AF Blog — Hair Care and Styling

Summer’s in full swing, Fox, and while we know you love to rock your colored hair, we also know you love pool days just as much. I mean, who can say no to a cool dip on a steamy day? So here we are with the FULL pool day hair care routine that you absolutely cannot skip before you take that dip. 

The obvious culprit to dry, brittle hair and fading color is….. you guessed it…. Chlorine. Salt water can also damage your hair by stripping it of color and leaving it dull and dry. Not all hope is lost for our bright and bold babes! Giving your hair as many layers of protection as possible between those precious strands and salt or pool water, will help you maintain soft, healthy hair and vibrant color. 

We’ve got the FULL lineup, so let’s dive right in! 

1. Beat it to the plunge

Before you take that cannonball into the pool, wet your hair thoroughly with cold water. This will keep your hair from absorbing more pool or sea water than it should and give it that extra layer of protection. As soon as you get out of the pool, rinse out your hair again to prevent chlorine from sitting too long on those strands. If you’re spending all day in the sun, make sure to wet your hair in between tanning sessions to avoid having your hair dry out. Rinse, dip, repeat - as many times as it takes! 😎💦🌞

2. Lather up

No, we’re not talking about shampoo or conditioner. If you’re looking for that extra step to really protect your locks, opt for a hair mask, (hey, Pool Party!) to lather up your hair and give it even more love and protection before ducking underwater. Did we mention she smells absolutely AH-mazing?! She’s also packed with antioxidants, omegas, and natural oils to really get in there and moisturize every stand. Yeah, this is DEFINITELY a party you wanna RSVP to! 

3. Don’t forget the SPF!

Yes, babe, your hair needs it just as much as your skin. Intense sun rays can dry out your hair and lead to just as much damage as heat tools. Spritz on a GENEROUS amount of our OG Hair Perfume and UV Protectant to fend off the summer rays before and after you take a dip. Plus, your hair will smell sooo GRAPE!

4. Put your hair up 

A simple but super effective remedy for minimizing every strand getting coated with Chlorine or salt water, is to put up your hair in a bun or braids before you go for a swim. This protects your strands from being totally soaked while you’re having fun in the sun and also gives you the chance to try a new super-cute ‘do! We love a simple remedy.

5. Hit the showers

Don’t skip the post-swim shower! The sooner you can hop in the shower after your swim and wash out all the chemicals or salt water from your hair, the more your strands will thank you, and the better chance you have at keeping your color. Opt for our color-safe and sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner and resurrect your strands with a formula that’s just sooo hydrating. Washing your hair thoroughly right away will minimize damage and make sure that chemicals and salt water don’t totally soak through your hair. As a bonus step, finish with another mask of Pool Party for a post-pool day hair treatment!

6. Refresh, anyone?

My favorite AF tip is to keep an extra bottle of dye on hand to add into your conditioner whenever you’re feelin’ like you could use a touch up. If your hair is looking a little dull after your fifth pool day this week, add in a few drops of your current color when you’re conditioning your hair for a quick refresh. With this trick, you can keep that stunning color all summer long! 

There’s nothing like the brilliant heat of the summer months that inspires us to reinvent ourselves, try a brighter color, or hit refresh on our favorite look. With beach days and pool parties ahead, nothing is more needed than a fool-proof summer hair care routine to make sure your color lasts as long as possible and shines as bright as the sun! Lucky for you, we’ve got all the hacks you need to keep your color vibrant and lasting.

1. Shower Safely 

The number one rule when it comes to caring for color is washing your strands with cold or lukewarm water, no matter the time of year. Hot water can dry out your hair, causing it to feel brittle and look more dull. You might also want to try a filter for your shower head to avoid the harsh minerals that some water contains which could lead to your color fading quicker. 

2. Stock Up on Color-Safe Shampoo and Conditioner

The pair that’s ALWAYS good for your hair, is a color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner - like our Resurrected Shampoo and Conditioner! They’re packed with amino acids and antioxidants for an extra boost of much-needed hydration. Carefully massage your scalp with shampoo, rinse with lukewarm water, and coat the ends of your hair with conditioner. Sulfate-free products help your hair retain its natural moisture to prevent the loss of natural shine and softness, so finding your winning shampoo and conditioner combo is totally essential for maintaining the vibrancy of color and keeping your hair texture moisturized and soft rather than dry and brittle.

