Yeah, the AOHR is too much for my hair, too.
Doing a protein treatment with heat (which is how I used to do protein treatments after coloring/highlighting) immediately after highlighting could affect the color. If you do a search, you can probably find more explanation on this - something about breaking down bonds, etc., etc., - I can't remember exactly. Now, usually all I do is use CJ Repair me a week before coloring and then again a week or so after I just use CJ Repair Me in the shower and leave on for 10 minutes or so and follow with a little CJ Rehab - seems to be fine for keeping my hair in shape. I haven't been doing treatments with heat as often as I used to; if I feel my hair needs it and I'm feeling ambitious, I will do a heat treatment.