Do you need a special shampoo for colored hair?
Have you ever wondered, “Does it matter what shampoo you use on colored hair?” If so, we’re here to put your quandaries to rest. The shampoo you choose can indeed make a difference in the look and feel of your hue.
While the salon-quality clarifying shampoo you used before may have kept your strands squeaky clean, it may not have contained gentle or nourishing ingredients to protect your color. To keep your salon color fresh and vibrant between appointments, you’ll need a shampoo specifically made to keep your dye from fading.
Good hair day by @coia_styles.
What shampoo should not be used on colored hair?
Though many experts recommend avoiding shampoos with sulfates (which can sometimes be drying), it’s important to remember that there’s a reason why certain ingredients are included in these formulas in the first place. Case in point: Sulfates work to deeply cleanse hair and help remove any impurities or product residue. If you’re worried about sulfates, plenty of sulfate-free shampoos are on the market, but rest assured that professional shampoos with sulfates are expertly made to ensure the formula is safe, gentle, and effective on hair.
The biggest takeaway when looking for the best shampoos for color-treated hair is to always opt for products explicitly labeled as color-safe.
Redken
Deep Clean Dry Shampoo
A high-performance dry shampoo that instantly refreshes styles, delivers maximum oil absorption for greasy roots, and allows hair to go up to 4 days between washes
Old price New price $42.00
How often should you wash color-treated hair?
Washing your hair less often is a good idea for any hair type to avoid stripping strands of natural oils. To get the most out of your salon color, we recommend washing your hair one to three times per week, then using dry shampoo for those days in between. We rely on Redken’s Deep Clean Dry Shampoo to get the job done. This high-performance dry shampoo instantly refreshes your style, delivers maximum oil absorption for greasy roots, and allows hair to go up to four days between washes.
What is the best shampoo for color-treated hair?
The best shampoo for color-treated hair ultimately depends on your hair color and concerns. Below, we’ve gathered salon-quality formulas that you can add to your routine now.
Our Best Shampoos for Any Hair Color
L'Oréal Professionnel
Serie Expert Metal Detox Shampoo
A sulfate-free anti-metal cleansing shampoo that revitalizes color-treated hair.
Old price New price $34.00
L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Metal Detox Shampoo
Can’t seem to figure out why your salon color is looking a bit dull? You may be showering in hard water, which contains a higher concentration of minerals and metals that can build up on strands and affect your hair’s vibrancy. If that’s the case, reach for L’Oréal Professionnel’s Serie Expert Metal Detox Shampoo. When used alongside the Serie Expert Metal Detox Mask, this two-step system is designed to detoxify hair and neutralize metals trapped inside the hair fiber to protect the vibrancy of your hair color.
Redken Color Extend Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
Redken Color Extend Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair is tough on grease and build-up but gentle on color-treated hair. Plus, it makes hair color last longer by protecting it from harsh environmental aggressors, like UVA and UVB rays.
Redken Color Extend Magnetics Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
If you’re looking for a gentle shampoo formula that will give your new hue real staying power, look no further than Redken’s Color Extend Magnetics Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair. This lightweight, non-stripping formula leaves hair feeling fortified and color radiance secured.
Matrix Total Results Color Obsessed Volumizing Shampoo
There’s no such thing as being too obsessed with your hair color. That’s why you need a shampoo like Matrix Total Results Color Obsessed Volumizing Shampoo to ensure that your hue stays vibrant weeks after your appointment. This shampoo helps protect fading and extend color vibrancy while strengthening and moisturizing your strands.
Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Color Lustre Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
It doesn’t matter what hue you choose at the salon; you won’t want to show it to anyone if your color appears dull. Amp up the shine with the Shu Uemura Art of Hair’s Color Lustre Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair, a brilliant glaze shampoo for color-treated hair formulated with musk rose oil to nourish the hair deeply while protecting against fading.
L'Oréal Professionnel Vitamino Resveratrol Color Radiance Moisturizing Shampoo
Made with resveratrol, the L'Oréal Professionnel Vitamino Resveratrol Color Radiance Moisturizing Shampoo can protect your hair color from fading for up to eight weeks while adding shine.
Pureology
Hydrate Sheer Shampoo
A lightweight, sulfate-free shampoo that hydrates fine, color-treated hair.
