Can you regularly wash raw denim after you've got your desired fade?

Question

Can you regularly wash raw denim after you've got your desired fade?

Answer 1

Denim is cotton ... and cotton is not colorfast.

It will continue to fade over time, despite your best efforts to keep it looking exactly the shade you want.  But there are some things you can do to slow down the fading process.

First, wash only as often as necessary.  Unless something is truly dirty, it doesn't need to be washed after every wearing.

Only use cold water and a very gentle detergent.  Or, better yet, wash the garment by itself with just a few drops of baby shampoo.  Turn inside-out and wash on the lightest, shortest cycle and be sure to rinse well.

Hang dry, dry flat, or tumble-dry using a low-heat cycle.

Most "wear" on fabric occurs during the wash/dry process.  If you subject the denim to as little washing/drying as possible, it will retain the desired fade longer.