What To Do After Getting Highlights: Expert Hair Care Tips from a Wheaton, IL Salon

Michelle Vincze
Apr 6
2 min read

Fresh highlights can completely transform your look—adding brightness, dimension, and that effortless, lived-in glow. But keeping your hair looking salon-fresh doesn’t stop when you leave the chair.

At Hive Hair Collective in Wheaton, IL, we believe great color is a combination of expert application and the right at-home care. Here’s exactly how to maintain your highlights so they stay vibrant, healthy, and glossy between appointments.

Use a Sulfate-Free, Color-Safe Shampoo

The biggest mistake clients make? Using the wrong shampoo.

Sulfates can strip your toner and fade your highlights much faster than necessary.

What to look for:

Sulfate-free formulas
Products labeled “color-safe”

This one switch alone can extend the life of your highlights by weeks.

Deep Condition Weekly for Shine + Strength

Highlighting lightens the hair, which can leave it feeling a little drier than usual.

To keep your hair soft and healthy:

Use a deep conditioning mask once a week
Focus on mid-lengths and ends
Leave it on for at least 5–10 minutes

Consistent moisture = shinier, more expensive-looking color.

Always Use Heat Protection

Heat styling without protection is one of the fastest ways to dull your highlights.

Before blow drying, curling, or straightening:

Apply a professional heat protectant
Keep tools at moderate temperatures (under 350°F when possible)
Air dry whenever you can

Your color will stay brighter—and your hair will stay stronger.

Use Purple Shampoo the Right Way

If you have blonde, beige, or cool-toned highlights, purple shampoo helps control brassiness.

How to use it correctly:

1–2 times per month
Leave on for 2–5 minutes
Always follow with a hydrating conditioner

Too much can make hair look dull, so balance is key.

Book Gloss & Toner Refresh Appointments

You don’t need a full highlight appointment to bring your color back to life.

At Hive Hair Collective, we recommend a gloss or toner refresh every 4–8 weeks to:

Neutralize brassiness
Enhance shine
Refresh your overall tone

It’s the easiest way to keep your highlights looking freshly done.

Stay on Top of Trims

Healthy ends make your color look better—period.

We recommend:

A trim every 6–8 weeks
Removing split ends before they travel

This keeps your hair polished and prevents breakage.