11 Best Shampoos for Color-Treated Hair, According to Experts

Keep your ‘do from fading fast with the Tresemmé shampoo and matching conditioner that best helped retain color in the GH Beauty Lab’s most recent test — the pair was also the consumer tester favorite. Though a sulfate formula, hair samples showed the least color change after 20 washes and 10 hours of UV exposure in Lab evaluations. Plus, this color-safe drugstore duo was the most affordable option we tested. Made with frizz-smoothing keratin and marula oil, the formula had testers saying it “felt creamy and rich like expensive salon-quality products.”

A GH Beauty Lab go-to, this bargain-price sulfate-free L’Oréal Paris formula is made to both preserve color and soften strands. In a consumer study, the majority of women who used the shampoo and matching conditioner found that it helped hair color stay “pure” after four weeks of use, Lab data evaluation found. Just note that some online reviewers who have damaged hair found it drying.

Dry, brittle ends are a risk you take with dye jobs. Thankfully, Davine’s NouNou shampoo aims to deeply nourish dehydrated hair while offering a “rich, creamy lather,” according to celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein. Color-treated (especially bleached) hair tends to oxidize more than non-color-treated hair. Given that, Rubenstein says properly nourished, hydrated and moisturized hair helps color oxidize less. She recommends Davines because it makes hair feel “cared for, clean and not stripped of any natural oil.”

This reasonably priced protein-infused shampoo and its conditioner counterpart from Nexxus win the praises of color pros thanks to its ability to remove product buildup without stripping color. “It prevents fading on any color-treated hair and maintains hair health,” says New York City colorist Patrick Kyle. One Amazon reviewer wrote that it takes a decent amount of shampoo to get a good lather, however.

Keep color protection top of mind with a shampoo that celebrity hairstylist Michael Dueñas raves “helps strengthen the hair internally and closes the cuticle, ensuring that your color lasts longer with less fading.” The castor oil ingredient leaves hair feeling incredibly soft and shiny, he adds. It’s “also gentle with cleansing and retains your hair’s natural moisture, ensuring you don’t strip away your artificial color,” says Dueñas. While online reviewers enjoyed the formula, one added that it dried out their hair slightly.

From a brand created specifically for color care, this Pureology shampoo and its conditioner formulations contain proteins and botanical oils to fortify and nourish dry, damaged strands. “I couldn’t believe how soft and lush my hair felt after using these, even right after it was bleached,” marvels GH’s beauty director April Franzino. The shampoo comes with a higher price tag, though we think the hefty amount of product keeps this at a good value.

Great for keeping her highlighted hair looking fresh, Franzino also enjoys this color-safe shampoo for how well it leaves her hair feeling clean but not dehydrated. “Plus, the scent is amazing and makes showering feel luxurious!” she adds about its peachy smell with tropical notes. Paired with its companion conditioner, the brand claims that the duo gently cleanses colored hair. That said, some shoppers had trouble getting it to lather well, which led to shampooing twice for a more satisfying cleanse.

For a luxe sulfate-free option that increases vibrancy, check out Shu Uemura’s color-protecting shampoo and conditioner, recommended by Meri Kate O’Connor, a colorist at Cooper Salon in West Hollywood, CA. “These have refining lipids that help to protect the cortex of the hair, where the color goes, so your shade lasts longer — and hair is left shiny and soft,” she explains. Those with dry scalps reported online that it felt less moisturizing, so oily hair types may benefit more.

Created by the gold standard anti-dandruff brand, this Head & Shoulders shampoo and conditioner created for color-treated hair both contain the flake-fighting active ingredient pyrithione zinc. “Not only is dandruff is at bay, [but] my hair is [also] shiny, smooth and smells wonderful!” reports one reviewer. Adding nourishment to the equation, the formula combines manuka honey and argan oil. However, online reviewers with curly hair — kinky textures, especially — noted that it wasn’t as effective at detangling.

To keep hair color from fading, O’Connor turns to this pair from Goldwell, a collection specially tailored to smooth strands. If you want to make coarse or textured hair silky, she says the shampoo and conditioner are infused with keratin to add extra smoothness and shine. Oily hair types: It’s worth keeping in mind that a few online reviewers reported that it left a greasy residue behind.

If you’re on the search for shampoo for colored hair, opt for this stylist favorite. Celebrity colorist and Matrix brand ambassador Rachel Bodt recommends the My Blonde collection to all her clients who have gotten any sort of chemical lightening service, not just blondes. “Unbreak My Blonde is a three-part, shampoo, conditioning and leave-in treatment, meant to revive hair damaged by chemical lightening — leaving hair soft and shiny.” The only con: an Ulta reviewer who has fine, thin hair says it felt too heavy and hydrating.