Why Do Hair Lose Color and Shine Faster in Autumn, and How to Keep Them Radiant

Colored hair is always about beauty, confidence, and mood. But it often happens like this: you’ve just dyed it in your favorite shade, and your hair shines and sparkles in the sunlight, but after just a couple of weeks—it’s already not the same. This is especially noticeable in autumn. It seems like there’s less sun, the summer heat is gone, and hair should look better. But in reality, it’s in autumn when many complain: color fades quickly, shine disappears, and strands become dry and brittle.

Why does this happen, how should you care for your hair in the autumn season, and what really works to preserve the brightness of dyed hair? Let’s figure it out together.

Autumn and Hair: What Really Happens

Autumn is a transitional season. Hair and scalp react to these changes just as much as the rest of the body. Air humidity drops, the weather becomes colder and windier, and sharp temperature changes begin: you step out from the cold into a heated room, and then back into the chill. All these factors gradually affect the hair: it loses moisture, becomes drier, and as a result, color washes out faster.

Another important point is the lack of sunlight. In summer, hair suffers from UV rays, but at the same time, the sun gives dyed hair vibrancy and shine. In autumn, with less light, strands start to look dull.

Why Does Color “Wash Out” in Autumn?

There are several main reasons:

Temperature fluctuations
Cold outdoors and warmth indoors create stress for hair. The cuticle (the outer layer of the hair) opens and closes, causing pigment to wash out faster.

Humidity and wind
Autumn air is drier than in summer, and wind additionally dehydrates strands. Hair becomes brittle and loses elasticity.

Heating
The start of heating season always means dry air in homes and offices. Hair loses moisture even faster than it does in the summer sun.

Seasonal body renewal
In autumn, many people experience seasonal hair shedding. This is a natural process, but when combined with coloring, it looks especially noticeable: strands thin, and color loses depth.

How to Preserve the Brightness of Dyed Hair in Autumn

1. Choose the Right Shampoo

Regular shampoos often “wash out” pigment along with dirt. That’s why colored hair needs gentle formulas with color protection.

Recommended:

• Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo — gently cleanses, strengthens hair, and helps preserve color.
• Keune Care Color Brillianz Shampoo — created specifically for color protection, prevents shade fading.

2. Use Conditioner After Every Wash

Conditioner seals the cuticle, makes hair smoother, and helps color last longer.

Recommended:

• Keune Care Vital Nutrition Conditioner — lightweight yet nourishing, perfect for regular use.
• Olaplex No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner — restores post-coloring hair, leaving it soft and shiny.

3. Add a Hair Mask at Least Once a Week

Masks infuse hair with moisture and nutrients, repair damage from dyes, and preserve vibrancy.

Recommended:

• Keune Vital Nutrition Mask — deep nourishment and repair for colored and dry hair.
• Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask — intensely hydrates, strengthens, and restores elasticity.

4. Leave-In Products Are a Must

Serums and oils protect hair from dry air, wind, and temperature swings.

Recommended:

• Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector Serum — shields against free radicals, heat, and environmental damage.
• Color Wow Dream Coat Oil — lightweight oil that adds shine and protects from humidity.

5. Salon Treatments

Home care is important, but sometimes hair needs deeper restoration. In autumn, salon procedures for color protection and structural repair are especially helpful.

Recommended:

• Olaplex Treatments — rebuild internal bonds, strengthen, and boost resistance to damage.
• Keune Color Brillianz Spa — salon treatment designed to protect and prolong color vibrancy.
• K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask — unique formula that restores hair at the molecular level in just 4 minutes.

Everyday Hair Care Tips for Autumn

• Wash hair less often—not daily—to avoid accelerating pigment loss.
• Use warm, not hot, water when washing. Hot water opens the cuticle and washes out color.
• Blow-dry on a low temperature or let hair air-dry.
• Wear a hat or hood in windy and cold weather to protect strands.
• Use a humidifier at home—it saves both skin and hair.

Common Mistakes That Damage Colored Hair in Autumn

• Washing with harsh shampoos.
• Skipping conditioners and masks.
• Frequent use of straighteners and curling irons without protection.
• Neglecting leave-in care.
• Washing with water that’s too hot.

Autumn Hair Care by Type

• Fine hair — lightweight shampoos and conditioners to avoid weighing strands down.
• Thick and coarse hair — masks and oils at least twice a week.
• Dry and brittle hair — regular hydration and wind protection.
• Colored hair — only shampoos and masks with color-protecting formulas.

Conclusion: How to Keep Hair Color Bright in Autumn

Autumn is not an easy season for dyed hair. But the right care can completely change the situation. With the right shampoos, masks, and leave-in products, hair can retain its color, shine, and elasticity even in the cold season.

The main rule is to listen to your hair. If it’s dry, it needs more hydration. If it’s lost shine—you need to add serums and oils.

Hair is a living part of our image, and caring for it always pays back in confidence, beauty, and mood.

Do you want to keep your hair vibrant this autumn? Visit our Hair Touch store—we’ll help you choose the perfect care for your hair type and color.