'color-protecting' originates from the combination of 'color' and 'protecting', where 'color' refers to the visual perception of different wavelengths of light, and 'protecting' means to keep safe from harm or injury.

'Color-protecting' evolved from the need to describe products that maintain the vibrancy of colors, especially in the context of hair care and textiles.

Initially, it meant 'to keep colors from fading', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.