soft Water Source

Hard water can strip colour and leave mineral residue that makes hair look dull and brassy.

In many areas (near Johor especially), tap water contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, and chlorine, all of which weaken hair and interfere with colour. These minerals build up over time, making toning products less effective.

Fix it with:

A shower filter to remove hard water minerals
Occasional use of a chelating or detox shampoo (once every 2–3 weeks)
Following up with a hydrating mask to restore softness

You may not notice the effect in one wash, but over months, hard water can fade even the most vibrant dye jobs.

8. Shampooing Without Detangling First

Washing tangled hair leads to breakage and uneven colour retention.

If your hair is dry, bleached, or long, it’s more prone to knotting. Jumping straight into the shower and scrubbing over tangles can cause unnecessary snapping, especially around fragile, coloured ends.

What to do first:

Gently detangle with a wide-tooth comb or fingers before shampooing
Work from ends to roots to prevent stress on coloured mid-lengths
Apply a leave-in detangling spray if your hair is prone to knots

Less breakage = longer-lasting colour, especially in highlighted or ombré styles.

9. Not Rinsing Shampoo Out Properly

Residual shampoo can cause buildup that dulls shine and interferes with toning.

Even with colour-safe products, not rinsing thoroughly leaves behind ingredients that may block pigment or attract pollutants. Over time, this buildup leads to flat tone and even itchy scalp.

Tips for thorough rinsing:

Rinse for at least 30–60 seconds after lathering
Use your fingers to separate sections and let water flow through
If hair feels slippery or filmy after rinsing, rinse again

It may seem minor, but this single step often makes the difference between soft, vibrant colour and dull, weighed-down hair.

10. Applying Shampoo Directly to Hair Without Diluting

Undiluted shampoo can be too strong for coloured hair, especially at the roots.

Highly pigmented or concentrated formulas (like toning shampoos) can deposit unevenly or dry out the scalp if applied straight from the bottle. This leads to patchy tone and irritation.

How to dilute properly:

Mix a small amount of shampoo with water in your palms first
Focus on the roots; let the lather travel down the strands
If needed, do a second wash instead of overloading one dose

This is especially important when using strong toning products like purple or blue shampoo on lightened hair.

Conclusion: Protecting Hair Colour Starts in the Shower

Hair colour doesn’t just fade at the salon (it better not), it fades at home.

At Top Secret, we believe keeping your colour vibrant isn’t about adding more products, it’s about using the right ones and knowing how to treat your hair day-to-day.

Small habits like cooler water, better product choices, and gentle technique can stretch your colour for weeks longer.

Avoiding these 10 hair washing mistakes gives your hair the best chance to shine, literally.

Speaking of better product choices. If you are ready to restock your hair shampoo, we’ve got the sulphate-free, colour-loving formulas your local hair salon stylist would approve of.

Frequently Asked Questions: Hair Washing & Colour Fade

What Causes Hair Colour To Fade So Quickly?

Frequent washing, hot water, and harsh shampoos are the most common causes of colour fading after dyeing.

How Often Should I Wash Coloured Hair?

2-3 times a week is ideal. Over-washing removes pigment and natural oils needed for shine and tone retention.

Can I Use Clarifying Shampoo On Dyed Hair?

Only sparingly. Clarifying shampoos strip product and colour. Use once every few weeks if absolutely needed, and follow with a deep conditioner.

Should I Wash My Hair Before Using Toning Shampoo?

No, toning shampoos are the wash. Just apply like normal shampoo and follow with conditioner or a hair mask.

Does Cold Water Really Help Preserve Colour?

Yes. Cold or lukewarm water helps seal the cuticle, preventing pigment loss during rinsing.

Is It Okay To Shampoo Twice In One Wash?

Only if your hair is particularly oily or dirty. If so, use a mild, colour-safe shampoo and never scrub aggressively.