I dye my hair.  A lot.  For example, the picture I posted in my profile?  Already out of date - I'm a blondie now.  I've been red, black, brown, blonde, and every golden-honey-chocolate-orange shade between.  Which means I've learned a thing or two about preserving color.

I'll try anything once, but what I won't do is a 'do that's faded or looks like it's all washed up.  Blonde is an especially tricky shade since you've got to be aware of brassiness as well as color-fading.  And, since this is such a pale shade, every boo-boo you make can show up in your hair (beware the green-hued monsters lurking in swimming pools and direct sunlight!).

First Rule: When You Wash, Make It Count

Chamomile essential oil is a fabulous (and natural!) lightener for blonde hair.  The Romans are usually credited with being the first ones to notice how ultra-sparkling their hair looked after rinsing with this, and what I love about this trick is the chemical-free angle (I've got enough in my hair as it is, thanks).  My own favorites are:

Ole Henriksen Natural Hair Wash With Sea Kelp - The sea kelp in here is mineral-rich, and is great for also preserving the strength of your tresses.

Frederic Fekkai Baby Bonde Conditioner - Positively PACKED with chamomile, plus a ton of yummy-smelling oils and vitamins to make your hair just shine.

If you'd like to give chamomile a whirl, here are a few other options.

Banish That Brass

Spend too much time in the sun (or overdo it with the bleach), and your reward is blonde with a side of orange.  Especially if you're naturally a darker color, The Brassies can happen to the best of us blondes.  I've found that regular maintenance goes a long, long way. 

To the shampoos above, I add a few spoonfuls of grape juice concentrate (yup, the stuff in your grocer's freezer aisle).  I add enough to turn my shampoo a light shade of lavendar - then give myself a pat on the back for adding antioxidants to my hair routine (I'm told this trick works with red wine, too). 

Now Make It Last

Lastly, I try not to dye my hair too much (why is this easier said than done?), so at least three times a week I rinse with John Frieda's awesome line of Color Glazes.  With just a splash of color-depositing hues, I find this can tide me over for...well, until I'm ready for my next color pick: Ruby Red.