There’s nothing like walking out of the salon with a new ‘do — a new color can make you feel like you want it to last forever. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, but there are some care tips to help maintain your hair color at home and ensure your freshly colored hair stays healthy and shiny: Use a heavy-duty mask: Since coloring can be extra drying on already coarse gray hair, use a hair mask to help moisturize your strands. Only use a heavy-duty mask once or twice a week to avoid buildup.  Try toners: As mentioned previously, toners can help reduce the look of yellow or brassy tones if you choose a lighter hair color, such as blonde. Purple shampoo is great for canceling out yellow tones, and blue shampoo works to cut out orange and brassy tones. Sleep with a satin pillowcase: Pillowcases with satin or silk fabric can help reduce friction on your hair, which often leads to split ends, tangles, knotting, damage, and even the feared bedhead.  If you choose to embrace your gray hair for a bit and take a break from the salon or are in between hair dyes, here are some care tips for natural gray hair:  Protect your hair from the sun: Gray hair can burn more easily due to its porosity and texture (it can even turn yellow in the sun), so it’s essential to cover up your hair with a hat or umbrella if you plan on being outside for an extended long period of time.  Reduce the use of hot tools: As mentioned above, gray hair is more prone to damage and yellowing from heat, and that includes hot tools such as blow-dryers, flat irons, and curlers. If you want to style your hair with hot tools, be sure to not go above 350 degrees and use a heat protectant.