Maintaining vibrant, healthy hair after a color treatment requires the right products. Using a shampoo specifically designed for color-treated hair is essential to prevent fading and damage. This article explores some of the best shampoos available, including Kérastase Chroma Absolu Bain Respect, and provides expert advice on how to keep your color looking fresh and your hair in optimal condition.
The first time I ever dyed my hair with permanent dye, my fresh hue washed right down the drain because I didn’t use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner. (No exaggeration, I had to go back to the salon to get my hair redone two weeks later.) Shampoos designed for color-treated hair are formulated to gently cleanse without stripping color, helping your color stay vibrant and glossy for longer. These shampoos are typically free from harsh sulfates and chemicals that can cause color to fade quickly.
After rigorous tests, we narrowed our list down to options for a variety of hair types and concerns.
Don’t be fooled by the name of this shampoo-while it was specially formulated to replenish dry hair, two of our experts say this multitasker also works to completely revive colored hair and make it sparkle. It’s full of antioxidants and is ultra-moisturizing, making it a go-to for keeping color vivid and strands soft. The combination of proteins and rose extract softens, boosts shine, and intensely hydrates hair, so your mane can maintain near-virgin health, even if you’re heading to the salon every few weeks.
You’ve probably heard of glass skin but how about glass hair? This is when hair is so shiny, smooth, and frizz-free, it reflects light like a mirror. My hair practically sparkled after one wash with this shampoo. This was developed by stylists who live and breathe color every day. It hydrates, protects, and leaves your hair feeling salon-fresh between appointments. Beyond adding a professional gloss-level shine, the hydrating ingredients and special color-locking polymers help extend the vibrancy of my dye job. Plus, the conditioner doubles as a nourishing hair mask.
Read also: Is Kerastase Worth It?
Oily colored hair is extremely difficult to maintain-you need to wash it more often to keep it fresh, but this in turn makes your hue fade much faster. While this can feel like an unsolvable conundrum, this ColorWow Shampoo just might be the answer to your woes. The lightweight, sulfate-free formula doesn’t contain any of the heavy conditioning or shine-enhancing ingredients often found in other color-safe shampoos. Instead, the formula keeps things simple, sticking with gentle cleansing agents that cut through grease and buildup without stripping color. The bare bones yet extremely effective formula keeps hair cleaner for longer and allows you to skip a shampoo or two so your color stays as bright as possible.
Curly hair dries out faster than other hair types, and coloring it can exacerbate that. This means you’ll require mega hydrators to keep it soft and shiny. Celebrity hairstylist and colorist Dimitris Giannetos says that argan oil is one of the best ingredients for every curl type, which is why he recommends this deeply nourishing shampoo. It helps extend the life of your color and protects from environmental aggressors, like UV damage and pollution. Hair feels softer after one wash, and with continued use, not only does hair get shinier and more vivid, but your curl pattern can also become more uniform too.
There’s a reason why most people only go red for a few months before abandoning the hue altogether: The high-maintenance shade fades faster than any other color, resulting in more frequent salon visits and extra money out of your pocket. I’ve consistently dyed my hair copper for a decade, and this shampoo is part of my routine upkeep. The slightly tinted formula deposits a small amount of color each time I wash it while also boosting shine with a mix of fruit oils. There’s no denying that red hair requires more work, but this shampoo makes it much more manageable.
If you dye your hair, it’s incredibly important to use a moisturizing shampoo that’s sulfate-free, says Ballance. While sulfates function as cleansing agents to help wash away dirt, oil, and buildup, they can also strip color and cause dryness. So when Ballance is advising his clients on how to maintain their color, he always recommends this pick from Redken. Along with being sulfate-free, this is packed with proteins that strengthen your hair while giving it that clean, glossy finish.
Sad truth: Consistent coloring can result in some major harm to your hair, especially if bleach is a regular part of your routine. If you’re not ready or willing to revert back to your natural color and are looking for an easy solution to remedy breakage, professional colorist Jennifer Korab says that Oribe’s restorative shampoo can reverse damage and prevent fading. Not only does my red hair feel silky soft, but my ends also look healthier and my auburn hue appears richer-so much so that I’ve been able to skip my reparative bond-building mask. Who knew just shampoo could make such a difference?
Read also: Is Kérastase Elixir Ultime Worth It?
When I first started dying my hair a decade ago, it was rare to find color-safe shampoos at the drugstore. Then Herbal Essences came out with this affordable pick. For under $10, this lightweight yet nourishing shampoo improves vibrancy and offers color protection against UV rays (which can cause fading), all with plant-based ingredients. This shampoo features camellia oil, which is very similar to the natural oils our hair produces, and grapeseed oil, which creates a shield between your hair and those aforementioned UV rays. I also love that my head smells like a blooming garden every time I wash with this.
