I've wanted purple hair since...well forever...and last week I got it! 

 I went with a shade of dark brown on top with light blonde highlights and purple underneath in the back. Since my hair is so dark, she had to bleach it first. I've been dying my hair with streaks of bright red for two years, and my hair has always stayed healthy.

Getting purple was a bit of a shock for me, and I quickly realized that I had no idea how to care for it! Purple, lavender, and violet hair is a popular trend right now, but most people don't know purple hair care tips. Keep reading for tips to help your violet hair last longer.

Purple Hair Care Tips

1. Shampoo Less

I used to wash my hair every day without fail. If you have bright colors like purple, blue, or green, you should only wash your hair every 2 to 3 days and use a DIY dry shampoo recipe on the days that you don't wash your hair. 

 If you're not a DIY person, there are several dry shampoos that work great.

To use dry shampoo, spray on your roots. You don't need a lot; you should only spray for a few seconds. If you have long or thing hair, you might have to section your hair to get the roots.

Then use your fingers to work the products into your scalp and roots. Finally, comb it out. Combing should remove any white residue.

I like to use dry shampoo before bed, but you can use it in the morning as well.

READ 13 New Uses for Dry Shampoo

2. Use the Right Shampoo

Sulfates in shampoos will strip the color out of your hair, so it's very important to use a sulfate-free shampoo. One of the best shampoos for bright colors is Kerastase Reflection Chroma shampoo. It's expensive, but it can really help you keep your color longer.

A less expensive option is Renpure Argan Oil Luxurious Shampoo and Conditioner, but these don't work as well as the Kerastase shampoo.

Avoid using any clarifiying shampoos or dandruff shampoos because they will strip the color from your hair.

3. Cool Rinse

This is the hardest one for me, but try to wash and rinse your hair in cool water. Hot water opens the cuticle, which means color can escape. After you're done washing your hair, you can wrap it in a towel and turn up the heat.

4. Wash the Roots

Your scalp is usually the only part that needs to be washed, so just wash the roots of your hair to protect the color on the ends. My purple is in the back underneath, so I am careful to just wash the roots and rinse well.

5. No Swimming

Chlorine will cause your color to fade, so don't swim in chlorinated pools. You can wear a swimming cap to protect your hair if you want to swim.

6. Healthy Hair

One of the best ways to keep your color is by starting with healthy hair. Try an intensive hair mask like this DIY argan oil hair mask or this deep repair mask before you dye your hair.

7. Color Your Conditioner

Add a teeny bit of the hair color to your conditioner and use that every time you shampoo to give your hair an extra boost of color. 

 Even if you went to the salon for your color, you can usually find the same hair dye or a similar color to use. My stylist use Provana color, so I picked up some extra.

8. Heat Protection

If you use a hair dryer or flat iron, use a DIY heat protection spray or one like this HSI Heat Protection Spray with Argan Oil.

9. UV Protections

UV rays from the sun can fade your color. Use a product to protect your hair from the sun like Philip Kingsley Sun Shield. It's lightweight, so it won't weigh your hair down. It also helps moisturize your hair and prevent frizzy hair.

10. Touch Up With Eyeshadow

If you have some areas that are fading, you can touch them up with eyeshadow. Just sweep on a color close to your hair color. It lasts surprisingly well! I've used shades close to my hair that weren't an exact match, and they looked great.

11. Skip Hot Oil Treatments

Since you deep conditioned before you got your hair colored, skip the hot oil or oil based hair masks for a while after you get your hair colored. It can fade color. Wait until you're close to your touch up date and use a hair mask then.

Have you dyed your hair a bright color like purple, violet, or lavender? What's your favorite purple hair care tip?