Why the right shampoo, colour system and home-care routine matter more than you think

When we talk about “healthy hair” in the salon, we’re not just talking about how it looks on the day you leave. We’re talking about how it behaves four, six and eight weeks later — shine, strength, tone and manageability.

That’s why your home-care routine (and the professional system behind your colour) makes such a big difference. At Ego, we’ve moved to REF Stockholm — a Swedish professional brand built on the philosophy of Nature + Science — because hair health should be protected both in the salon and at home.

1) Healthy hair starts with strength

Hair gets its strength from keratin — the protein structure inside each strand. When that internal structure is supported, hair feels stronger, looks shinier and holds colour better.

REF builds haircare around Strengthening Quinoa Protein — a plant-derived protein chosen because it supports hair strength and helps maintain a healthy-looking finish over time.

What you’ll usually notice when hair is stronger:

Less breakage and fewer split ends over time

Smoother, softer movement (especially through the mid-lengths and ends)

Better shine and improved manageability

Colour that looks more reflective and lasts longer between visits

2) The shampoo you use can make or break your colour

A lot of colour fade happens in the shower. Using the wrong shampoo can strip tone quickly, increase dryness and leave hair looking dull. If you’ve ever felt like your colour “went flat” after two weeks, home-care is often the missing piece.

REF’s Wash & Care ranges are built around colour-protection, including a Colour Preserve System designed to help reduce fading from environmental stress (like UV exposure) and everyday wear.

In plain English, colour-safe shampoo helps:

Keep your tone looking fresher for longer

Reduce that “washed out” look between appointments

Support shine (because healthy cuticles reflect light better)

3) Moisture, smoothness and that “soft” finish (hello, Aloe Vera)

When hair feels rough, frizzy or overly dry, it’s usually a sign the moisture balance has been disrupted — especially after colouring, lightening, or frequent heat styling.

REF includes conditioning ingredients such as Aloe Vera within the professional colour system, supporting a smoother feel and a more moisturised finish.

What this means for you after a colour service:

Hair feels softer, not straw-like

Less flyaway and better movement

More even-looking shine through the lengths

4) Permanent colour that fades cleaner — not brassy

Brassiness usually shows up when the underlying warm pigments in hair become more visible over time. A well-built colour system manages warmth properly from the start — which helps colour fade in a more flattering way.

Within REF’s Permanent Colour range, tonal families are designed to control warmth. Ash-tones use blue/green tonal control, which helps prevent hair drifting into overly warm orange/yellow tones.

In the salon, this is why we pay attention to underlying tones — including the subtle olive/green undertone used within cool tonal control. As colour softens over time, the goal is that it fades closer to the natural tone of the hair, rather than turning brassy — making repeat visits easier and more consistent.

5) Soft Colour: shine and tone refresh between appointments

Not every appointment needs to be a full permanent colour. REF Soft Colour is designed for tonal adjustment, refresh services and glossing — ideal when you want the hair to look polished without pushing the hair too hard.

Soft Colour is brilliant for:

Refreshing tone through the mid-lengths and ends

Gloss services for shine and softness

Grey blending (a softer, more natural transition)

Fine-tuning warmth or coolness between full colour services

6) A simple home-care routine that actually works

Think of your routine as maintenance — like servicing a car. The salon appointment creates the result. The home routine keeps it looking fresh.

A strong baseline routine looks like this:

Shampoo + conditioner suited to your hair type (hydration, repair, volume or colour care)

Masque 1x per week (more if hair is lightened or feels dry)

Heat protection every time you blow-dry or use straighteners

A small amount of leave-in / oil through the ends if you’re prone to dryness

If you’re not sure what your hair needs, we’ll recommend the correct REF range based on your hair density, porosity, and what we’re doing in the salon (colour, lightening, extensions, heat styling, etc.).

The bottom line

Healthy hair isn’t created in one appointment — it’s built. With the right shampoo, the right colour system and a routine that supports your hair at home, your colour lasts longer, your hair feels better and every appointment becomes easier to maintain.

If you’d like help choosing your perfect REF routine, ask your stylist at your next visit — we’ll tailor it to your hair and your goals.