14 of the Finest Color-Maintaining Shampoos for Hair
The greatest shampoos for color-treated hair may make color upkeep a breeze, whether you’re a seasoned colorist or just starting out. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting a salon-quality shade (or, dare I say it, an at-home version) and then seeing your dream color fade and appear dull after only a few washes.
If your present shampoo contains sulfates—a topic we’ll get into more—then it could be robbing your hair of its pigment. A color-safe shampoo is useful in that situation. See below for a rundown of the best color protection shampoos on the market, which will delicately wash your hair without removing any dye.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo
- Best for Fine Hair: Kérastase Chroma Absolu Shampoo
- Best for Chemically-Treated Hair: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
- Best for Dry Hair: Fekkai Technician Color Shampoo
- Best for Blonde and Gray Hair: Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Hair Shampoo
- Best Vegan Shampoo: Pureology Strength Cure Sulfate Free Shampoo
- Good Investment: Virtue Recovery Shampoo
Best Overall: Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Suppose you colored your hair 40 times and each time you stepped out of the shower, you could see the same vibrant and rich color—after conditioning, of course. Even though it’s hard to believe, this shampoo really does have that ability. Quinoa and elastin protein are the main ingredients, and they work together to help your color stay true. Also, it contains a conditioning polymer, so your hair will be left silky rather than dry, but it won’t act as a conditioner either.
Editor Tip: The proteins are packed with the same amino acids lost during the coloring process.
Who It’s Good For: People with weak or breakage-prone hair.
Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Professionnel Shampoo Vitamino Colour
Why It’s Worth It: In a survey of 69 customers, MakeupAlley gave the L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Color Shampoo a 4.0 rating. The usefulness and utility of this product are debated, however, many consumers praise its softening and color-preserving properties. It protects dyed hair and adds shine with its exclusive composition.
Editor Tip: For best results, massage the product into your scalp and roots (the areas with the highest concentration of oil) before rinsing it out. This will create a mild foam that will gently cleanse your hair’s lengths. Without removing the hair’s natural oils, this procedure helps maintain color and adds shine.
Best for Fine Hair: Kérastase Chroma Absolu Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: If you color your hair, you absolutely must use the Kérastase Chroma Absolu Shampoo. It uses an acid trio—amino, lactic, and tartaric—to repair damaged hair, keep color in, and prevent brassy undertones. With its unexpectedly light texture, it’s ideal for thin or fine hair, and the inclusion of Centella asiatica, often known as cica, aids in hair recovery after treatment.
Editor Tip: Great for both thick and thin hair, this silicone-free alternative feels weightless while intensely rehydrating hair.
Who It’s Good For: People looking for volume.
Best for Dry Hair: Fekkai Technician Color Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Applying Fekkai’s Technician Color Shampoo will hydrate even the most parched hair and protect the dyed hues from fading. It nourishes the hair cuticle with a variety of components that soften and condition it, such as sunflower sprout extract, argan oil, and plum seed oil. Enhanced luster and color saturation are the end outcomes.
Editor Tip: According to Clairol, cool-toned brunettes can use this shampoo to diminish brassy, orange colors, too.
Who It’s Good For: Anyone with dry, brittle, or damaged hair.
Best for Blonde and Gray Hair:Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Hair Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: It’s no secret that blondes, particularly those whose hair isn’t naturally blonde, require more upkeep than they’re worth. It is recommended that gray and blonde hair types use a purple shampoo, such as Clairol’s Professional Shimmer Lights Hair Shampoo, to prevent brassiness. Each wash leaves it looking icier and cooler thanks to its UV color, which counteracts muted yellow tones. Plus, the fact that it’s less than $20 doesn’t hurt either.
Editor Tip: According to Arun, cool-toned brunettes can use this shampoo to diminish brassy, orange colors, too.
Who It’s Good For: Anyone with blonde or gray hair.
Best for Vibrancy: REDKEN Shampoo Color Extend Magnetics
Why It’s Worth It: Its capacity to preserve dyed hair and its sulfate-free composition are two of its most appealing features. A few users, though, have complained that it makes their hair feel dull or trapped. In general, people who want to keep their hair color without using harsh chemicals have said favorable things about the product, praising its pleasant lather and floral aroma.
Editor Tip: To avoid any possible weighting down of the hair, apply Redken’s Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo to the mid-lengths and ends of the hair. You can keep your hair feeling light and vibrant by using a clarifying shampoo occasionally to remove buildup.