Blond requires more upkeep than most other hair colors. You’ll probably find yourself scheduling more frequent touch-ups unless you have a trusty color-depositing purple shampoo in your shower caddy to keep you looking icy and fresh. Don’t let the deep violet shade of this Olaplex pick scare you-the color neutralizes brassy tones to keep all shades of blond extra bright. Plus, this is chock-full of Olaplex’s bond-building complex to deeply repair damaged hair (even bleached strands!) from the inside out.
You can transform dull, dry colored hair with a quick lather and rinse with this affordable shampoo. Giannetos loves using this on clients because it “gives an instant glossy, shiny look.” You probably know glycolic acid as an effective exfoliator in skin care products, but in this formula it infuses strands with essential moisture to smooth out cuticles and boost shine. When strands are smoother, the pigments will be able to better reflect light and appear more vivid.
It’s really tricky to find a clarifying shampoo for colored hair, mainly because many formulas are so harsh they can strip away pigments in a flash. Ouai’s Detox Shampoo utilizes gentle detoxifying ingredients, including apple cider vinegar and chelating agents, which break down product buildup, dirt, and oil without messing with your color. It also includes hydrolyzed keratin to soften and strengthen hair, so you’re not left with straw every time you’re in need of a deep clean.
Brassiness isn’t just an issue for blonds-those who dye their hair brown also need a good toning shampoo to prevent coppery hues and preserve rich chocolate pigments. This blue shampoo from Matrix simultaneously neutralizes unwanted tones while also hydrating strands with vitamin E oil, a lightweight moisturizer that’s suitable for all hair types.
Read also: Benefits of Kérastase Elixir Ultime Oil Shampoo
While many shampoos designed for colored hair are extra rich and nourishing to offset the damage hair dye causes, those formulas often end up being way too heavy for people with fine hair. Kérastase Chroma Absolu Bain Respect is the exception, and still manages to intensely hydrate, repair, and seal in color thanks to a combination of botanical extracts and strengthening acids. The Kérastase Chroma Absolu Shampoo is a luxurious treat for anyone who colors their hair. It utilizes a trifecta of acids-amino, lactic, and tartaric-to target and smooth hair damage while retaining color and keeping brassy tones at bay. Its formula is surprisingly lightweight, making it a good match for fine or thinning hair, and contains Centella asiatica (also known as cica) to help your hair and scalp recover post-treatment.
Imagine washing your hair (and conditioning it, of course) 40 times after coloring it and still seeing the same vibrancy and richness after stepping out of the shower. It seems far-fetched, but it's exactly what the Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo can do. The formula is centered around elastin protein and quinoa, a combo that helps hold onto your color's vividness. Amino acids, which are known to protect and fortify our hair strand’s natural bonds for strength and softness, are the structural blocks of the elastin proteins. You happen to lose some of your hair’s natural supply of the molecule during the coloring process, so consider this as your shine and smoothness insurance. And while it won't double as a conditioner, it does include a conditioning polymer to leave hair soft, not dry.
K18’s Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo focuses on cleansing any dirt, oil, and product buildup without disturbing your hair's natural pH-and therefore improves color retention. The plant-derived surfactants acts as gentle alternatives to SLS and SLES cleaners while the brand’ star ingredient, a proprietary form of elasticity-boosting peptides, supports broken bonds along the hair shaft, minimizing bleach-, chemical-, and heat-related damage and all their unwanted effects (read: brittleness, dullness, brassiness).
We generally aren't "anti" much, but when it comes to our beautiful color fading, we're ready to put up a fight. Thankfully, Joico's Colorful Anti-Fade Shampoo will do most of the work for us. Nourishing ingredients like camellia oil, rosehip oil, pomegranate, and hydrolyzed keratin moisturize and strengthen each hair strand while maintaining the brilliance of your new hue for up to eight weeks. The ingredients are housed in liposomes to gradually release them throughout the day, creating a long-lasting effect.
Few formulas come close to the bond-supporting powers of this shampoo, which is why it earned an Allure Best of Beauty Award back in 2021 and, more recently, a Readers' Choice Award in 2023. Olaplex’s shampoo is spiked with the brand’s star active ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (albeit at a much lower concentration than the No. 3 Hair Perfector treatment) to fortify broken disulfide bonds along the hair shaft. The results: shinier, smoother hair with intense color vibrancy after each and every wash.
Not-so-fun fact: your hair tools can also mess with your color and can lead to heat-related damage. If you reach for your hair dryer and styling tools on a regular basis, gently wash your brittlest strands by lathering up with Fekkai's Technician Color Shampoo. It contains a slew of conditioning, hair-softening ingredients like plum seed oil, sunflower sprout extract, and argan oil that moisturize fried, damaged hair cuticles. The results: a major shine and vibrancy boost.
When it comes to drugstore darlings for color-treated hair, we can't fail to mention L'Oréal Paris's EverPure Moisture Shampoo-and New York City-based colorist Nikki Ferrara agrees. While it's powerful enough to remove product buildup at the roots, this gentle formula lathers beautifully and is infused with rosemary oil for its color-preserving, antioxidant-rich benefits that give higher-end formulas a run for their money. And, since it actively moisturizes hair, it leaves strands with impressive softness and shine.
