An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The type of shampoo you use is very important. Probably even more important than avoiding UV rays.

Even if a shampoo says "sulfate free" or "all natural", or anything else that might lead you to believe that it is good for processed hair, at the end of the day it has to meet several criteria in order to retain color well. It has to be mild (sulfate free is a plus), slightly acidic ( low pH keeps the cuticle closed allowing the color to stay IN), and should contain additional ingredients for color retention. In other words, you should be using a shampoo that is formulated specifically for the specialized needs of processed hair.

Color fade isn't something you notice over the course of two weeks, so it's easy to overlook the association between shampoo and color retention, but rest assured, unless the shampoo is formulated properly, it will cause the color to fade prematurely.

A couple of other hints for helping retain color:

1. Always wash and condition hair with cool water

2. Avoid direct exposure to the sun

3. Use products that contain sunscreen

Good luck.