How to take care of highlighted hair

Whether you’re thinking about getting highlights or already have them, you probably want to know how you can better look after them.

Post-treatment, everyone wants their locks to stay looking just as fabulous, so it is key to protect your new highlights and nourish the hair.

If you want to maintain your new look, we’ve got some useful tips to make sure you keep your highlights looking bright and healthy.

Read on for our top advice on how to care for highlighted hair at home and in the salon.

Why do you need to look after highlighted hair?

Highlighting is a lightening process that most commonly uses bleach. When bleach is applied to the hair, the hair cuticle is opened to remove the natural or coloured pigment in the hair.

This can result in the hair becoming more porous, which can lead to:

• Yellowing or dullness

• Dryness

• Increased fragility

• Loss of shine

• Faster colour fading

So, does highlighting cause damage?

Highlighting causes minimal damage as the bleach does not coat every strand of hair. Compared to an all-over bleach or tint, highlights are often gentler because only selected sections are lifted.

That being said, caring for highlighted hair properly is still important. Once the cuticle has been opened, the hair naturally needs a little more support to stay healthy and hydrated.

The good news is that with the right routine, highlighted hair can remain incredibly glossy, soft and healthy. In fact, modern highlighting techniques and healthier blonde trends in 2026 focus just as much on hair condition as colour itself.

By following our tips, you can keep your highlights bright and your hair healthy.

Immediate aftercare tips

1. Wait as long as possible (at least 24–48 hours) before washing your hair

This is especially important if you have received a toner with your highlights.

The hair cuticle layer has been opened which means any colour can be washed away more easily. Post highlights, it can take up to three days for the cuticle to fully close.

By waiting to shampoo, you are allowing that colour to be fully absorbed into the hair. This will ensure your highlights stay bright and at the tone you want them to.

This is one of the simplest but most effective tips when learning how to care for highlighted hair.

If you’ve invested in blonde ribbons, balayage or face-framing highlights, patience really pays off.

2. When you do get around to washing it, use a moisturising, sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner

After highlights, it is important to maintain moisture in the hair.

Not only can highlights dry out your hair, but re-adding moisture actually helps to keep the colour locked in place.

We recommend Kerastase Care Vital Nutrition Shampoo and Conditioner.

The Kerastase Vital Nutrition range is designed specifically for dry, damaged and chemically treated hair. It gently cleanses without stripping moisture and helps restore softness and elasticity.

The range is also gentle on colour-treated hair. Sulphates and overly harsh cleansers can strip the hair of natural oils and moisture and, in turn, can run the risk of fading your beautiful highlights.

If you are wondering how to care for blonde highlighted hair, starting with the right shampoo and conditioner is arguably the most important step.

3. Apply hair masks for extra moisture

Hair masks can leave the hair feeling incredibly soft.

We now love Kerastase Care Vital Nutrition Mask, which is packed with nourishing ingredients designed to deeply hydrate compromised hair.

An intensive mask will moisturise and help seal in hydration to your recently highlighted locks, leaving them feeling soft, supple and looking shiny.

We recommend using one at least once a week.

This is one of our favourite highlighted hair care tips because highlighted hair often loses moisture faster than virgin hair.

A mask becomes even more important if your hair is:

• Frequently heat styled

• Naturally dry

• Long or thick

• Lightened to a brighter blonde

Deep hydration is one of the foundations of good after highlights hair care.

Long term at-home maintenance

1. Wash hair less frequently

As we’ve already mentioned, make sure to wash hair less frequently to maintain your bright colour.

You should not be washing your hair every day if you want your highlights to last longer, because you’ll be washing away a little bit of your colour each time you do.

To keep your natural oils that moisturise and maintain your hair colour, try washing the hair every other day or ideally 2–3 times a week.

This is one of the easiest ways to improve hair care for highlighted hair.

If you’re struggling between washes, invest in a good dry shampoo.

Dry shampoo is the perfect quick fix to refresh the hair without washing it.

We recommend Kerastase Style Refresh Dry Shampoo.

It absorbs excess oil, revives volume and keeps hair looking fresh between wash days.

The key is not to rely on dry shampoo every day, but rather use it strategically to extend the life of your colour.

2. Use a purple shampoo

A great way to ensure your blonde highlights stay bright is to use a purple or silver shampoo.

The violet pigment counteracts yellow and brassy tones.

However, you should avoid using these too often as they can dry out your hair if overused, but they are a brilliant way to maintain your colour.

Using purple shampoo once or twice weekly is usually enough to keep the blonde looking cooler and brighter without over-drying the hair.

3. Turn down the water temperature

If you’re a fan of taking hot showers, be wary that hot water is not great for your new highlights.

Using hot water opens your hair’s cuticle, which means:

• Natural oils can be stripped away more easily

• Hair becomes drier

• Colour fades faster

So, on hair wash days, ensure that the water is not too hot.

Use slightly warm water for shampooing and rinse with cooler water after conditioning to help reseal the cuticle.

This will allow for a deep cleanse while helping lock in moisture and shine.

Small changes like this make a surprisingly big difference when caring for highlighted hair.

4. Use fewer heat tools

Highlighted hair is more prone to dryness because the hair cuticle has been opened.

Using hairdryers, straighteners and curling irons can cause additional damage, so try to use them less frequently.

When you do use them, we always recommend using a heat protectant.

Heat protection is essential if you want the best hair care for highlighted hair.

Another good tip is to embrace softer styling where possible. Lived-in waves, glossy blow dries and healthy-looking blondes remain hugely popular in 2026 and are often kinder to highlighted hair than aggressive daily styling.

Maintenance at the salon

1. Get regular trims

Is your hair looking dry at the ends?

Often dry ends in the long term are unavoidable after a hair lightening process.

Regular cuts at the salon can help to keep hair appearing healthy — even baby trims.

Trims help remove:

• Split ends

• Weakness

• Frayed sections

They also help highlighted hair look shinier and healthier overall.

At Sleek and Chic Hair Design, our stylists can recommend a trim schedule that works for your hair goals.

2. Prepare your hair for the next highlight appointment

The day before your next colour appointment, use a clarifying shampoo.

By stripping the hair of excess oils and build-up, you are ensuring that your colour can penetrate more evenly.

We recommend Kerastase Care Clarify Shampoo.

This helps remove product residue and leaves the hair fresh and ready for colouring.

Healthy preparation is a hugely underrated part of after highlights hair care.

3. Come back to the salon every 6–8 weeks

If you want to maintain your highlights, root growth and tone will eventually need to be refreshed.

We recommend booking every 6–8 weeks depending on:

• How fast your hair grows

• Your blonde goals

• Whether you have balayage or traditional highlights

It is important not to over-process the hair, so highlighting too frequently could compromise its condition.

Our stylists can help you create a maintenance schedule tailored to you.

Highlighting at Sleek and Chic Hair Design.

If you’re thinking about getting highlights or looking to add some long-lasting bright tones to your hair, we’d love to help.

At Sleek and Chic Hair Deign, our experienced team combines beautiful colour work with personalised aftercare advice to ensure your hair stays healthy long after your appointment.

When you’re visiting our salon in Blandford Forum, we’re here to help you achieve highlights you truly love.

Book now or get in touch with us if you have any questions.