My hair was nearly every colour of the rainbow as a teen. But as a grown-up beauty editor, one of my favourite hair colours was a vibrant copper shade. And while it was my favourite colour, it was by far the hardest to maintain at home. But I learned a number of tricks over the years about how to keep it in the best possible condition. That’s mostly thanks to my colourists – Jack Howard and John Alfred – being just a text message or voice note away for the best advice in the business.

I’m now back to my natural brunette roots, but I’m still using some of the tips I learned to keep my hair in top condition. If you’re struggling to maintain the health and vibrancy of your hair, I’ve asked top colourists for their favourite care tips and products. 

If you’re not naturally copper, then getting root touch-ups will need to become part of your new routine. Every four to six weeks is generally what experts recommend because a) no one loves huge roots (unless that’s what you’re going for) and b) you risk getting hot roots (ie where your roots are brighter than the rest of your hair). 

You might need to channel your inner Wim Hof when you become part of the red hair club. “It’s important to rinse red hair with cold rinses, not too hot, as this will prolong the colour,” explains Christel Barron-Hough, Stil’s founder and creative director. 

Feeling a bit lazy when it comes to washing your hair? If you’re red-headed (courtesy of hair dye), you have the excuse to skip it for an extra day because too much shampoo can fade your colour. Don’t over-wash when you don’t need to, which includes double shampooing (thoroughly shampooing once is enough to get the job done) and doing it daily can fade your colour fast. It’s also recommended you wait several days after you’ve had your hair freshly dyed before washing it at home. In addition, over-styling can dry the hair and make the colour fade faster. Try styling tricks like heatless curls instead of daily heat styling. 

Colour-safe shampoos are designed to preserve the vibrancy and life of your red hair while still doing a great job at cleansing your roots. The good news? There are lots to choose from.

Images: Tori Crowther; courtesy of brands