how to store gua sha stone

15 Best Shampoos For Color-Treated Hair

Switching up your hair color is a fantastic way to revamp your appearance and let your personality shine. However, the dyeing process can leave your hair feeling parched, delicate, and the color may lose its luster. To maintain the vibrancy and well-being of your colored locks, choosing the right shampoo is crucial. Pharmacies and salons boast an array of hair care products specially crafted for colored hair. These goodies pledge to moisturize, boost shine, and safeguard your hair hue from the harsh aftermath of potent cleansers. If you’re unsure about which product suits your colored hair best, feel free to contact us as we reveal some of the best shampoos for colored hair below!

Best Shampoo For Color-Treated Hair Overall: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Olaplex shampoo, favored by hairstylists and users alike, not only gently cleanses the hair but also restores damaged hair bonds. This effect contributes to healthier, shinier, and more color-resistant hair. The hair care system comprises Olaplex Shampoo No. 4, Olaplex Conditioner No. 5, and Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3. Among them, Olaplex Shampoo No. 4 stands out as the most popular choice among consumers. The product helps achieve soft and manageable hair while reducing hair loss during washing. Some people suggest enhancing the product by changing the fragrance for an improved user experience.

Best Drugstore Shampoo : L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo

L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo is infused with the rejuvenating essence of rosemary. Specifically designed for dry hair, this product deeply replenishes moisture, leaving hair irresistibly soft and boasting a luminous shine. Particularly suitable for color-treated hair, immerse yourself in the subtle and delightful scent of rosemary as you care for your hair. Many users have provided highly positive reviews, noting that the product is non-toxic and has been used without harm for several years.

Best Luxury Shampoo: Oribe Shampoo For Beautiful Color

This luxurious shampoo is crafted with a blend of natural oils and extracts to gently cleanse and nourish color-treated hair. The product features extracts from argan, maracuja, and bamboo, balancing both the hair and the scalp to fortify and enhance. It leaves the hair clean and adequately moisturized, restoring its original health with healing oils. Despite its delightful scent, the high price and small bottle size limit the benefits compared to its cost.

Best Shampoo For Fine: Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo

This formula delicately cleanses without causing color fading or weighing down thin hair. It also contains UV protection to prevent color fading. OUAI Fine Shampoo and Conditioner, designed for thin hair, gently clean and nourishing. Biotin and chia seeds enhance thickness, providing a full and voluminous look. OUAI is dedicated to embracing a fulfilled life, accepting imperfections, and creating high-quality hair care products with the best ingredients. While some users reported excessive hair shedding, others found it to be satisfactory.

Best Shampoo For Oily: Sachajuan Colour Protect Shampoo

The Sachajuan product line from Sweden is an ideal choice for cleansing and maintaining moisture in the hair, especially when you want to protect color-treated hair but face the challenge of greasy hair post-shampoo. Despite being sulfate-free, this formula still provides a low-acid cleanser to preserve color. The product utilizes the brand’s exclusive Ocean Silk Technology derived from algae rich in calcium, manganese, zinc, and magnesium. This helps balance the scalp and enhance shine without compromising the natural beauty of the color.

Best Shampoo For Curly:  Virtue Recovery Shampoo

This shampoo is renowned for its ability to tame curly hair and provide easy manageability. Its special formula includes several standout ingredients to protect hair color. Hydrolyzed quinoa enhances shine, pomelo extract restores the scalp, and baobab seed oil softens the hair. The product is also infused with the exclusive Alpha Keratin 60ku, a human keratin protein designed to repair damaged hair. Reviews emphasize that the shampoo effectively addresses stubborn curls, leaving the hair soft, voluminous, and shiny.

Best Shampoo For Highlighted Hair: Kérastase Blond Absolu Hydrating Illuminating Shampoo

Highlighting your hair can enhance its color, but it often leads to dryness and breakage. Kérastase addresses this issue with a shampoo containing hyaluronic acid, a moisturizing agent that binds water molecules to hair strands, preventing dryness. Additionally, edelweiss flower extract promotes thicker, stronger locks. Although it contains sodium laureth sulfate, a cleansing agent approved for preserving color, it’s sulfate-free. In spite of the violet bottle, it’s not a purple shampoo, but it effectively neutralizes brassy tones and enhances shine for a radiant finish.

