Why Natural Hair Colors Fade Fast - Here’s How to Make It Stick

Posted by Nobuko Uchino on

Article updated on: November 07, 2024

Article created on: November 30, 2023

Have you ever tried a gentle, natural herb-based hair color for your damaged hair, only to find it didn’t color as you expected?

With additive-free natural hair color made from herbal pigments, the coloring results can vary based on your hair’s health. When hair is more damaged, the pigments are more likely to fade quickly, as they enter easily but don’t stay due to the open cuticles on damaged hair.

 

Left photo: Healthy hair   |   Right photo: Damaged hair

Healthy hair with closed cuticlesDamaged hair with some open cuticles
Illustration of healthy hair and damaged hair
Healthy and Damaged Hair Structure

Understanding Hair Porosity: The Key to Successful Dyeing

Hair porosity refers to how well your hair can absorb and retain moisture and other products. This depends on the structure of the hair’s cuticle, which is the outer layer of each strand:

Low porosity: The cuticles are packed closely together, so moisture has a hard time getting in. Hair with low porosity can take a long time to wash and dry.

Medium porosity: The cuticles aren’t as tightly packed as in low porosity hair, allowing for a moderate amount of moisture absorption.

High porosity: The cuticles have wider gaps, so moisture moves in and out easily. Hair with high porosity often feels dry because it loses moisture quickly.

Damaged and normal hair

If your hair loses moisture easily, the color from natural hair dye may fade faster with daily shampooing. On the other hand, if your cuticles are tightly closed and don’t allow moisture in, it can also be harder for plant-based pigments to penetrate your hair, making it more difficult for the color to take hold.

 

The Porosity Test: Simple and Informative

To gauge your hair's porosity, take a few strands and drop them into a glass of water. If they sink to the bottom, it's high porosity; if they float, it's low porosity, and if they stop in the middle, it's normal porosity.

The Solution is Ayurvedic

If your hair has low porosity, we recommend wetting your hair and waiting a bit to allow the cuticles to open before applying natural hair color.

On the other hand, if your hair has high porosity, try using a restorative herbal hair mask with ingredients like Amla or Bhringraj to help repair damage before coloring. This can improve color retention and overall hair health.

organic amla fruitsorganic brahmi leaf

Try Our Organic Shampoo Bar: Nourishing Ayurvedic Herbs for Healthier, Color-Ready Hair

We also recommend our natural, additive-free organic shampoo bar, specifically designed for use with natural hair color. To help maintain optimal cuticle health, our shampoo bar contains no harsh synthetic surfactants, which can overly strip hair. Instead, it’s enriched with effective Ayurvedic herbs like Amla Fruit, Brahmi Leaf, and Bhringraj Leaf—all organically sourced. These herbs work to nourish and support healthy hair with every wash.

organic shampoo bar

Embrace Natural Hair Care: The Secret to Long-Lasting Beauty and Healthier Hair

If you’ve been using harsh hair color or strong shampoos regularly, damaged hair can be hard to repair. Changing your daily habits is essential to support your hair’s natural cuticle health. Unlike chemical dyes, natural hair color uses gentle pigments to color your hair, so the condition of your hair greatly affects how well the color takes.

When you invest time and care into maintaining your hair’s health, the benefits are long-lasting. Healthy, naturally vibrant hair can be a secret to looking youthful as you age, adding a radiant glow that keeps you looking refreshed.

That’s why we recommend using the power of natural products for both coloring and hair care, allowing your hair to gain strength and beauty gradually over time.

Organic Hair Care Product

Organic Hair Dye Products

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