A realistic between-appointments routine

You don't need ten products. You need a gentle cleanser, a conditioner matched to your length, a weekly treatment, and heat protection — used consistently.

The step most people skip is the weekly scalp cleanse. Build-up doesn't just dull your hair; it slows the follicle. Five minutes with an exfoliating scalp product once a week changes how the next appointment goes.

Everything else is habit: lower heat settings, air-dry when you can, and don't wash the day before a color appointment.