From your initial hair-coloring appointment, to the touch-ups every six to 12 weeks afterward, maintaining
color-treated hair is a commitment that requires changing your usual hair care routine.
For example, colorists typically recommend wearing hats in direct sunlight to prevent fading, or being extra delicate with your hair to prevent
damage, frizz, or tangles. Heat-protectant products become even more important for heat-styling, since high heat can damage the hair cuticle. And, whether you have color-treated hair or not, it's always important to use hair care products that prevent common symptoms of damage, like dryness, frizz, and split ends.
Luckily, you can prevent that damage by introducing color-safe products to your hair care routine from the very first time you wash with your new hair color.
“Color treated hair can fade, lose shine, or dry out after coloring if not properly maintained,” says Tina Deeke, colorist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. “Typically, shampoo for color-treated hair has a gentle cleanser that protects freshly colored hair until it's ready to be colored again. Many also protect against environmental factors, add a touch of moisture, and fight frizz.”
You'll want to look for a
shampoo that's sulfate-free (AKA formulated without the lather that strips your hair follicles of their moisture). “Non-sulfate or low-sulfate shampoos are great for preventing fading,” Deeke says. There are also color-safe shampoos designed specifically to tone down brassy blondes, extend the life of punchy rainbow hues, and protect against the stressors that cause breakage.
If you aren't seeing a difference in the vibrancy and lifespan of your hair color with a dedicated shampoo, “add a deep conditioning masque into your routine a few times a month,” Deeke says. “It keeps your hair healthy and further protects your color.” Look for ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, and avocado seed oils, which are extra-nourishing and can keep hair from becoming frizzy. Deeke also recommends rinsing with cool or lukewarm water, since hot water can further strip away moisture, making hair look dull.
Want to keep your next color service looking salon-fresh between appointments? Continue reading below for our picks of the best shampoos for maintaining colored hair.
The Best For Blondes: PLAYA Violet Brightening Shampoo
If you usually get highlights or lowlights in shades of brown, going bright blonde can feel like a huge adjustment. To hold onto the true buttery or silvery shades you left the salon with, grab this purple shampoo. It's packed with violet pigments to offset brassiness and remove buildup, so you can achieve a soft, glossy finish. It's also infused with antioxidant-rich vitamin C and babassu oil to renew hair—just use it one to two times a week to max out its benefits.
The Best for Keeping All Shades Shiny: ORIBE Shampoo for Beautiful Color
Hairstylist-approved brand ORIBE has mastered a sulfate-free shampoo formula that stands up to the elements—no matter your hair type. “It's concentrated, gentle, adds shine, and smells great,” Deeke says. Not only does it strengthen hair post-treatment, but the gentle formula (which features ORIBE's Signature Complex to protect, baobab extract to nourish, and hydrolyzed protein to fortify hair) leaves hair feeling new, too. Plus, the gorgeous bottle will make your shower look like a luxury spa.
The Best Color-Safe Plant-Based Formula: BRIOGEO Superfoods Banana + Coconut Nourishing Shampoo
This vegan sulfate-free shampoo sounds good enough to eat with a plant-based ingredient list featuring banana, coconut, and açaì berry. It works well for color-treated, keratin-treated, chemically-treated, and relaxed hair—not to mention curly hair—reducing color fade and supporting scalp health.
The Best for Moisturizing Damaged Hair: ANDALOU NATURALS 1000 Roses® Complex Color Care Shampoo
While we love hair dye for all the amazing color options we can choose from, there's no doubt it's damaging and dehydrating to our strands. Give dry, damaged, processed hair a head start at recovery with this shampoo's moisturizing combo of strengthening PhytoCellTec® alpine rose stem cells and conditioning rosehip and pomegranate oils.