Old price New price $35.00
Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo
Add Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo to your cart if you want to combat dryness while keeping your color in tip-top shape. Formulated with jojoba oil, green tea, and sage, this shampoo hydrates normal to thick color-treated hair while the brand’s exclusive AntiFade Complex protects color vibrancy.
Pureology
Smooth Perfection Shampoo
A gentle, sulfate-free shampoo that smooths and restores manageability for frizzy, color-treated hair.
Old price New price $80.00
Pureology Smooth Perfection Shampoo
You can get rid of frizz and preserve your color in one fell sweep with Pureology’s Smooth Perfection Shampoo. This 100 percent vegan, sulfate-free formula is made with ingredients like shea butter and camellia to smooth frizzy, color-treated hair so it’s tamed and manageable.
Our Best Shampoos for Damaged Color-Treated Hair
Biolage Professional
Strength Recovery Shampoo
Weightless strengthening shampoo that provides repairing benefits for weak, damaged hair.
Old price New price $23.00
Biolage Professional Strength Recovery Shampoo
Suitable for color-treated hair prone to weakness and breakage, Biolage Professional Strength Recovery Shampoo is infused with vegan squalene to provide intensive repair to damaged hair without weighing it down.
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo
Whether you have hair harm from bleaching sessions or chemical treatments, dealing with damage is never fun. Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo helps to condition, repair strength, and recreate weakened bonds on all types and textures of hair, even the most damaged. For best results, use it alongside the line’s Intensive Treatment, which can be applied to damp hair before you shampoo or as a pick-me-up mask.
Pureology
Strength Cure Shampoo
A gentle, sulfate free shampoo that fortifies and strengthens damaged, color-treated hair.
Old price New price $9.00
Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo
The best shampoos for colored hair protect your color and address your hair woes. If your strands are fragile or you’re dealing with damage from bleach, pick up Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo. This sulfate-free shampoo fortifies and repairs damaged, color-treated hair with ingredients like keravis and astaxanthin while preventing color fade.
Our Best Shampoos for Blonde Color-Treated Hair
Matrix Total Results Unbreak My Blonde Sulfate-Free Strengthening Shampoo
Hair that’s sensitized from the lightening process will greatly benefit from Matrix Total Results Unbreak My Blonde Sulfate-Free Strengthening Shampoo. The highly conditioning shampoo is designed to revive all types of lightened hair (even brunettes with blonde highlights) and strengthen weakened bonds in all hair types and textures.
Matrix Total Results So Silver Purple Shampoo
Restore brightness and brass-free shine to blonde and silver hair with Matrix Total Results So Silver Purple Shampoo. This purple-tinted shampoo corrects dull yellow undertones while illuminating your blonde.
Redken Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Purple Shampoo for Blonde Hair
Every bottle blonde knows about the importance of purple shampoo. If you’ve yet to add one to your routine, pick up a toning and strengthening formula like Redken Color Extend Blondage Purple Color Depositing Shampoo for Blonde Hair. This formula contains ultra violet pigment and the brand’s Triple Acid Protein complex to tone, strengthen and brighten all in one for a brighter, stronger blonde.
Pureology Strength Cure Best Blonde Purple Shampoo
With Pureology Strength Cure Best Blonde Purple Shampoo, you can strengthen damaged color-treated blonde while keeping it brass-free. This purple shampoo tones and fortifies while ensuring color vibrancy.
Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo
Formulated with hyaluronic acid, the Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo neutralizes brassy undertones in blonde hair while strengthening hair to prevent future breakage.
L'Oréal Professionnel
Blondifier Illuminating Shampoo
A nourishing shampoo to illuminate and restore blonde hair.
Old price New price $38.00
One size available
16.9 fl oz
L'Oréal Professionnel Blondifier Illuminating Shampoo
If you want your golden streaks to look their absolute best, pick up a shine-enhancing shampoo made explicitly for blondes. We recommend L'Oréal Professionnel Blondifier Illuminating Shampoo. This gentle shampoo brings out the multi-dimensional shine in blonde hair while nourishing and smoothing your strands.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Yubi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo
Kick brass to the curb with Shu Uemura Art of Hair’s Yubi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo. Formulated with violet dye and Japanese white peony, this formula works to counteract brassiness for a long-lasting cool-toned blonde while conditioning the hair fiber for a smooth, lavish finish.
Shu Uemura
Yubi Blonde Glow Revealing Shampoo
A shine-enhancing shampoo for dull, bleached and highlighted blonde hair.
