Colored hair needs special care to maintain its vibrancy and health. When you dye your hair, the coloring process can strip away natural oils and proteins so that your hair is easier to become more vulnerable to damage. Regular shampoos can be too harsh and may cause the color to fade faster.
Using the right shampoo for colored hair can make a difference in how long your color lasts and how healthy your hair feels. These shampoos contain sulfate-free formulas that cleanse without stripping away the color. Herein I’ll introduce you to 6 of the best shampoos for color treated hair.
Why coloured hair need special shampoo?
Colored hair needs special shampoo because regular shampoos can strip away the color and make your hair look dull and faded. Special shampoos for colored hair are designed to be gentle and protect your hair’s color, keeping it vibrant for longer. They also help lock in moisture, which is super important because the coloring process can dry out your hair.
Another reason colored hair needs special shampoo is that it’s more vulnerable to damage from the sun, pollution, and heat styling tools. Special shampoos usually have UV filters and antioxidants that protect your hair from these harmful elements. They also enhance the shine and smoothness of your hair. You can also learn from this guide to wash and condition your colored hair.
How do you know if shampoo is good for colored hair?
You have some tips to choose a good colored hair shampoo.
1. Check for sulfate-free formulas
Sulfates are harsh detergents that can strip your hair of its natural oils and color. A good shampoo for colored hair will be labeled as sulfate-free to ensure it cleanses without causing color fade.
Tip: Look for labels that say “sulfate-free” or “color-safe.”
2. Look for ingredients that protect and nourish
Ingredients like keratin, argan oil, and silk proteins help nourish and strengthen colored hair. These ingredients provide extra moisture, repair damage, and enhance the shine and smoothness of your hair.
Tip: Check the ingredient list for nourishing and protective ingredients like keratin, amino acids, antioxidants, and natural oils.
3. Ensure it has UV protection:
Colored hair is more susceptible to damage from UV rays, which can cause color to fade and hair to become brittle. Shampoos with UV filters help protect your hair from sun damage.
Tip: Look for shampoos that mention UV protection or have antioxidants to shield your hair from environmental damage.
Top 1. Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
This shampoo is a luxurious, sulfate-free formula designed to deeply hydrate and protect colored hair. It features the exclusive AntiFade Complex, which helps maintain vibrant hair color while providing intense moisture. It’s deemed as one of the best heat protectants for curly hair.
Pros:
- Sulfate-free, gentle formula
- Deeply hydrating and moisturizing
- Contain natural ingredients like jojoba, green tea, and sage
- Help maintain vibrant hair color
- Help treate dry or damaged hair
Top 2. Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo
This product features the innovative RCT Protein Complex, which targets the root, core, and tip of each strand. It comes with customized nourishment and protection. It also helps extend the life of your hair color while strengthening and conditioning your hair.
Pros:
- Contain RCT Protein Complex for targeted nourishment
- Help extend the life of hair color
- Strengthen and condition hair
- Gentle, sulfate-free formula
- Leave hair feeling soft and manageable
Top 3. Biolage Colorlast Shampoo
Inspired by nature’s fade-defying orchid, Biolage Colorlast Shampoo helps maintain the vibrancy of colored hair. Its low pH formula faintly cleanses while preserving color and preventing fading. It is one of the best shampoos for colored hair.
Pros:
- Low pH formula to prevent color fading
- Slightly cleanses and preserves hair color
- Orchid extract and UV filters included
- Add shine and improve hair texture for thin hair
Top 4. L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo
L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture Shampoo is infused with rosemary and other natural botanicals to provide intense moisture and protection for color-treated hair. This sulfate-free formula mildly cleanses while maintaining the softness and vibrancy of your hair color.
Pros:
- Sulfate-free and tender on color-treated hair
- Infused with rosemary and natural botanicals
- Provide intense moisture and hydration
- Help maintain color vibrancy
- Affordable and widely available
Top 5. Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
This recommendation is known for its ability to repair and strengthen all hair types while preserving hair color. This highly moisturizing and reparative shampoo is formulated with Olaplex’s patented Bond Building Chemistry and more recommended for chemically treated and color-treated hair.
Pros:
- Repair and strengthen damaged hair
- Highly moisturizing and hydrating
- Hair color protected
- Can treat chemically treated hair
- Free from sulfates, parabens, and phthalates
Top 6. Kerastase Reflection Bain Chromatique Shampoo
We tested out that it is a multi-protecting shampoo designed for color-treated hair. It helps preserve hair color while enhancing shine and protecting against external aggressors like UV rays and pollution. The formula includes zinc gluconate, vitamin E, and UV filters to provide comprehensive protection.
Pros:
- Protect and preserve hair color
- Enhance more smoothness
- Give you UV filters and vitamin E for protection
- Considerate on color-treated hair
- Long-lasting color vibrancy