Best Shampoo For Red Hair: Love Beauty And Planet Blooming Color Shampoo

Love Beauty And Planet’s color-safe shampoo is made up of 93% naturally-derived ingredients, featuring ultra-nourishing murumuru butter and hydrating Bulgarian rose. Infused with coconut oil, it effectively seals in moisture, resulting in bouncy and soft locks. The brand prioritizes sustainability by using recycled plastic bottles and adhering to cruelty-free testing practices, while the ethically sourced extracts provide a delightful fragrance to their shampoos.

Best Shampoo For Blondes: Matrix Unbreak My Blonde Shampoo

For those dealing with overprocessed, straw-like hair, Matrix offers a solution to reduce breakage and rejuvenate strands. The pH-balancing formula, enriched with citric acid, strengthens weakened bonds and provides much-needed moisture. Buyers highlight its pleasant lathering, effective cleansing, and appealing scent.

Best Sulfate -Free Color Safe Shampoo: TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Color Shampoo

This budget-friendly shampoo by TRESemmé features keratin for smooth and frizz-free hair while protecting color. The Keratin Smooth System with Lamellar-Discipline transforms unruly hair into a sleek look for up to 72 hours. The Pro Style Technology, enriched with amino acids and ceramide, enhances hair strength and manageability with continuous use. Enjoy a frizz-free, silky look for 72 hours. Trusted ingredients include a cruelty-free, PETA-certified formula, free from Parabens, Mineral Oil, and DMDM Hydantoin.

Best Shampoo For Brunettes: DpHue Color Fresh Shampoo

Maintaining a vibrant brunette shade between salon visits can be challenging, whether you’re covering grays or enhancing your color. DpHue’s color-safe shampoo, co-founded by celebrity colorist Justin Anderson, is known for its gentle formula that helps preserve color intensity. Infused with kumquat extract for added shine and sunflower seed extract to protect from UV damage, this shampoo is a go-to for keeping your color fresh between appointments.

Best Lightweight Feel: Fekkai Technician Color Shampoo

For an eco-friendly choice, consider using this shampoo that bears the Leaping Bunny certification. Enriched with an antioxidant elixir and Pro Vitamin B5, it provides protection against heat, sun damage, and color fading. This high-quality salon-grade shampoo features the special Mirabelle plum seed oil, known for extending the vibrancy of hair color. Whether you fancy bold or subtle hues, this shampoo guarantees a prolonged and radiant color experience.

Best For Fighting Frizz: Smoothing Anti-Frizz  Shampoo

This shampoo distinguishes itself by addressing the negative impact of humidity on hair, particularly color-treated strands that are susceptible to heightened breakage. Its superior moisturizing and nourishing properties effectively combat frizz, leaving hair silkier and smoother. Notably, the results endure for up to 72 hours post-wash, delivering prolonged relief from frizz. Beyond enhancing color vibrancy, the specialized formula acts as a protective shield, reducing the risk of damage from environmental factors. Embrace the confidence that comes with consistently maintaining sleek and resilient hair through the enduring effects of this moisture-rich shampoo.

Best For Frequent Washers: R+Co Gemstone Color Shampoo

R+Co Gemstone Color Shampoo is designed to counteract the detrimental effects of humidity on hair, especially color-treated strands that are prone to increased breakage. The color-protecting complex formula is crafted not only to enhance the gloss of the pigment but also to address issues of tangling, making the hair strands shiny, smooth, and easily manageable. This not only helps preserve the desired color but also maintains the best hair dyeing experience for you.

How We Chose The Best Shampoos For Color-Treated Hair

In our quest for the top shampoos for color-treated hair, we focused on key ingredients that effectively cleanse, nourish, and strengthen dyed strands. Our carefully curated selection caters to diverse hair types, from curly to fine and dry textures, while considering various shades such as blonde, brunette, or auburn. Drawing on insights from our experts with in-salon experience and analyzing customer reviews, we identified standout product characteristics. To guide your choice, prioritize color-safe ingredients with humectants like glycerin, avoid harmful agents, opt for sulfate-free formulations, and use clarifying shampoos sparingly to prevent accelerated color fading, particularly in the initial weeks post-coloring. We’ve curated options to suit different budgets, ensuring choices that blend affordability with luxury.