3. Give Your Hair Some Extra TLC 

While there’s lot of hair products on the market that can help repair your split ends (hey, Money Hunny), or refresh your unwashed hair in a single spritz (enter Vacay Volumizing Dry Shampoo), there’s nothing quite like a good hair mask to take your hair texture from good to ah-mazing! Swap out your regular conditioner for a hair mask in the shower, or spoil your hair to self-care with a hair mask treatment a few times a week. Our Pool Party Hair Mask does all of the above and smells divine - when you include her in your routine your hair will thank you forever. 

4. Pool Day Prep

Going underwater isn’t great for colored hair, but there’s no way our Fox Fam is skipping the beach or missing pool parties! Before you take a dip, minimize salt or chlorine absorption by wetting your hair thoroughly. For bonus points, coat your strands with a hair mask or deep conditioner to protect your hair from the damage wreaked by pool or sea water. And you guessed it, Pool Party will do the trick! After all, she is the real life of the party.

5. Don’t Forget Your SPF!

SPF for your hair is JUST as important as it is for your skin. Fight off sun damage and dryness with a thorough spritz of protection from the OG Hair Perfume and UV Protectant. Not only will your hair smell amazing, you’re adding on an essential layer of protection that your colored strands absolutely need if they’re going to be out in the sun. 

6. Hit Refresh Real Quick

For all our bleached babes who want to fight off brassy tones, add a drop of Purple AF into your conditioner to create toner that will combat any bleached brassiness. If you have a single color, add a drop of the corresponding shade to your conditioner for a quick refresh when you hit the shower! Water and sun exposure will fade your color, and while all AF dyes are created to look stunning even as they fade, you might want to keep a little extra color on hand for when you want to up the vibrancy. 

7. Rock That Natural Look!

Embrace your natural hair texture and ditch the hot tools. We all know that using heat excessively on your hair causes damage that affects the shine and texture of your hair and can even impact how the next color you try actually looks on your locks. Rock an effortless summer style with a new hairstyle, or by fully embracing your natural look for hair that’s healthier and shinier than ever! 

The same way the seasons change is the same way some of us change our hair color. With the warm weather steadily approaching some of us might opt for some lighter or brighter tones. Thinking about switching up your color soon? Don’t worry we’ve got your back. Here are some of our favorite tips for fading your color safely!

Wash Your Hair More Often

Skip the dry shampoo this week if you’re trying to fade that color faster. You’ll want to turn up the volume on washing those beautiful tresses this week. Hot or cold water for these showers you ask? You’ll want to opt for some hotter showers this week as it will help the color you have fade faster. Get your hands on a clarifying shampoo as well. Clarifying shampoos help remove not only any buildup, but also help with removing product in your hair. Combine these tips to get the process started on fading your hair.

Take A Dip

Believe it or not a dip in the pool or ocean can help fade your color faster! It’s actually the chlorine in the pool that will bond with the hair dye and get it to come out faster. Although, warning to my copper hair girls, the chlorine in a pool can turn copper shades pale green. Unless your next hair choice will be close to green I would opt for those extra washes and not the pool. Saltwater can have the same effect as pool water. Be careful though, this can cause some extra dryness. If you’re planning on dyeing it soon after then going for that swim could be a good option!

Vitamin C Please

Here’s a little secret sauce for your next wash day! Let’s talk about mixing in some Vitamin C. The immune boosting vitamin can help with getting your color to fade away faster. You want to mix it into your clarifying shampoo and leave it in for about five minutes, then proceed to rinse. How does Vitamin C do this? The acid in the vitamin c is strong enough to break up semi permanent hair dye. You definitely want to follow up with a mask! This could be a good time to try out our game changing Pool Party Hair Mask. 