Old price New price $49.00
One size available
10.1 fl oz
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Yubi Blonde Glow Revealing Shampoo
Battling dull, bleached-blonde hair lacking the shine you loved when you left the salon? Look to Shu Uemura Art of Hair’s Yubi Blonde Glow Revealing Shampoo to leave hair hydrated and with a glowing finish.
Our Best Shampoos for Brunette Color-Treated Hair
Matrix Total Results Brass Off Shampoo
It’s no secret that blondes deal with brassy hair color, but they’re not the only ones. Contrary to popular belief, brunettes are equally susceptible to brass. The Matrix Total Results Brass Off Shampoo is a professional clarifying salon formula that neutralizes brassy tones while refreshing your hair with cool tones. Best for brunettes who lighten their hair, this shampoo deposits balancing blue-violet pigments to reduce brassy tones.
Redken
Color Extend Brownlights Conditioner
An essential color-depositing blue conditioner to help tone and get rid of brassiness in highlighted, balayaged, and natural brown hair.
Old price New price $46.00
Redken Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo
Whether you’re a brunette with highlights or balayage, the Redken Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo can help keep brassy, orange undertones at bay between touch-up appointments. This blue color-depositing shampoo counteracts brass in brown hair while gently cleansing.
Matrix Total Results Dark Envy Shampoo
For dark hair with unwanted red undertones, a green toning shampoo like Matrix Total Results Dark Envy Shampoo is a must-have. The green pigments counteract red undertones in dark brown or black hair colors.
Our Best Shampoos for Gray Color-Treated Hair
Redken Color Extend Graydiant Shampoo for Gray Hair
Whether embracing your naturally gray hair or jumping on the silver trend, gray strands have unique needs. Redken’s Color Extend Graydiant Shampoo for Gray Hair is formulated with violet and silver pigments and tones, strengthens, and nourishes all in one for a gorgeous silver finish.
L'Oréal Professionnel
Serie Expert Silver Purple Shampoo
A purple, color-toning shampoo that neutralizes brassiness in white, gray, or blonde hair.
Old price New price $38.00
One size available
16.9 fl oz
L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Silver Purple Shampoo
Another great option to maintain your stunning silver hair is L’Oréal Professionnel’s Serie Expert Silver Purple Shampoo. This color toning formula contains violet micro-pigments that eliminate brass to help restore cool tones to your salon color. Swap this with your regular shampoo once or twice a week for noticeably brighter, softer, and shinier strands.
Our Best Shampoos for Vibrant Color-Treated Hair
Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid Shampoo
Bright colors like vibrant reds and fantasy colors such as pastels tend to fade faster than darker colors like brown and brunette. If you’re considering coloring your hair a vibrant color, you’ll need a shampoo that will help your color stay put. Matrix Total Results Keep Me Vivid Shampoo gently cleanses hair while maintaining the vibrancy of fast-fading shades.
Biolage Professional
Color Last Shampoo
AROMASCIENCE® Gentle Shampoo for Colored Hair
Old price New price $21.00
Biolage Professional Color Last Shampoo
Inspired by nature’s fade-defying orchid, the Biolage Professional Color Last Shampoo is a must-have for maintaining the depth, tone, and shine of vivid, color-treated hair.
Our Best Shampoo for Fine Color-Treated Hair
Pureology
Hydrate Sheer Shampoo
A lightweight, sulfate-free shampoo that hydrates fine, color-treated hair.
Old price New price $35.00
Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo
The best shampoo for fine color-treated hair should preserve your hue while being lightweight enough not to weigh your strands down. That’s why we love Pureology’s Hydrate Sheer Shampoo. This silicone-free formula deeply hydrates fine, color-treated hair while ensuring lasting color payoff.
Pureology
Nanoworks Gold Shampoo
A rich, sulfate-free shampoo that cleanses and renews dull, aging color-treated hair.
Old price New price $49.00
Pureology Nanoworks Gold Shampoo
For hair that’s become thin and dull over time, Pureology Nanoworks Gold Shampoo will be like a magic potion for your strands. Made with key ingredients like keravis and golden marula oil, this concentrated, sulfate-free shampoo restores softness, manageability, and shine to dull, advanced color-treated hair.
Find more professional products and advice for caring for color-treated hair at Hair.com.