The Pantene Illuminating Color Care Sulfate Free Shampoo fills our showers with a delightful floral-citrus scent, but that’s not the only reason why we’re lathering up with it. Pantene boasts biotin (which has been proven not to help with hair growth) as the main ingredient, but, to us, the hero of this formula is provitamin B5, also known as panthenol-which has had promising clinical results in terms of increasing hydration and fortifying weak strands. Plus, it's free of both silicones and sulfates, so it’s far lighter on thin, easily-weighed-down hair than other options. What's left is simply smooth, shiny hair.
If Loma isn't already on your radar, it should be. Danita Hampton, a North Carolina-based hairstylist and Covet & Mane Lead Educator, recommends the brand's Hair Care Moisturizing Shampoo, which she describes as a "lightweight and moisture-rich" formula that "hydrates your hair and scalp and leaves hair super soft and silky." The color-safe formula is boosted with soothing aloe vera (great for an irritated, dandruff-prone scalp), moisturizing jojoba and avocado seed oils, and amino-acid-rich quinoa protein to quench brittle hair and repair damaged cuticle layers. The relaxing combination of vanilla bean and orange scents alone is enough to get you hooked.
Shampoos designed for color-treated hair are typically free from harsh sulfates and chemicals that strip color. They’re formulated to cleanse gently without drying out hair or dulling your tone, helping your color stay vibrant and glossy for longer. If you can’t find a formula specifically for colored hair, you can also opt for any shampoo that’s sulfate-free, as sulfates will cause your color to fade more quickly.
There are quite a few ways you can prolong your color, and one of the best ways is by adjusting your shampoo routine. Beyond using a shampoo for color-treated hair, avoiding washing your hair for at least two days after your color treatment is crucial. This allows the color to settle in and seal properly. When it comes time to cleanse, shampooing less than you usually would-about two to three times a week max is ideal. Shampooing too frequently strips your natural oils-and your color. Use lukewarm or cool water instead of hot, too, because hot water opens the hair cuticle and dulls your color. Be sure to use a heat protectant when heat styling your hair to keep your hue vibrant. Sun exposure can also dull your color, so wear a hat or use UV-protectant hair products when outdoors. And if you feel like your color is looking a little lackluster, incorporating an at-home gloss into your routine adds beautiful shine and is a great pick-me-up in between your professional color appointments. Extra care is a must for your dye job since there are a number of contributing factors when it comes to your color fading. Watch out for exposure to hard water, the overuse of heat-styling tools (and hot shower temperatures), and even UV rays. The sun bleaches color out of everything, including your hair. If you're going outside for extended periods of time, protect your scalp and hair with a hat. We also like to spritz on a little hair sunscreen to make sure we've covered all of our bases.
Every expert agrees that the less you wash your hair, the better. Ideally, wash your color-treated hair two to three times a week. This preserves the color vibrancy and keeps your strands healthy. If you find that your scalp produces a lot of oil, try to use a dry shampoo to extend the time between wash days. It will be better for your color (and wallet) in the long run.
Sulfates are a no-no thanks to their color-sapping side. Sulfates are cleansers that trap oil-based dirt so it can be rinsed away from skin or hair with water. They also happen to be the additives behind the lather and bubbles in shampoos, toothpastes, and soaps. Overall, the jury is still kind of out on whether they're harmful or not, but this group of ingredients is definitely known for its color-stripping effects. Not only are they irritating to the skin, but they are also capable of "stripping the [scalp] of its natural oils" a little too well, leading to dryness and flaking.
Extra care is a must for your dye job since there are a number of contributing factors when it comes to your color fading. Watch out for exposure to hard water, the overuse of heat-styling tools (and hot shower temperatures), and even UV rays.
Sulfates are cleansers that trap oil-based dirt so it can be rinsed away from skin or hair with water. They also happen to be the additives behind the lather and bubbles in shampoos, toothpastes, and soaps. Overall, the jury is still kind of out on whether they're harmful or not, but this group of ingredients is definitely known for its color-stripping effects.
Like many experts, Ferrara is a fan of brands with sulfate-free offerings, as she says they will "extend the shelf life of your hair color and prevent fading." Los Angeles-based colorist and Redken brand ambassador Matt Rez previously shared that using sulfate-free shampoo will keep hair as hydrated as possible. Adding to the chorus is cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson, who told Allure that sulfates can dry hair out, which can be especially damaging after coloring.
Basically, complementary colors-or colors that are on opposite sides of the color wheel-neutralize each other. Therefore, you can use tinted shampoos, hair masks, and conditioners to balance brassy tones and dullness. For minimizing brassy tones, a purple shampoo for blondes and blue shampoo for brunettes are always your best bets.
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