How can I make my dye job last longer?

Dyeing your hair a bright, vivid colour such as cobalt blue or pastel pink can be a fun and adventurous way to change up your look.

Recent hair trends, such as unicorn hair (a mix of lavender, blue and silver) and the ombre look (where one colour merges into another), also make it tempting to experiment with crazy dyes.

But vivid colours do not last forever and loud reds and blues often fade in one to two weeks .

On how to make these colours last longer, Mr Ralf Boss, haircare label Tigi's education director for Asia and South Pacific, says it is all about the products you use on your hair when you get home from the salon.

"Of course, if you wash your hair less often, the colour will last longer. But no one wants to stop washing their hair."

He gives some tips on how to maintain coloured hair.

•Use the right products

Get shampoo and conditioner for coloured hair. These products usually penetrate the hair less deeply than regular cleansers, which helps the colour stay on longer.

•Cut down on swimming and avoid getting too much sun

The chlorine in the pool will eat away at the hair dye. Too much sun and the use of heating tools, such as hairdryers, curlers and straighteners, will also reduce the vibrancy of coloured hair.

•Use cold water

If you can, wash your hair with cold water. Warm or hot water will cause the colour to fade faster.

•Beware of cheap dyes

Do-it-yourself dye kits to colour the hair or touch up the roots can make it difficult to change one's hair colour in the future. Once hair is coloured with cheaper dye, it is more difficult for the colour pigments to be drawn out. So if someone has dyed his hair a darker colour, it is harder to make it lighter or more colourful.

•Maintain healthy hair

It actually starts on the inside. Having a balanced diet and keeping yourself fit will help your hair grow better and healthier. Eat more fish - the Omega-3 fatty acids they contain support scalp health.

Five hair products to try

Color Conserve Daily Color Protect, $48, from Aveda, available at Aveda Experience Centres at Capitol Piazza, Ngee Ann City, Tangs at Tang Plaza, and Aveda Salons and Spas

This leave-in treatment contains larch tree extract, which the label says forms a natural seal over the hair that helps lock in colour.

Urban Antidotes Recovery Shampoo, $30, from Tigi, available at the Tigi salon at B1-02 Orchard Gateway

The label says the colour-safe shampoo will give hair a moisture boost.

My Hair Recipe Color Care Hair Mist, $19, from Innisfree counters

This mild hair mist contains antioxidant-rich ingredients which the label says will reduce discolouration.

Color Protection Spray, $18, from Yves Rocher counters

This serum for coloured hair is enriched with hawthorn and organic sesame oil, which the label says help protect colour from fading.

Colour Save Shampoo, $36, from Sachajuan, available at Sephora outlets

The shampoo has a gentle formula that protects colour-treated hair. The label says it also helps to minimise split ends and smoothen the hair.