I learned the hard way why it’s important to use one of the best shampoos for colored hair: The first time I ever dyed my hair with permanent dye, my fresh hue washed right down the drain because I didn’t use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner. (No exaggeration, I had to go back to the salon to get my hair redone two weeks later.) I’ve come a long way in maintaining my color, and now I’m able to keep my strands extra vibrant for months thanks to the correct hair-care products.
After speaking with professional stylists and testing dozens of formulas, we found the very best shampoos for colored hair. Our top pick, Pureology Hydrate Shampoo, comes highly recommended by experts because of how it preserves color and revitalizes damaged hair in just one wash. However, your color will stay vivid with any of these picks—so much so that you might just be able to push off your next salon appointment by a few weeks.
The best shampoos for colored-treated hair, at a glance
We asked professional hairstylists and Glamour editors to test expert-recommended shampoo formulas and products that consistently garner high-ratings across Amazon, Ulta, Sephora, and more.
We evaluated each shampoo based on the ingredients (do they include nourishing hydrators to restore processed hair? Is the formula sulfate-free?); and analyzed whether each pick enhanced vibrancy, helping us to extend the time between salon visits. Finally, we also paid attention to the overall health of our strands beyond the color by noting how soft, silky, and frizz-free our hair felt after each wash. After our rigorous tests, we narrowed our list down to 13 options for a variety of hair types and concerns.
Best Overall: IGK More Life Color Extend Shampoo
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Original photo from Mary Honkus testing IGK More Life Color Extend Shampoo
You’ve probably heard of glass skin but how about glass hair? This is when hair is so shiny, smooth, and frizz-free, it reflects light like a mirror. My hair practically sparkled after one wash with this shampoo.
“This was developed by stylists who live and breathe color every day,” explains celebrity hairstylist Marc Ballance. “It hydrates, protects, and leaves your hair feeling salon-fresh between appointments.” Beyond adding a professional gloss-level shine, the hydrating ingredients and special color-locking polymers help extend the vibrancy of my dye job. I typically refresh my red mane every five weeks, but with this, I’ve been able to push off my regular appointment by two extra weeks. Plus, the conditioner doubles as a nourishing hair mask.
Best for Oily Hair: ColorWow Color Security Shampoo
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Original photo from Mary Honkus testing ColorWow Color Security Shampoo
Oily, colored hair is extremely difficult to maintain—you need to wash it more often to keep it fresh, but this in turn makes your hue fade much faster. While this can feel like an unsolvable conundrum, this ColorWow Shampoo just might be the answer to your woes. The lightweight, sulfate-free formula doesn’t contain any of the heavy conditioning or shine-enhancing ingredients often found in other color-safe shampoos. Instead, the formula keeps things simple, sticking with gentle cleansing agents that cut through grease and buildup without stripping color. The bare bones, yet extremely effective formula keeps hair cleaner for longer, and allows you to skip a shampoo or two so your color stays as bright as possible. Even though I don’t have oily hair, I enjoy using this on my deep clean days instead of a clarifying shampoo. My red mane maintains its coppery hue and looks more voluminous when I wash with this, probably because there aren’t any dense hydrators to weigh it down.
Best for Curly Hair: Moroccanoil Color Care Shampoo
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Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Moroccanoil Color Care Shampoo
Curly hair dries out faster than other hair types, and coloring it can exacerbate that. This means you’ll require mega hydrators to keep it soft and shiny. Celebrity hairstylist & colorist Dimitris Giannetos says that argan oil is one of the best ingredients for every curl type, which is why he recommends this deeply nourishing shampoo. “It helps extend the life of your color and protects from environmental aggressors, like UV damage and pollution,” he explains. Hair feels softer after one wash, and with continued use, not only does hair get shinier and more vivid, your curl pattern can also become more uniform, too.
Best for Red Hair: Luseta Red Hair Shampoo
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Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Luseta Red Hair Shampoo
There’s a reason why most people only go red for a few months before abandoning the hue altogether: The high maintenance shade fades faster than any other color, resulting in more frequent salon visits and extra money out of your pocket. I’ve consistently dyed my hair copper for a decade, and this shampoo is part of my routine upkeep. The slightly tinted formula deposits a small amount of color each time I wash it, while also boosting shine with a mix of fruit oils. There’s no denying that red hair requires more work, but this shampoo makes it much more manageable.
Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo: Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo
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Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo
If you dye your hair, it’s incredibly important to use a moisturizing shampoo that’s sulfate-free, says Ballance. While sulfates function as cleansing agents to help wash away dirt, oil, and buildup, they can also strip color and cause dryness. So, when Ballance is advising his clients on how to maintain, he always recommends this pick from Redken. “Along with being sulfate-free, this is packed with proteins that strengthen your hair while giving it that clean, glossy finish,” he says.
Best for Shine: Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
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Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
Don’t be fooled by the name of this shampoo—while it was specially formulated to replenish dry hair, two of our experts say this multitasker also works to completely revive colored hair and make it sparkle. “It’s full of antioxidants and is ultramoisturizing, making it a go-to for keeping color vivid and strands soft,” says Ballance.
Hair dye naturally dries out hair, and if you bleach your strands, brittleness is almost guaranteed—unless you use this. The combination of proteins and rose extract softens, boosts shine, and intensely hydrates hair, so your mane can maintain near-virgin health, even if you’re heading to the salon every few weeks.
Best for Damaged Hair: Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color
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Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color
Sad truth: Consistent coloring can result in some major harm to your hair, especially if bleach is a regular part of your routine. If you’re not ready or willing to revert back to your natural color and are looking for an easy solution to remedy breakage, professional colorist Jennifer Korab says that Oribe’s restorative shampoo can reverse damage and prevent fading. After using this for a few weeks, I can confirm the hefty price tag is totally worth it. Not only does my red hair feel silky soft, but my ends also look healthier and my auburn hue appears richer—so much so that I’ve been able to skip my reparative bond-building mask. Who knew just shampoo could make such a difference?
Best Drugstore: Herbal Essences Pure Grapeseed Color Nurture Shampoo
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Original photo from Mary Honkus testing Herbal Essences Pure Grapeseed Color Nurture Shampoo
When I first started dying my hair a decade ago, it was rare to find color-safe shampoos at the drugstore. Then Herbal Essences came out with this affordable pick. For under $10, this lightweight yet nourishing shampoo improves vibrancy and offers color protection against UV rays (which can cause fading) all with plant-based ingredients. This shampoo features camellia oil, which is very similar to the natural oils our hair produces, and grapeseed oil, which creates a shield between your hair and those aforementioned UV rays. I also love that my head smells like a blooming garden every time I wash with this.
Best for Blonde Hair: Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo
Original image by Jenifer Calle testing Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo
Blond requires more upkeep than most other hair colors. You’ll probably find yourself scheduling more frequent touch-ups unless you have a trusty color-depositing purple shampoo in your shower caddy to keep you looking icy and fresh. Don’t let the deep violet shade of this Olaplex pick scare you—the color neutralizes brassy tones to keep all shades of blond extra bright. Plus, this is chock-full of Olaplex’s bond-building complex to deeply repair damaged hair (even bleached strands!) from the inside out.
