Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair

The right hair color can cost hundreds of dollars, so the last thing you want to do is wash it down the drain. That’s why color-treated hair requires special attention—including shampoo formulas that gently cleanse, nourish strands, but won’t strip away color. . To help extend the life of your hair color, we rounded up 11 of the best shampoos for color-treated hair—including formulas targeted to blondes, brunettes, and redheads.

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    Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair

    Shine-Boosting

    MINU Shampoo | Color Retention Shampoo Davines

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  • 2

    Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair

    Best All Around

    Legendary Shampoo IGK

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  • 3

    Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair

    Celeb-Favorite

    Color Security Shampoo Color WOW

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  • 4

    Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair

    Best for Blondes

    dpHUE Cool Blonde Shampoo dpHUE

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  • 5

    Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair

    Best for Brunettes

    Blue Crush for Brunettes Shampoo John Frieda

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1

Shine-Boosting

Davines

MINU Shampoo | Color Retention Shampoo

2

Best All Around

IGK

Legendary Shampoo

3

Celeb-Favorite

Color WOW

Color Security Shampoo

4

Best for Blondes

dpHUE

dpHUE Cool Blonde Shampoo

5

Best for Brunettes

John Frieda

Blue Crush for Brunettes Shampoo

6

Best for Redheads

Joico

Color Infuse Red Shampoo

7

Plastic-Free

SUPERZERO

Purple Shampoo Bar for Blonde Hair

8

Best for Fine Hair

Wella

Invigo Brilliance Shampoo

9

Drugstore Deal

L'Oréal Paris

Everpure Sulfate Free Bond Strengthening Color Care Shampoo

10

Natural Pick

Innersense

Color Awakening Hairbath

11

Does colored hair need a special shampoo?

Yes! “Look for sulfate- and paraben-free shampoos,” says Stephanie Brown, Master Colorist at IGK SoHo in New York City. “And in general shampoos that say ‘color-safe’ will help keep color lasting longer.”

12

What shampoo should not be used on colored hair?

Try to avoid shampoos with harsh cleansers like sulfates, as well as clarifying shampoos, as they can strip your hair color prematurely.

13

How do you keep color-treated hair healthy?

Upkeep takes more than just swapping out your shampoo. “As a general reminder, cooler showers, less hot tools, and protection from the sun” help preserve color, says Brown.

You've landed on this page because you've either dyed your hair just about every color on the spectrum, or you've been thinking about finally coloring your hair and want to be prepared. Whether you frequent a professional stylist for color jobs or you're a DIY babe, investing in a proper shampoo for colored hair is as important as the color you choose.

Blonde, brunette, black or red, excessive coloring can weaken the hair's bonds, which can cause breakage and lessen the life of your new dye. This is where color-safe shampoos come in—shampoos formulated to work as armor to fight against any threats to your hair while strengthening it before, during, and after you've received a new color. Once you've settled on your hair dye, scroll down for the 15 best shampoos to preserve your color.

  • 1

    Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair
  • 2

    Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair

    Best Purple Shampoo

    Custom Purple Shampoo Function of Beauty

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    Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair
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    Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair

    Best for Severely Damaged Hair

    Bond Maintenance Shampoo OLAPLEX

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  • 5

    Best shampoo and conditioner for dry color treated hair

    Best Drugstore Purple Shampoo

    Shimmer Lights Hair Shampoo Clairol Professional

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2

Best Purple Shampoo

Function of Beauty

Custom Purple Shampoo

4

Best for Severely Damaged Hair

Bond Maintenance Shampoo

5

Best Drugstore Purple Shampoo

Clairol Professional

Shimmer Lights Hair Shampoo

6

Best Lightweight Feel

Fekkai

Technician Color Shampoo

7

Best for Fighting Frizz

Smoothing Anti-Frizz™

Shampoo

8

Best Scent

Blooming Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo

9

Best for Softness

Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo

10

Best for Frequent Washers

Gemstone Color Shampoo

11

Best Blue Shampoo

Shop all TPH

No Brass Vitamin E Hydrating Blue Toner Shampoo

12

Best Keratin-Infused Shampoo

TRESemmé

Keratin Smooth Color Shampoo

13

Best for a Quick Refresh

Color Assure Shampoo for Color Treated Hair

14

Best for Extra Protection

Fade-Defying Orchid Oil Shampoo with UVA/UVB Sun Filters

15

Best for Nourishment

Nutrient Blends Shampoo

What should you look for in shampoo when you have color-treated hair?

Celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein says to "look for a shampoo that hydrates and moisturizes." Color-treated hair tends to oxidize more than non-processed hair, so you want to make sure your hair is moisturized and nourished to prevent oxidization.

Licensed trichologist Amanda Buescher adds that paying attention to pH-balanced products helps strengthen the hair."As long as the shampoo is between 4.5-5.5 on the pH scale, it is a color-safe shampoo no matter how it's marketed. Hair is naturally at a 4.5-5.5 on the pH scale, so shopping for products that are pH-balanced and formulated for your hair type and structure is more beneficial to lasting color," she adds. If your hair's pH is balanced, the color is locked in longer. "If your shampoo is not pH-balanced, the cuticle won't seal down and allows for artificial color pigments to wash out of the hair. Products, like Function of Beauty's Purple toning products, are not only specially formulated for your hair type and structure, but also keep orange and yellow pigments neutralized so the color stays bright and brass-free while at the same time hydrating and nourishing hair.

What ingredients should you avoid?

"Avoid products with sulfates in the ingredients. Surfactants are common in shampoos to properly cleanse the hair but sulfates are the harshest surfactant, as it strips out natural oils and artificial color pigments," Buescher adds. "When too many strong surfactants or sulfates are in the shampoo, it can fade color-treated hair by lifting the cuticle layer too aggressively."

According to Rubenstein, avoid shampoos with sodium listed in the ingredients, including "sodium laurel sulfate, sodium laureate sulfate, sodium chloride, and petrochemicals," she says. Buescher agrees and explains that since sodium is the scientific fancy name for salt, it doesn't agree with color-treated hair. "Salt is an absorption agent and acts like a magnet to color molecules, pulling them out of the hair, she adds.

How often should you wash color-treated hair?

You shouldn't be washing your hair too much, but how often you wash your hair depends on the color. "Hair tinted red will fade no matter what you do. This is because red color molecules are the largest in size and don't penetrate into the hair as well as other color molecules. To prolong the red-tinted hair color, I recommend washing the hair every 4-5 days. Hair that has been tinted brown or black will fade the least because the color molecules are the smallest. I recommend washing dark color-treated hair every 2-3 days or as needed. For blonde or lightened hair, I recommend shampooing every 2-3 days. Blondes should be treating their hair with a purple shampoo to maintain a bright blonde color," Buescher explains. However, if your hair is blonde, avoid using purple shampoos daily as purple shampoos can fade the blonde hue to an ashy or grey color.

Also, be sure to keep a deep conditioner on hand. "Deep conditioners and masks are made to add intense moisture. Using a mask or deep conditioner too often can compromise the hair structure making it become stretchy and increasing the risk of breakage. Deep conditioners and masks should not be used more often than every 5 shampoos no matter what color the hair is tinted," Buescher says.

Nerisha Penrose Beauty Commerce Editor Nerisha is the beauty commerce editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty (and fashion and music).

What is the best shampoo for dyed dry hair?

Our best overall pick is Olaplex's No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, which helps repair damaged hair bonds broken during the coloring process, keeping the hair strong and shiny.

How do you rehydrate dry colored hair?

Tips to hydrate.
Olive oil. A few drops of olive oil can go a long way to give your hair some life. ... .
Coconut oil. Coconut oil can also work to seal your hair and prevent protein loss. ... .
Argan oil. ... .
Almond oil. ... .
Use sun protection. ... .
DIY hair masks. ... .
Rice water rinse. ... .
Leave-in conditioner..

What is best shampoo and conditioner for colored hair?

Between Us, These Shampoos and Conditioners Will Make Your Color Last Longer.
If you have color-treated hair, you might know that there are a number of things you can do to preserve the color and vibrancy of your strands. ... .
Leonor Greyl Paris. ... .
Redken. ... .
L'Oréal Paris. ... .
@symphanisoto. ... .
Innersense. ... .
R+Co. ... .
Shu Uemura..

What is the best conditioner for dry dyed hair?

The Best Conditioners for Color-Treated Hair.
L'Oreal Everpure Sulfate-Free Moisture Conditioner. ... .
Nexxus Color Assure Conditioner. ... .
Pantene Illuminating Color Conditioner. ... .
Garnier Fructis Color Shield Conditioner. ... .
Unite 7Seconds Conditioner. ... .
Pureology Hydrate Conditioner for Dry, Color-Treated Hair..