Highlights aftercare: first 2 weeks to keep color bright
By Deluxe Hair Salon in Laguna Hills, CA | July 4, 2026
We’ve been doing Highlights in Laguna Hills for 18 years, and the single biggest rule we want you to remember is this: wait 48 hours before your first wash. That pause lets the tone settle so your dimension stays bright instead of going dull fast. After that, keep heat light for 48 to 72 hours, go color-safe with your shampoo, and stay away from chlorine and saltwater for at least a week.
Quick start: 48 hours no washing, keep heat minimal for 48 to 72 hours, use sulfate-free color-safe shampoo, and avoid pool or ocean for at least one week.
The first 48 hours after Highlights: wash less, touch less
If you take nothing else from this highlights aftercare guide, take this: give your hair two full days before you shampoo. In those first 48 hours, your hair tends to hold onto tone best when you keep things simple and calm.
Can I wash hair after Highlights?
We generally recommend waiting 48 hours. If your scalp feels sweaty or product-y, rinse with cool to lukewarm water and use a tiny amount of conditioner on the ends only. Skip shampoo. And don’t scrub your scalp with your nails.
Heat styling in the first 2 to 3 days
Highlights and fresh toning can look a little extra shiny right away. Heavy heat is the fastest way to knock that down. Keep your blow dryer on a lower heat setting, avoid flat-ironing if you can, and don’t crank up the hot tools for 48 to 72 hours.
Laguna Hills reality check: If you’re outside a lot, your hair is getting hit with sun even on “quick errands.” A hat and a UV leave-in are small moves that keep blonde highlights brighter longer.
Days 3 to 7: the sun, the pool, and the “why is it getting brassy?” week
The first week is where most highlight fading happens. Not because your color was done wrong, but because summer habits hit hard in Laguna Hills. Strong UV, outdoor workouts, beach days, and pool time all stack up.
Swimming after Highlights (pool or ocean)
If you can, avoid chlorine and saltwater for at least one full week. Chlorine can shift blondes and make them look yellow fast. Saltwater can rough up the cuticle and leave your ends feeling crispy.
If you’re going anyway, do the best “damage control” version: rinse your hair with fresh water first, add conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends as a barrier, keep it up, then rinse well right after.
Exercise and sweating after Highlights
You can exercise, but try to keep heavy sweating minimal for the first 24 to 48 hours if possible. Sweat and heat can make your scalp feel like it “needs” a wash sooner. Use a loose bun, avoid tight headbands that rub your hairline, and do a cool rinse if you have to.
“Waited the two days to wash like they said, and my highlights stayed bright.”
One of our regulars
Best shampoo for Highlights, plus the 3 products we talk about most
Product doesn’t need to be complicated. But it does need to match highlighted hair. The goal is to keep the cuticle smooth so light reflects well and your tone doesn’t drift.
- Sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo: This is the everyday foundation. It cleans without stripping your toner.
- Purple shampoo (for blonde highlights): Use it 1 to 2 times a week, not daily. Leave it on briefly, then follow with conditioner. If your hair starts feeling dry, back off.
- Weekly deep conditioner or bond-repair treatment: Highlights are lightener plus heat plus life. A weekly mask or bond-builder keeps the ends from getting rough.
If you’re not sure what to buy, bring what you’re using to your next visit. We’ll tell you straight if it’s helping your highlights or quietly fading them.
Gloss or toner at 4 to 6 weeks: the appointment that keeps Highlights expensive-looking
Highlights don’t usually “fall out, ” but the tone on top of them fades. That’s why we recommend scheduling a gloss or toner in 4 to 6 weeks. It refreshes shine and nudges brassiness back into place before you feel like you need a full redo.
If you’re active outdoors in Laguna Hills, you’ll often see warmth show up sooner. A gloss visit is also a good time to add an in-salon bond step (think Olaplex-style support) if your hair’s feeling dry.
If you’re still planning your color calendar, our team laid out the basics in what to expect from your first Highlights. And if you’re timing things around the season, summer hair color trends in Laguna Hills can help you choose a tone that stays flattering in bright sun.
If something feels “off, ” tell us early and we’ll talk it through
A little dryness after highlights is common, especially on the ends. So is a tone shift if you hit sun or pool water too soon. What we don’t want is you stressing at home and trying random fixes that make it worse.
Let us know if you notice sudden brassiness in the first week, breakage that feels new, or a patch that looks different in certain light. We’ll ask a few quick questions about washing, heat, and any pool or ocean time, then point you to the simplest next step.
“They explained exactly what to do at home, and it made a big difference.”
A recent first-time visitor
Ready to keep your Highlights looking fresh between appointments? A maintenance gloss plus a simple at-home routine usually does it. See hair color services
Highlights at Deluxe Hair Salon: $190 - $280. We place strategic highlights to add dimension and contrast, giving your hair depth and texture.