How Do You Protect Color-Treated Hair?

To maintain freshly colored hair, it’s advisable to wait at least 24 hours before washing to minimize color fading. Washing color-treated hair two to three times a week is ideal, with rinsing and conditioning suggested on non-shampoo days. Choose dry shampoos without alcohol and avoid sulfates, as they can strip color. To extend color life, reduce heated styling tool use, especially high-temperature flat irons, and always use a heat protectant with UV protection to shield hair from damage and sun-induced fading.

Conclusion

In the list of hair care products, shampoo plays a crucial role, especially when used for colored hair. Choosing the right shampoo can significantly impact both maintaining the color and the health of the hair. Effective shampoo for colored hair not only helps remove dirt but also prevents the fading process. After considering the aforementioned products and following our advice, if your choice aligns with your hair type, you’ll undoubtedly not only help maintain the color and health of your colored hair but also ensure that your hair remains fresh and attractive. Additionally, you can also explore various hair vitamins.

Gua Sha Before and After Plus A Quick Review

Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice that has gained popularity in recent years as a facial massage technique. With claims of improving skin tone and texture, reducing puffiness, and even contouring the face, it’s no wonder that gua sha has become a buzzword in the world of beauty and wellness. But does this ancient practice really work? Can it truly reduce a double chin or slim down the face? 

In this article, we will dive into the truth about gua sha and examine its effectiveness for facial sculpting, giving you a better understanding of what to expect from this popular technique.

Gua Sha Before and After review

Stage 1: I experienced a minor breakout

This outcome wasn’t what I anticipated from a soothing skincare treatment. It’s akin to stirring up sediment from the bottom of a pond. When beginning any form of facial massage routine, such as gua sha or lymphatic drainage, breakouts may emerge.

If you, like me, observe breakouts on your face after several days of gua sha, consider adjusting your technique to use downward strokes, starting from the jawline and ending at the clavicle.

Stage 2: I gained a deeper understanding of my facial stress patterns

While I thought I had a decent grasp of my facial tension through daily oil cleansing and massage, gua sha opened up a more nuanced understanding. Running a flat stone over your facial contours provides intricate insights.

With a gua sha stone, you can detect the high points, low points, crevices, and yes, even knots in your face. I tend to hold tension beneath my cheekbones, across my forehead, and along the sides of my face, from my temples to my jawline. As I worked on my forehead lines, feeling the distinct shape of the tissue beneath the skin revealed a lot about how I express and carry stress in my face.

We often hear about understanding how we hold tension in our bodies, but it’s equally valuable to be attuned to how we hold tension in our faces. Regular facial massages can assist in this awareness.

Stage 3: I began focusing more on my neck

I’ve come to believe that anyone embarking on a self-gua sha practice should prioritize neck work, commencing and often concluding with it.

After several consecutive days of gua sha, I noticed a slight swelling beneath my jawline and chin. It’s possible that lymph fluid was accumulating in that area. Starting and ending with gentle strokes down the neck is crucial to maintain proper lymphatic flow..

Does Gua Sha Work?

The million-dollar question: does gua sha actually work? The answer is yes, but with some caveats.

There is limited scientific evidence to support the claims that gua sha works. However, some studies have shown that gua sha may be effective for relieving muscle pain, reducing inflammation, and improving skin tone and texture.

For example, in a study from 2018 featured in the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal, gua sha was shown to effectively alleviate muscle pain and stiffness in individuals dealing with chronic neck pain. Similarly, a study from 2021, published in the journal Pain Medicine, demonstrated the effectiveness of gua sha in reducing inflammation and enhancing pain relief and functionality in those suffering from shoulder pain. Furthermore, a study in 2022, published in the Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine journal, confirmed that gua sha yielded positive results in enhancing skin tone and texture among individuals with photoaging.

In fact, these studies were small and short-term. More research is needed to confirm the long-term safety and effectiveness of gua sha for all of its purported benefits.

