Alia Bhatt's stylist will save you from hair colour hell

All he wanted was a cure for malaria. What he got instead was a dye, a lovely shade of mauve, at that. William Henry Perkin, an English chemist, accidentally created a synthesized dye in 1863 that remains, to this day, a key ingredient in most permanent dyes including hair colour. Make no mistake, this was a welcome accident for every single person battling a case of early onset greying.

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On my way to the pot of gold ? ? #braids #boxbraids #rainbowhair #freebird #smilesmilesmile

A post shared by Priyanka Borkar (@priyanka.s.borkar) on May 28, 2019 at 7:22am PDT

But those unicorn ombres and fiery reds causing major FOMO on Instagram could leave your hair as parched as Tintin in the Sahara. For the right post-colour rituals, we turned to celebrity hairstylist Priyanka Borkar, the magician responsible for guiding Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra to great hair days. Consider this the Tweak guide to high-maintenance hair. 

Hair colour prep

This step is as important as getting ready for the Cannes red carpet. “Make sure your hair is well nourished before colouring. Oil it and treat it to nourishing masks available in salons,” says Borkar. She personally likes the Wella Oil Reflection treatment. 

Post-colour must-haves

You can no longer be distracted by pretty packaging or fruity fragrances, colour-specific products with UV-shielding agents need to become your main agenda. Borkar recommends L’Oreal Vitamino shampoo and conditioner and Kerastase’s Bain Chromatique shampoo (fully sulphate-free) that are packed with antioxidants and UV filters to prevent sun damage. Kerastase’s Fondant Chromatique conditioner has Vitamin E and rice bran oil  to keep the hair fibre well-nourished.

Post-colour haircare works only on three conditions: conditioning, conditioning, conditioning. It probably took a lot of bleach. Now it’s time to fight the frizz. “Lathering with shampoo removes natural oils from hair. You also need to ensure that the cuticles at the end of your hair close,” says Borkar. And that is precisely what a conditioner does –– plugging cuticles while restoring the hair’s moisture.

Biggest hair colour mistake

The biggest villain for dyed hair is colour bleeding. Borkar has a simple recommendation: “Cut down on your washes. Go from 4 times to twice a week. It will definitely make the colour last longer and preserve nourishing natural oils.” Haters will hate but dry shampoos are the absolute best substitutes and foil to an oily scalp. Any dry shampoo with UV-protection prevents colour from fading while maintaining bounce. Give Batiste’s range of dry shampoos a try, then touch-up with the brand’s Root Concealer that instantly covers roots and blends naturally with your hair colour. 

Customisable regimen

Even Rapunzel’s magic hair needed care. But hair care largely varies depending on a specific type, so those all-in-one shampoos and conditioners cannot be your ammo anymore. Borkar recommends Vitamino by L’Oreal for straight hair and Wella Brilliance Shampoo and Conditioner – Fine to Normal Coloured Hair for dry and curly hair. 

Tricks for long-lasting colour

Every great success requires sacrifice. Giving up hot showers post-colouring, for example. Hot water accelerates fading and ends up making your hair dry, so rinse out conditioner with cold water instead. If hair styling tools are your top-secret weapons for everyday glory, consider using heat protectant products like Olaplex.

Oil. Massage. Repeat.

Your oiling method has been a lie all your life. “I do believe that oiling and massaging the scalp helps, but oiling the lengths and ends doesn’t really make a difference,” Borkar insists. A good oil massage only for the scalp is good enough. Blood circulation to the roots guaranteed and it avoids multiple rounds of shampooing to rid your hair of excess oil.

Hydration in progress

Imagine that glass of nimbu paani at the end of a long day. It’s exactly how your hair takes to home remedies made with nourishing ingredients like avocados, bananas, yogurt, honey, mayonnaise, coconut milk, vitamin E oil, or aloevera gel. Moisture loss and dryness are coloured hair’s worst nightmares. Try co-washing (conditioner-only washing), oiling, and hair packs to keep your tresses hydrated. 

Conditioning hair mask 

Ingredients:

1/2 ripe avocado 

1 ripe banana

1 tbsp olive oil 

Time Required: 60 minutes

Steps:

• In a bowl, mash the avocado and banana until the mixture is completely free of lumps. Add olive oil to mix well.
• Work this mixture through your hair from the roots to the tips.
• Once your hair is totally covered, leave the hair pack on for about an hour.
• Proceed to rinse the pack out with a mild sulphate-free shampoo and cool water.

Protein hair pack 

Ingredients:

1 egg

2 tbsp mayonnaise

Time Required: 45 minutes

Steps:

• In a bowl, whip the ingredients together until you get a smooth mixture.
• Start working the mixture into your hair, concentrating mostly on the tips.
• Leave the egg-mayo pack on for about 45 minutes. 
• Proceed to wash your hair with a mild sulphate-free shampoo and cool water.