Don’t let your dream hue fade away. Try our pick of colour-protecting shampoos & get the tips & tricks for making your colour last
Blonde, brunette, red, or an even bolder tone…Whatever your signature shade is, we’re sure you want to make it last as long as possible.
One of the best ways to care for coloured hair and preserve your dye job is to use a coloured hair shampoo, also known as a colour-safe shampoo. These are, as you might have guessed, shampoos that are specially formulated as safe to use on dyed hair. They’re designed to help stop your colour from disappearing down the drain, while also keeping your hair free of dirt and oil, like any regular shampoo.
What’s the best shampoo for coloured hair?
The best shampoo for coloured hair will depend on many factors, such as your hair shade, hair type, the condition of your hair and personal preference.
Here, we delve into why coloured hair needs a tailored shampoo, what to look for in a shampoo, plus our round-up of the best hair dye shampoos and how to use them properly.
Why use shampoo for coloured hair?
Although washing your hair is an essential part of any haircare routine, water and certain shampoo formulas can strip away your colour and make it fade more quickly. On top of this, dyeing your hair is associated with more hair damage due to the drying effects of the dye.
Hair shampoos for coloured hair are designed to both enhance and preserve your hue for longer, while also giving your locks some extra nourishment and protection to keep them looking and feeling healthy.
What to look for in a shampoo for coloured hair?
Not all shampoos work in harmony with dyed hair, so we recommend choosing a colour-safe formula that’s also sulphate-free. In other words, avoid shampoos containing sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) which cause a lathering effect that can fade hair dye.
Instead, choose one packed with moisturising and hydrating ingredients such as oils, ceramides and natural extracts to help care for your dyed strands and maintain that vibrant colour. It’s even better if the formula contains UV protection, because sunlight and UV rays can also fade and damage coloured hair.
Tips for choosing the best shampoo for coloured hair
Here are our top tips for finding the best coloured hair shampoo for you:
• Check the product label – these should state whether the shampoo is for coloured hair, along with any other benefits such as UV protection
• Choose a shampoo for your particular shade. Again, the label should say which shade it’s suitable for or if the shampoo can be used on any shade of coloured hair. For example, if you’ve dyed your hair blonde or silver, a purple shampoo can help bring out the best in your locks and keep brassy tones at bay
• Consider your hair type, condition and needs – is it dry, brittle, damaged? Most colour-safe shampoos offer other moisturising and protecting benefits depending on what your hair needs
Not sure where to start? We’ve put together a round-up of seven of the best shampoos for coloured hair.
7 of the best shampoos for coloured hair
Best all-rounder
Try: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo
• Size: 400ml
• For coloured or highlighted hair
• Contains UVA + UVB filters
Enriched with nourishing red peony extract and UVA + UVB filters, this fan-favourite formula helps protect hair from external aggressors such as sun and pollution, while conditioning the surface of the hair to help prolong its colour. The results? Hair feels soft to the touch with a head-turning shimmer.
Use alongside the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Conditioner and Mask to complete your colour care routine.
Best for blonde hair
Try: Aussie SOS Blonde Hydration Vegan Purple Shampoo
• Size: 290ml
• Also great for silver and grey hair
• Vegan*
• PETA-certified cruelty-free
A purple shampoo is an absolute must-have for bleached, blonde, silver or grey hair thanks to its ability to banish brassy and yellow tones. Infused with Australian manuka leaf and wild plum, this 95% natural formula is here to leave your locks boosted, hydrated and bright! And the best part? It smells delicious!
Best for brunette hair
Try: John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Colour Protecting Moisturising Shampoo
• Size: 250ml
A pro at protecting and preserving colour-treated brunette hair, this moisturising formula rehydrates and replenishes dry locks all while sealing in colour to help stop it fading. It’s also bursting with a powerful light-reflecting complex to unveil multi-dimensional tones for a shine like no other.
Best for red hair
Try: John Frieda Radiant Red Boosting Shampoo
• Size: 250ml
Recharge your red and extend the life of your colour with this must-have from John Frieda. Pomegranate extract and vitamin E help protect, preserve and enhance red shades, while 18-MEA Technology helps hair repel unwanted water for greater shine and smoothness.
Best for dry coloured hair
Try: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Colour Protect More Than Shampoo
• Size: 200ml
Searching for the best shampoo for dry coloured hair? L’Oréal have got you covered with this innovative formula that cleanses like a shampoo and cares like a hair mask. Enriched with nutritive lipids – like those found in your most luxurious skincare – the caring creamy texture deeply cleanses hair without weighing it down for radiant shine, three-times more softness and two-times more detangling than a classic shampoo.**
Best for heat damaged coloured hair
Try: TRESemmé Revitalise Colour Shampoo
• Size: 680ml
• PETA-certified cruelty-free
Did you know blow-drying, heat-styling and repeated washing at hot temperatures can cause coloured hair to fade and lose its vibrancy? With hibiscus essence and a UV filter, TRESemmé’s professional-quality shampoo is designed to infuse your hair with moisture and provide it with up to 12 weeks of colour vibrancy.^ Its gentle cleansing formula uses PRO Style Technology with amino acids and ceramides to leave your hair feeling strong and looking radiant.
Best for enhancing coloured hair
Try: Bed Head By TIGI Colour Goddess Shampoo For Coloured Hair
• Size: 400ml
Experience the salon at home with Bed Head's colour care shampoo, designed with and used by professionals to care for and revive chemically treated hair and enhance colour vibrancy. Packed with vitamin E, linseed, coconut oil and keratin, this deliciously toffee-scented shampoo deeply cleanses, nourishes and smooths for hair that feels refreshed and frizz-free with colour that looks electric.
How to properly use shampoo for coloured hair
Once you’ve found the right shampoo for you, the care doesn’t stop there. Make sure to use the right shampooing technique to help minimise colour fade and damage to your strands. Here are our top tips:
• Shampoo less often – over-shampooing can cause colour to fade more quickly, so try to reduce the amount of times you wash your hair each week and reach for a dry shampoo in between washes to keep locks looking fresh
• Use cooler temperatures – hot water opens the hair cuticle which can cause colour to fade more quickly, so try to use cool or lukewarm water in the shower
• Rinse thoroughly – over time, products like shampoo can build up which can weigh hair down and dry out strands, so make sure to rinse out shampoo properly each time you wash
• Pair with a colour-caring conditioner – these are conditioners designed to work in partnership with your shampoo to protect and preserve colour-treated hair
• Use a restorative hair mask – incorporating a deep treatment into your routine every one to two weeks can help to give your locks some more intense nourishment
Other ways to care for coloured hair
It’s not just your in-shower routine that can have an effect on dyed hair. There are plenty of other ways to keep your locks looking tip-top, including:
• Using a heat protection spray when styling your hair. These can help stop blow dryers and styling tools from causing as much damage and fading your colour
• Using a UV protection spray to help minimise damage from the sun’s rays
• Trying a hair toner in between dye jobs to neutralise any unwanted shades that can sometimes develop in coloured hair, such as brassy tones in blonde hair
• Going for regular trims to get rid of split ends and keep your hair looking healthy
Now you’ve got the lowdown on the best shampoos for coloured hair, why not find a matching colour-care conditioner to complete your routine? Or, are you looking to switch up your shade? We’ve got a whole range of hair dye for your next head-turning hue.