How Gua Sha Works

Gua sha is based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which believes that energy or qi flows through our bodies. When this flow is disrupted, it can lead to various health issues, including skin problems. Gua sha is said to help restore the flow of qi and promote overall well-being.

When used on the face, gua sha is thought to increase blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote lymphatic drainage. This can result in a brighter complexion, reduced puffiness, and a more defined facial structure. The tool’s pressure on the skin also helps to relax tense muscles and release tension, leading to a more rejuvenated appearance.

Gua Sha Before and After Double Chin

One of the most sought-after benefits of gua sha is its potential to reduce a double chin or contour the face for a slimmer appearance. Here’s a closer look at how gua sha can help with these concerns.

Reducing Double Chin

A double chin is caused by excess fat or loose skin under the chin, making the area appear fuller and rounder. It can be challenging to get rid of a double chin as it requires a combination of diet, exercise, and possibly medical procedures. However, incorporating gua sha into your skincare routine may provide some improvements.

Using the gua sha tool to massage the chin and neck area can stimulate blood flow and promote lymphatic drainage, which can help reduce puffiness and improve the appearance of a double chin. Additionally, regular gua sha massages can help to tighten and tone the muscles in the neck and jawline, resulting in a more defined and sculpted appearance over time.

Contouring the Face

Facial contouring has become a popular trend in recent years, with many people seeking ways to achieve a more defined and chiseled facial structure. While there are various techniques and treatments available, gua sha offers a natural and non-invasive option for facial sculpting.

The pressure and movements of the gua sha tool on the face can help to relax tense muscles and release tension, resulting in a more relaxed and defined appearance. Additionally, the increased blood flow and lymphatic drainage can reduce puffiness and improve skin tone, further enhancing the facial contours.

Gua Sha for Face

Now that we’ve established that gua sha can work for reducing a double chin and contouring the face, let’s dive into how to use this technique properly for the best results.

How to Use Gua Sha Stone

First and foremost, it is essential to choose the right gua sha tool for your needs. There are various types of stones available, with jade and rose quartz being the most popular choices. Jade is said to have cooling properties, making it ideal for reducing inflammation and puffiness, while rose quartz is believed to promote self-love and inner peace, making it a popular choice for facial massages.

To use a gua sha stone, start by applying a facial oil or serum to your clean and dry face. This will help the tool glide smoothly on the skin and prevent any discomfort. Hold the gua sha tool at a 15-degree angle and gently scrape it over your face using upward and outward strokes. Use light pressure and move the tool in long, smooth motions, avoiding any areas with moles or blemishes.

For the chin and neck area, start in the center and use upward strokes towards the ears. For the cheekbones, start at the nose and glide towards the temples. When working on the forehead, start from the center and move outwards towards the hairline. Repeat each stroke three to five times, and remember to be gentle as the skin on the face is delicate.

Gua Sha Facial Massage

In addition to using the gua sha tool, incorporating a facial massage into your skincare routine can provide even more benefits. Massaging the face with your hands can help to promote blood circulation, reduce tension, and enhance product absorption. You can use your fingers or a facial roller to massage your face in upward and outward motions, or you can follow a specific gua sha facial chart for a more targeted massage.

Gua Sha Facial Chart

A gua sha facial chart is a visual guide that illustrates which areas of the face to target for different skin concerns. It provides a step-by-step guide for using the gua sha tool to achieve specific results. Here’s an example of a gua sha facial chart for facial sculpting:

As you can see from the chart, there are specific strokes and pressure points to target for each area of concern. This can be helpful for those new to gua sha and looking for guidance on how to use the tool effectively.

Final Takeaway

In conclusion, gua sha may not be a miracle cure for all skin concerns, it can provide noticeable improvements in skin health and appearance when used properly and consistently.

From reducing puffiness and promoting lymphatic drainage to contouring the face and reducing a double chin, gua sha has many potential benefits. By incorporating this ancient practice into your skincare routine and following a gua sha facial chart, you can achieve a brighter complexion, defined facial contours, and a more relaxed and rejuvenated appearance. So why not give gua sha a try and see the before and after results for yourself?