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Hair Colour Protocol

Where Healthy Hair Meets Beautiful Colour
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At Ciara McManus Hair Specialist, we believe beautiful colour starts before your appointment and continues long after you leave the salon.

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We don't believe in quick fixes, we focus on healthy, long lasting colour that protects the hairs integrity over time.

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Whether blonde, brunette, copper, grey blending or extensions, healthy hair always looks better, holds tone longer and reflects light more evenly.

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Your colour is only ever as good as the condition underneath it.

 

Small, consistent habits at home make a big difference to how your hair looks, feels and lasts between visits.

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Expert Colour

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Before Your Appointment

For the best colour result, wash your hair 12-24 hours before your appointment, ideally with a detoxifying shampoo to remove oils, residue and build up.

Healthy colour needs a clean canvas, the clearer the hair, the better the reflection, tone and longevity.

Please avoid arriving to your appointment with excessive oils, dry shampoo or heavy product build up where possible.

After Your Colour Appointment

Following highlights, balayage or colour services, we recommend waiting 48 hours before washing your hair.

This allows the hair and cuticle time to settle following the service and supports improved colour longevity, softness and shine.

Shampooing & Scalp Health

Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Wash 2-3 times per week with a professional shampoo suited to your hair and scalp to keep things balanced and prevent build up. 

After cleansing, the cuticle opens, always follow with a conditioner or mask to seal it and restore softness and shine. 

For best results, comb it through with a wide tooth comb before rinsing.

Science Led 

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Water Quality & Your Hair Colour

Water quality has a big impact on your hair colour. Minerals, metals and hard water can cause dullness, unwanted warmth, dryness and reduced colour longevity.

If you live in a hard water area or use well water, a good shower filter can help reduce mineral buildup and protect your colour.

Cleaner water means brighter colour, better reflection and healthier hair long term.

Detoxing Your Hair

Minerals, metals, chlorine and product build up can sit on the hair over time and affect both colour and condition. 

A gentle in salon mud detox every 6-8 weeks helps remove this build up and keeps the hair clean and balanced.

Regular detoxing can improve colour longevity, restore shine, reduce dullness and unwanted tones and create a healthier foundation for future colour services.

Bond Building & Clarifying

Coloured hair needs regular maintenance to stay strong, healthy and resilient.

We recommend:

  • A bond building treatment every 4 washes to support strength

  • Detoxing or clarifying every 6-8 washes to remove build up

  • Always following clarifying shampoos with a deep conditioning mask to restore moisture

 Healthy Hair

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Heat & Styling

Excessive heat can cause colour fade, dryness and damage. Always use a heat protector before blow drying or styling.

Choose gentle to medium heat settings where possible, as high heat affects softened, condition and colour longevity. Reducing daily heat styling helps maintain healthier hair, better reflection and longer lasting colour.

Heat protection also minimises breakage and shields the hair from long term damage.

Swimming, Sun & Environmental Exposure

Swimming, chlorine and strong sun exposure can lead to dryness, discolouration and mineral build up, especially in lighter hair.

Protect the hair where possible, cleanse well after swimming and always use UV protection or wear a hat in strong sunlight to maintain hydration and colour longevity.

Toning Products & Colour Maintenance

Not every blonde, or every hair colour, needs a toning shampoo. Overusing pigmented shampoos, especially purple ones, can leave the hair looking dull, flat or darker by muting reflection. 

We often recommend a purple conditioner instead, as it gives more controlled, even toning without over drying or over toning the hair.

Only use toning products if advised by your stylist and always follow professional guidance on frequency and use

 Long Term Results

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Daily Habits That Help Maintain Healthy Hair Colour

  • Sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce friction and breakage

  • Brush gently from the ends up with a detangling brush and spray

  • Avoid excessive heat and always use heat protection

  • Trim every 8-12 weeks to maintain healthy ends

  • Consistent daily habits help maintain healthy, long lasting colour

Extension Care

To protect both your natural hair and extensions, refit extensions every 6-8 weeks.

Leaving them in longer can create excess tension, heaviness and unnecessary pulling on the natural hair.

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