Once you’ve invested in highlights, it’s essential to maintain them properly to keep your color vibrant and your hair healthy. At Lola’s Collective, we guide each client through a personalized aftercare routine, but there are a few foundational practices every highlighted hair routine should follow.

Start with the right shampoo. Using a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo

is crucial to preserving both your hair’s moisture and your highlight tone. We often recommend gentle yet effective lines like Davines MINU or Wella ColorMotion+, which are specifically designed for color-treated hair. These products cleanse without stripping essential oils or fading the toner applied during your highlight session.

Weekly deep conditioning is another non-negotiable. Highlighted hair tends to be more porous and prone to dryness, so incorporating a protein-rich mask once a week helps restore strength, elasticity, and softness. Whether you opt for a nourishing mask from Davines or a restructuring treatment from Wella, this simple step goes a long way in keeping your hair silky and manageable.

Heat styling is something we all love, but it must be done safely. Always apply a professional heat protectant before using a blow dryer, flat iron, or curling wand. Heat protectants form a barrier around the hair shaft, helping to minimize damage and preserve your highlight’s vibrancy. This is especially important for blonde highlights, which can become dull or brassy without proper care.

If you swim frequently or live in an area with hard water, chlorine and mineral deposits can impact your highlight tone. In those cases, we suggest using a clarifying shampoo or treatment once a month to gently remove buildup without drying out your hair.

Finally, staying on top of split ends with regular trims not only keeps your hair looking fresh—it also prevents your highlights from looking uneven or tired. Healthy ends reflect light better, which enhances the dimensional color your stylist worked so hard to create.

With the right at-home care and support from your stylist, your highlights can remain glossy, vibrant, and full of life long after your salon appointment.