Best Luxury: Virtue Labs Recovery Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Hairstylist Alex Brown of Chicago says this is one of her favorite color-safe shampoos of all time. She explains that it restores keratin to the broken pockets of the hair strands caused by bleach, heat, and other chemicals. She also adds that it leaves your hair feeling incredibly soft and nourished.
Editor Tip: “Gentle, non-sulfate shampoo that gives hair volume and has the brand’s patented Alpha Keratin 60ku to keep hair looking healthy and shiny,” describes Virtue’s Full Shampoo, a volumizing product that you can use if you’re seeking for one.
Who It’s Good For: People who’ve gotten especially damaging color services, like bleach.
Best Vegan Shampoo: Pureology Strength Cure Sulfate Free Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: In 2022, it was named Best of Beauty, so it is authentic. The two main ingredients here are astaxanthin, an antioxidant that blocks ultraviolet light, and keravis, a protein derived from plants that helps build muscle. Even if you’re dealing with bleached hair, those will repair damage and strengthen your strands, so there’s no need to worry if you’re not familiar with the terms.
Editor Tip: The scent is sweet and juicy, thanks to notes of raspberry and peach.
Who It’s Good For: Those looking for a vegan formula.
Best for Breakage: Briogeo Color Me Brilliant Shampoo & Conditioner
Why It’s Worth It: This shampoo is ideal for all hair types and those who have had chemical treatments on their hair, including dyes, keratin, or relaxers. This formulation uses potent, plant-based components like radish root ferment, turkey tail mushroom, and bamboo leaf extract to maintain color. It also contains a Color Protect Primer, which helps to reduce color loss caused by heat. On the other hand, a combination of oils from sunflower seeds, linseed, and apricot kernels encourages a shiny, healthy sheen.
Editor Tip: Pair it with the Briogeo Color Protect Primer to minimize heat-induced color loss.
Who It’s Good For: People who color hair in addition to other chemical treatments
Best Healthy Scalp: COLOR WOW Color Security Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Users with oily scalps or dyed hair have praised its ability to cleanse without stripping the hair of its natural oils. You may go longer between washes, and your hair will feel incredibly soft after using it. Its ability to maintain the vibrancy of hair color and its refreshing sensation make it a favorite among many.
Editor Tip: Before rinsing, massage COLOR WOW Color Security Shampoo into your scalp to remove buildup and oils. This will give you the greatest benefits. Without removing any of the natural oils or color from the hair, this procedure guarantees a thorough cleansing.
Best Silicone-Free: Pantene Illuminating Color Care Sulfate Free Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Panthenol, or provitamin B5, is the star of this recipe because of its encouraging clinical findings in boosting moisture and strengthening fragile hair. (Additionally, it does not include any sulfates or silicones.) Smooth, lustrous hair is all that’s left.
Editor Tip: The scent of white florals and juicy citrus doubles as aromatherapy.
Who It’s Good For: People looking for extra shine without the help of silicones.
Best for Chemically-Treated Hair: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: This shampoo won two awards in 2021 and 2023 for its bond-repairing capabilities; none of the other recipes were able to come close. Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, which is the main ingredient in Olaplex, is added to it to fix broken disulfide connections at the molecular level. After every wash, your hair will be noticeably smoother and shiny, and the color will stay vibrant and true to form.
Editor Tip: You can find bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimeleate in every Olaplex product, not just this.
Who It’s Good For: Those who get chemical treatments in addition to color services.
Best Scent: Loma Hair Care Moisturizing Shampoo
Why It’s Worth It: Loma ought to be on your mind if it isn’t already. By praising its “lightweight and moisture-rich” composition, Hampton says the brand’s Hair Care Moisturizing Shampoo “hydrates your hair and scalp and leaves hair super soft and silky.” Infused with color-safe ingredients, this color-safe product soothes inflamed scalps, nourishes dry hair with oils from avocado and jojoba seeds, and repairs damaged cuticle layers with amino acid-rich quinoa protein.
Editor Tip: The relaxing combination of vanilla bean and orange scents alone is enough to get you hooked.
Who It’s Good For: People with dry, dull hair.
Best for Shine: Maria Nila Colour Refresh
Why It’s Worth It: As a color refresher and hair mask, it has received a lot of appreciation from users for its ability to revitalize dark brown hair. Many people think it’s salon grade because of its vegan and cruelty-free formula. Nevertheless, a customer was let down when they expected the Pearl Silver version to eliminate yellow undertones.Editor Tip: It works best when applied to wet, just-washed hair and left on for the recommended period of time to restore the color. Also, because a little goes a long way, you can control the color refresh strength by starting with a smaller amount and adjusting it as needed.
Who It’s Good For: People looking for all-day protection against fading.
