E! illustration/Courtesy of isimaGetting our hair colored in that Pinterest-inspired way we've been yearning for is a special experience. Not only is it a monetary investment, but it's also a full-time job to take care of those fresh-looking locks.
But how do we do that? We have so many questions: How much of the color-safe label we see on products is a marketing ploy? What ingredients are actually bad for color-treated hair, and what are actually fine? What products do we really need in our routine, and which ones are just extra?
As someone with a fresh red balayage, I made it my mission to figure out! Lucky for us, Mirna Jose had our back with all the answers.
With over 15 years of experience, Mirna is the leading celebrity hairstylist at isima—the haircare brand founded by Shakira. She's worked on everything from red carpets to high-profile editorials, specializing in curly hair types and color-treated hair.
E! sat down with Mirna to hear all about her expert hair care advice and product recommendations from isima—that work perfectly for color-treated hair. Keep scrolling to shop her recs, as well even more top hair products inspired by her advice.
Shampoo Is Key
According to Mirna, the first step is finding the right shampoo for your hair. "Shampoo is the most important thing when it comes to color-treated hair," she says. Choose the wrong one, and it'll lift the color right off and accelerate the fading. The right shampoo, however, will keep the integrity of the color while cleansing your locks without drying them out.
For folks who feel like they need to shampoo every day, she recommends doing a pre-cleanse. Put shampoo with a little bit of water on dry hair, rinse, and then wash as normal. That will guarantee you're really cleansing your scalp without stripping it—just remember to use a hydrating, gentle, and color-safe shampoo.
isima Riquísima Hydrating Shampoo
Mirna uses isima's hydrating shampoo for herself and her clients. "Riquísima is really really really good," she says. "If your hair is shampooed properly, that sets the tone for the rest of whatever products you are going to use." It's formulated with a Mexican aloe extract and biomimetic ceramide for a soothing and hydrating cleanse.
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo
While shopping for color-safe products, it's important to notice the label of "color-safe" instead of merely the "sulfate-free" one. Some sulfates are actually needed to cleanse our hair properly! This tea tree shampoo from Paul Mitchell is a favorite of this (fake) red-headed beauty writer.
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
The Pureology hydrate shampoo is a classic, with a massive fanbase behind it. Meant for dry color-treated locks, this formula promises a hydrating cleanse with ingredients like jojoba, green tea, and sage.
Hair Masks, Hair Masks, & More Hair Masks
After cleansing, Mirna recommends following up with a powerful hair mask with a formula that doesn't just hydrate, but also helps to strengthen those color-treated locks. "Hydration is the most important thing. Hydration and moisture," she says.
The weight and amount of products you use will depend on your hair's density. Thick and curly hair types should use thicker products, like hair masks. Fine and thinner hair types should use less of those thicker products. "You can use [it] on the ends, just on the color-treated parts. You don't have to use it on your scalp," Mirna says. "You also have to make sure that you rinse out your hair properly."
isima Súperbomba Triple Repair Peptide Hair Mask
Mirna's favorite product from isima's line is the Súperbomba Hair Mask. "I have seen the difference when I'm detangling my hair," she tells us. "The beauty about Súperbomba is that it works in all three parts of the hair, shaft to the cuticle to the cortex to the scalp."
Ceremonia Guava Hair Repair Mask
Ceremonia is another Latine-owned brand that specializes in haircare with good-for-you ingredients and formulas that work. This hair mask is formulated with guava fruit, agave nectar, and plant protein to maintain vibrancy, add shine, increase moisture retention, and more.
Good Dye Young Color Depositing Mask
Whether you have red hair (which, according to Mirna, has the largest color molecules and leaves the hair shaft quickly) or semi-permanent fantasy colors, having a color-depositing mask on hand is super handy.
Heat Protection Is Your New BFF
Protecting your hair from heat damage is protecting your color. They're the same thing. It's important, even if you use that low-heat setting. "It's going to protect you because heat changes the color molecule," Mirna says. Even if it's just going outside, you should still use a heat-protective leave-in conditioner or spray.
While color-safe products are normally associated with shampoos and conditioners, you should still look for that little label on styling products too. "Often, styling products contain a lot of alcohol, and alcohol could be very drying."
isima All In Restorative Leave-In Conditioner
The isima leave-in conditioner and its cutting-edge formula promise to nourish hair, tame frizz, protect your hair from heat up to 450° F. "You want something that has a little bit of heat protection, to have a cushion between your hair and the color and whatever other tools that you're using," Mirna says.
Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat Protectant Leave In
Formulated with Bumble and Bumble's signature oil blend and UV filters, this leave-in promises to protect your locks from heat, the drying effects of the sun, and color from fading between washes. It also smoothes and softens locks, while adding shine.
Looking for more top-rated hair care products? Shop the best hair oils on Amazon, according to reviewers!