UV ray is one of the common causes of hair damage problem among many others. So it’s not only our face that needs to be protected against the UVA and UVB but our hair needs it as well. Especially for hair that has undergone colour treatment  need extra protection to make sure that the colour will not fade away.

Kiehl’s with their Sunflower Color Preserving Hair Care have given the answer for colour-treated hair that will preserve your hair colour as well as protecting it from the sun rays. The main ingredient of this hair care range is Sunflower Seed Oil and it is considered to be one of the most efficient natural oils that’s also gentle. It’s rich in Vitamin B and E, essential fatty acids and have natural UV protective filter. UV exposure can cause your colour-treated hair to fade because it causes the artificial colour molecules to break down in terms of size. The natural ingredient contained within the sunflower seed oil helps to maintain your hair moisture level because one of the concern of colour-treated hair is dryness. It will alsogive an anti-fade protection to maintain your hair colour so it will have longer life span.

What’s great about this product is that it’s formulated without sulfate, silicon or paraben. Colour-treated hair usually means it has been chemically treated so it’s good to know that these ingredients are not included within this product.

The ingredient of this hair care range also includes Apricot Oil which is known rich in nutrients, Vitamin B3, B5 and B6, silicon replacement formula. All this make up all the nutrients that your colour-treated hair will need.

The products that are available within Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving hair care are:

1. Sunflower Color Preserving Shampoo Rp 255,000 for 250 ml
2. Sunflower Color Preserving Conditioner Rp 255,000 for 200 ml
3. Sunflower Color Preserving Deep Recovery Rp 350,000 for 250 ml

The Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Shampoo, like any other steeper priced one doesn’t really produce lots of foam. It’s a sulfate-free shampoo that will wash your hair gently, washing off all dirt without stripping the colour. After using the shampoo I could feel that my hair was clean because it felt lighter and even tough after I used the shampoo my hair felt dry, I could run my fingers through the hair.

After shampooing my hair, I used the Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Conditioner. I like the consistency of the conditioner that is not too light nor too heavy. Both the Shampoo and Conditioner are formulated free of silicone, therefore it doesn’t weigh down your hair. It was especially noticeable when I used the conditioner. Usually after using conditioner, my hair will feel heavier and thicker even after you wash it off several times, somehow it feels (as if) a thin film of conditioner remains on my hair strands. When I washed the conditioner off however, my hair felt a bit coarse. It felt just like when you finish shampooing without using your conditioner. So I don’t know whether it really moisturizes my hair. It is said though that the conditioner will seal the moisture that the hair will need and protects the hair so that it will have a nice smooth and shiny finish.

The last one on the line was the Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Deep Recovery which I used once a week. I love the thick texture of this mask. I use it on damp hair, just after rinsing off the conditioner. I will towel dry it for a bit and then apply the cream that I have massaged through my palm to warm it off. It’s highly moisturizing and gives that extra boost of healthy shine and radiance that you hair will need after a chemically-treated hair process. This product will be perfect to be used for anyone who have undergone any hair chemical procedure for the hair, not just colour treatment. It has a shielding barrier that will help to extend the colour vibrancy of your hair as well as protecting it from future damage.

Overall, my review for this product has been very satisfying. Although as I told you above when I used the shampoo and conditioner if feels that it’s not moisturizing enough. I have very dry hair so I’m really concerned about the condition. I tend to choose conditioner that is very moisturizing and can tame my very dry and frizzy hair. Surprisingly, after my hair dries (both air dry and when I use hair dryer) it looks smooth and no lioness hairstyle in sight! What I love most about it is how light my hair feels, which is true to what they claim that the silicone free formulation will not weigh down my hair. Another thing that I love about this product is the apricot scent that at first I thought was a peach scent. It smells like one of those Japanese Peach gummy candy that lingers nicely even after a day.

Tips to Treat and Protect Colour-Treated Hair

To make your hair colouring lasts longer, below are few tips from Kiehl’s:

1. Give one full day after a colouring service before you shampoo yourself to give the hair shaft time to repair itself from the colouring service.
2. Gentry shampoo your hair with special shampoo that is targeted for colour-treated hair using lukewarm water. Don’t use hot water because it will only open your hair’s cuticle that can potentially cause the release of colour molecules from the cortex.
3. Choose colour preserving hair line care that contains mild surfactants, moisturizing ingredients and UV protection because these will preserve the colour.
4. If you’re due to be out in the sun for long, cover your hair with scarf or hat. UV exposure not only can cause the breakdown of colour molecules but it can also cause your hair to be dry and eventually damagd it, thus making your hair colour looks dull.
5. Using leave-in conditioner between shampoo will help seal the cuticle and protect the hair from environmental aggressions. Kiehl’s suggested Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Deep Recovery Pak or Kiehl’s Leave-In Conditioner with Panthenol & Coconut Oil for thicker hair strands.
6. Before you’re going for a swim in water containing chlorine, don’t forget to wet your hair first. Chlorine can contribute to your hair drying out and make the colour dull. Hair that has been chemically-treated is more absorbent to other matters, in this case chlorine. If you wet your hair, water will fill the hair shaft thus making less room for chlorine to absorb.
7. Don’t dry your hair using towel vigorously just pat it lightly. It will also help if you minimize the use of styling tools because the heat will only open the cuticle in your hair.
8. Lastly, use moisturizing hair treatment at least twice a month or more to maintain the general health, condition and your hair shine.