Color Wheel for the Win

If you’re not looking for a quick fix when it comes to getting your color to fade, then giving the color wheel some attention might be your best bet. You want to find your current color on the color wheel, whatever color is across from your current color you would want to use that color to help cancel out your current color. It can be a little technical but overall a slower process if you’re not in a hurry! You also want to be cautious with this step, as it is required for your hair to be faded! Adding the opposite color can create a muddy shade if your hair is not faded! So, with that, don’t fear the fade!

Now that you’re a pro at fading your hair color you’re ready to move on from your current look. Experiment and have some fun! After all that’s what hair dye is for.

While the winter months can bring so many warm and cozy memories, the cold temperatures are likely causing your hair’s breakage, frizz and overall damage. Not to worry, Fox Fam 💝  We’ve weathered this storm before and we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite ways to protect hair from winter dryness! 

Healthy hair starts from within. Nourishing your body with the proper nutrients has SO many benefits, including improving the overall health of your hair. Below, you will find a list of ways that you can fuel your hair, using the following foods (vegan options for each are also listed)

1. Protein: Your hair is made up of protein, so it’s extremely important to include lots of it into your daily routine. Doing so will prevent hair loss and breakage. Some remedies include: nuts, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, beans, tofu, quinoa and chickpeas.
2. Omega-3: For itchy and dry scalp, you’ll want to incorporate healthy fatty acids to achieve a hydrated scalp and shiny hair. Some remedies include: fish, avocado, pumpkin seeds, walnuts
3. Vitamin C: Looking for more strength and growth for your hair? This is going to be your holy grail, as it produces collagen to really strengthen the hair and allow it to grow at a faster rate. Some remedies include: oranges, blueberries, broccoli, papaya, strawberries, sweet potatoes (add almonds and cashews to get some Vitamin E for dry hair, as well.
4. Iron- Great for hair loss! Some remedies include: spinach, lentils and broccoli

Now that we’ve got a grasp on how these nutrients can kick start your hair’s health, let’s talk about more common ways to protect and heal your hair from the cold! 

Shampoo and Conditioner: A good hair care routine should start with a good wash. Not to brag (okay, maybe a little) but our Resurrected Set is fully packed with amino acids & antioxidants to restore elasticity and soothe the scalp. However, we would advise customers to wash less frequently in the winter, to avoid stripping the hair of moisture and oil. 

Hair Wraps: If you notice your hair is brittle and difficult to style after it’s been washed, it’s likely that the hair is lacking moisture. Giving your hair a break from your blow dryer and using a hair wrap will reduce frizz and breakage. Here is the link to one we’ve been loving! 

Hair Serum: Whether you like a milky or a glossy hair serum, we have some of the BEST recommendations to seal that hair and strengthen dry, brittle strands. As you may know, our Money Hunny was designed to help ALL hair types achieve their best hair yet by reducing frizz, repairing AND retaining color. Did we mention how dreamy it smells? 🤤  For a scalp focused serum, I recommend this one from Ouai! With its ability to reduce scalp discomfort and create the appearance of thicker hair, this is surely a match made in hair heaven! 

Leave in Conditioner: Leave In Conditioner detangles, hydrates and fights frizz. This one from Ouai is my go to!

Hair Mask: If you haven’t tried our Ultra-Hydrating Pool Party Foaming Hair Mask yet, your hair is missing out! With healthy antioxidants, omegas and all natural oils, your hair will be revived in no time! Did you know that there are 4 ways you can use our Pool Party Foaming Hair Mask?

1. A pre-shower hair mask: Apply to dry hair and leave it for 10 minutes, then rinse and condition.
2. An amplified conditioner: Use in place of your conditioner after shampooing.
3. Wet styling: Apply a generous amount to dry hair to give a full-bodied wet styled/slicked back look. Hydrates and conditions hair while holding your hairstyle in place. 
4. Condition dry ends: Add a small amount to dried ends for a boost of hydration.

       *Pool Party is only available to ship in the contiguous United States*

Trimming: If all else fails, your hair may simply be in need of a little trim (½ inch - 2 inches should be plenty). In general, this is essential for healthy hair, regardless of the season, so I highly recommend doing this as the winter approaches.

While all these tips will be helpful year round, your hair will definitely thank you for giving it that extra T.L.C. during these chilly winter months. 

Do you have any questions or concerns? We want to hear from you! Let us know below! 👇

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