In my opinion, you`re washing [shampooing] far too frequently--- this is what`s lifting the colour...hair is not ` dirty` / oily in the way natural hair can be.... I shampoo my system possibly 2 or 3 times a month and I use system-specific shampoo [Remysoft]!! Unless you use lots of products on the hair and it builds-up, thus needing to be shampooed out, there is NO need to shampoo you hair three times a week ! Use leave-in conditioner frequently, spritz / mist the hair daily and it will make a big difference.