We chatted with Dyana — vivid hair specialist, owner of Beloved Salon in Oakville, Ontario and Pulp Riot educator — on what you need to know before you commit to booking with your stylist for rainbow, unicorn or vivid hair color.

1. Have realistic expectations

Get ready to have your hair bleached, and to sit for 6 hours at a time, sometimes even having to come back for a second session. The time it takes will depend on how dark or light your hair is, and on the expertise of your colorist. It will also depend on how healthy or porous your hair is.

Also keep in mind the budget: the more work your colorist has to do, the more it will cost.

2. Use salon products no matter what

Skimping out on salon products for drugstore shampoos can completely wash your colorist’s work (and your wallet!) down the drain. Salon products are formulated to keep your hair color fresh and hair healthy.

3. Wash with freezing cold water

Yes, you heard correctly. The colder the water, the longer your color will last. Dyana tells the story of her client sending her a text about her kid having washed his rainbow hair with the garden hose outdoors to keep his color. Six months later, it still looks fresh and vibrant! He’d completely refused to use the regular shower.

Warm or hot water would remove the molecule from the hair completely. Maintenance is key to longevity.

4. Be careful with heat styling

Curling and flat irons will take the color out if used on high heat. Do not use your curling iron on a temperature of more than 360 degrees. The more fragile the hair, the lower the temperature you should be using. Hot Tools curling irons are very gentle on the hair.

5. Use at-home treatments such as Olaplex and K18

Using any regular off-the-shelf hair mask won’t do the trick. Brands such as Olaplex and K-18 are meant to restructure and bond the hair on an internal level. At-home treatments are more potent than masks or regular conditioners.