Whether you just spent half your rent money on a killer dye job, or your entire Sunday morning on a five-step hair-colouring kit, your emotional response will be the same: This better last. Sadly, it won't (even most permanent colours start fading within six weeks), but that doesn't mean you can't help slow the inevitable decline with a few cheap DIY tricks.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Once a week, mix a capful of apple cider vinegar with three cups of warm water and pour it over your wet, freshly shampooed hair to seal in the colour and add shine. Rinse it out, then follow with your usual conditioner.

Carrots and Berries

Anyone with bottled red hair knows that once you find a shade that works for you, you'll do anything to keep it from fading. Which is where fruits and veggies come in. Purée a handful of carrots and raspberries (which cancel out brassy undertones) with a dollop of yogurt (which helps the pigments better penetrate your hair) and honey (which locks in moisture) in a blender until smooth. Then, apply the mask to your damp hair for 15 minutes before rinsing it out.

Cocoa Powder

Brunettes and auburns can reverse summer fade by enhancing their colour with a cocoa powder–based mask. Just mix a tablespoon each of cocoa powder, yogurt, honey, and apple cider vinegar, and apply it to your freshly shampooed hair, leaving it on for 20 minutes before rinsing it out.

Ketchup

The idea of slathering ketchup on your head sounds gross, but it really works. If your hair turns a little green after swimming in chlorine, try raking a handful of ketchup through your hair (wet or dry) and letting it sit for 15 minutes to neutralise the green and keep your colour from fading. Very pale blondes may turn a little beige, though, so tread carefully.

Coconut Oil

Sun can lighten your dye job and break down the colour, along with completely drying out your hair. To keep it hydrated and protected, massage a handful of coconut oil through dry hair, wrap it with a shower cap or plastic wrap, and sleep on it. Rinse well in the morning.

Oily Eggs

If your hair colour has turned dull, this hair mask is the quickest way to restore it. Mix two raw eggs with equal parts olive oil and white vinegar, then apply it all over your dry hair. Keep it on for 30 minutes (to help your colour really shine), then rinse it out thoroughly.

Chamomile Tea

Brew a pot of chamomile tea with a few drops of lavender oil and three tablespoons of honey, then let it cool to a lukewarm temperature.

Pour the mixture over your freshly shampooed hair, leave in for five minutes, then rinse and condition as usual. The chamomile-and-honey mix will restore your dye's original shine and any golden tones.