Everyone’s dying their hair these days, and there seems to be so much love for it.

Colouring the hair is one of the best ways to truly express yourself and show off your unique sense of style. Between highlights, dyes, single process, and double process colour, there are so many options out there for getting your hair just the way you want it. But even once you decide on what you want, you still don’t always know what you’re getting yourself into, whether it be at the salon or at home.

Here are a few tips on what you need to know, just before you colour your hair.

Consult an expert

It is crucial to be on the same page with your hair stylist to discuss what you want, and depending on many different factors, actual hair colour and appointments. If you don’t want to be doing your roots every three weeks, speak up.

Bring in photos of looks you want

Bring in photos of what you want. That way, you and your hair stylist both share your vision.

Apply hair mask the day before

Apply a hair mask all over your strands the day before you go in to get your colour done. This will hydrate your hair and prep it for the gruelling colour process. Applying it to your hair and leaving it in for longer than the mask recommends to make sure your hair is really moisturised.

Make it simple

If you’ve never coloured your hair before, experts suggest getting something simple like a semi-permanent gloss or subtle highlights to enhance your natural colour. A gloss will add shine to your hair and a little bit of pigment that will eventually fade away. Highlights that are very subtle aren’t high maintenance and will grow out nicely.

Get a colour-friendly shampoo and conditioner

After you colour your hair, you must change your shampoo and conditioner if you want to maintain it. If you’ve never coloured your hair before, you probably don’t already own colour-safe hair products. Make sure your shampoo and conditioner are made for colour-treated hair.

Keep under wraps

To preserve your hair colour, sun protection is a must. Hats, scarves, and UV-protection sprays -wear whatever you need to do to keep your hair colour under wraps, do it. Otherwise, your hair colour can turn brassy or dull a lot quicker than if it were to fade naturally.

Protect your hair from ocean and pool water

You’ll also need to protect your colour from ocean or pool water by soaking your hair in regular tap water before hopping in. Salt water will dry out your hair, and chlorine can wreak havoc on blondes or make brunette colours brassy