Dry air, wool hats and hard water are all working against your colour. Four habits that keep hand-painted colour looking fresh from November to March.
Balayage is designed to grow out softly, which is exactly why people are surprised when it goes brassy in February. The grow-out was never the problem - the winter was.
The first thing to fix is water temperature. Hot water opens the cuticle and lets toner escape, and in a dry prairie winter you are already fighting for moisture. Wash cooler than feels fair, and finish with thirty seconds of cold.
Second: hard water. Regina water leaves mineral deposits that read as dull, slightly orange, and no product will argue with that. A chelating wash once a fortnight strips the buildup without stripping your tone.
Third, protect from wool. Hats and scarves create friction right where your face-framing pieces sit. A silk-lined toque costs less than a gloss appointment.
Fourth, book the gloss. A toner refresh at week eight is thirty minutes and fifty-five dollars, and it buys you another two months before you need real colour work. Guests who book it spend less across a year, not more.
