There’s nothing worse than braving the bleach, only to be left with thirsty, straw-like strands that require the best of the best shampoo for bleached hair to bring it back to life. Sound familiar? Well, you’re in the right place. Whether you’ve recently got highlights done, stripped your hair from home, or gone full-blown Barbie, it’s likely your tresses are now feeling a bit, er, fried and in need of the best shampoo and conditioner.
So, to help you find the best shampoo for bleached hair, whether your ‘new hair, new me’ era has backfired, and you need something to hydrate and nourish – or you’re looking to banish brassy tones, these are our favourite formulas you need for wash day. With options for every budget!
heat's best shampoo for bleached hair, at a glance:
Best overall shampoo for bleached hair (Editor's Choice): Kérastase Resistance Bain Force Architecte, £20.24 on LookFantastic
Best shampoo for bleached hair on a budget: OGX Damage Remedy+ Coconut Miracle Oil Shampoo, £5.66 on Boots
Best reparative shampoo for bleached hair: Redken Extreme Bleach Recovery Shampoo, £70.91 on Amazon
Of course, there are some great conditioners. masks and hair oils out there that play a part in reparative hair care. But, what you wash your hair with is just as important – especially as it’s the first step in your regime. And these days, there are formulas that work to cleanse, mend and even tone bleached hair. What you need is the best shampoo for damaged hair to really do the trick.
Don’t just slather on a hair mask and call it a day. To reverse the damage and save your strands, you’ll need to pay attention to your entire haircare routine. When looking for the best shampoo for bleached hair, finding the best shampoo for blonde hair to bring tresses back to life is essential. Here's where to shop the best.
SHOP: The best shampoo for bleached hair
Best overall shampoo for bleached hair
As one of our top-rated shampoos for dry, damaged hair, with glowing consumer reviews, it's no wonder we've ranked the Kérastase Resistance Bain Force Architecte as our top product for bleached hair. Not only does it cleanse and nourish the hair, giving soft and silky results, but special ingredients work to strengthen and thicken the hair follicles, ensuring stronger, healthier locks.
Pros
- Repairs bleach-damaged hair with its trademark Vita-Ciment® Complex
- We love how the formula soothes frizz and fly-aways
- Reviews note how it smells like the salon
Cons
- Not suitable for severely damaged hair (try Kérastase's Thérapiste range for this)
Best shampoo for bleached hair on a budget
Need an affordable shampoo that gives high-end results? Look no further. The purse-friendly OGX Damage Remedy+ Coconut Miracle Oil Shampoo turns dry, dull hair to silky, glossy goodness. Oh, and it smells uhh-mazing too. Ideal for those with frizzy, coarse hair, it also works wonders on hair that's been bleached, with coconut oil, vanilla bean and tiare flower working to soften strands.
Pros
- We love that this budget-friendly option works just as well
- Reviews say it's a bigger bottle than most, at 385ml
- Contains nourishing oils to soothe frizz
Cons
- Reviews admit it doesn't have the best lather
Best reparative shampoo for bleached hair
If your hair is badly damaged from bleach, try this Redken Extreme Bleach Recovery Shampoo. It rescues over-processed tresses and speeds up recovery, all while gently cleansing the hair to remove product build-up, excess oils and impurities for cleaner, stronger, happier hair. The leave-in cream from this range is also worth bagging!
Pros
- Reviews say their previously straw-like hair felt instantly softer
- Lathers up well without weighing hair down
- Has a moisturising effect thanks to the Cica
Cons
- We find it difficult to get smaller bottles of this range online, only one-litre ones
Best brightening shampoo for bleached hair
www.lookfantastic.com
Perfect for bleached blonde hair, this brightening shampoo keeps the colour fresh between appointments, getting rid of brassy, greenish-yellow tones by washing away water-induced copper deposits that make hair discoloured.
Pros
- We celebrate that this formula is sulphate-free
- Reviews praise that it neutralises brassy tones from their blonde
- It can also tackle the harsh effects of hard water
Cons
- Can be a little drying, so definitely follow with a heavy conditioner
Best shampoo for bleached hair with extensions
www.lookfantastic.com
Formulated by hair extension brand Beauty Works, this shine-enhancing, protein-rich Pearl Nourishing Argan Shampoo helps to cleanse, strengthen and moisturise hair, with keratin to boost hair health and argan oil leaving extensions feeling silky soft.
Pros
- We recommend this shampoo for those with hair extensions
- A detail that we love is that the formula contains milk protein for stronger hair
- Reviews rave about its amazing smell
Cons
- We think there are better options for extension-free hair
Best clarifying shampoo for bleached hair
If you'd like to maintain your bleached hair from home, we'd always recommend using Olaplex. It's the salon standard, after all. The OG No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo is a must for day-to-day cleansing, but for a deep clean, look to this one-a-week formula, which uses an advanced broad-spectrum clarifying system to get rid of grit without stripping hair.
Pros
- Gets rid of heavy metals, chlorine, and pollutants for clean
- Deep cleans the hair without stripping the natural oils
- Plenty of reviewers love this salon-loved brand
Cons
- It can only be used once a week
Best scented shampoo for bleached hair
Great for bleached hair, coloured hair, as well as hair that's constantly exposed to heat styling tools, this ultra-nourishing Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo contains keratin proteins to reverse damage while leaving the hair looking (and smelling) amazing. Top tip: as this formula is highly concentrated, to activate a rich lather, use more water instead of more shampoo.
Pros
- A very safe formula - colour-safe, sulphate-free, phosphate-free and paraben-free
- Smells delicious, lavender, rosemary, camomile and jojoba extracts
- Suitable for extensions too
Cons
- Reviews say it may not be suitable for oily hair
Best shampoo for bleached hair to prevent breakage
When you bleach your hair, it's natural that you'll experience more breakage than usual, with split ends causing hair to look and feel thinner. This Wella Professionals Fusion Intense Repair Shampoo repairs the hair while making it more resilient to damage such as that from combing. It's also formulated with silk amino acids for intense moisture.
Pros
- We love that this formula protects your hair from any further damage
- A bonus is that it protects strands from hard water
- Reviews say it also protects against brushing and frizz
Cons
- Could be too heavy for normal hair
What type of shampoo is best for bleached hair?
"It’s a good idea to use shampoos that are gentle as bleaching can put your hair through it," explains Michael Shaun Corby, Living Proof Hair Expert. "Look for shampoos that contain nourishing ingredients such as argan oil, coconut oil and something like jojoba oil. Sometimes what isn’t on a hair product’s ingredient list can be just as important as what makes the cut," he adds. "When choosing a shampoo, especially if the hair is chemically processed, pay special attention to these commonly used ingredients that may be more trouble than they’re worth:
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Silicone – Prevalent ingredient in off-the-shelf shampoos which can attract dirt, lead to build-up, and leave your hair with a greasy, uneven coating.
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Sulphates – May deliver larger-than-life lather, but it’s also possible that they strip your hair and scalp of their natural oil, leaving both susceptible to damage and irritation.
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Parabens – Some shampoos use parabens to extend shelf life, but these preservatives can be absorbed by the skin which may cause irritation.
Michael continues: "The Living Proof Restore Shampoo is great for bleached hair as it gently cleanses without stripping or over-drying strands, and also reverses any damage – the true TLC bleached hair needs! The best purple shampoo is also essential as it helps to minimize brassiness and yellow tones that can appear from bleaching."
How to care for bleached hair
After spending all that time and money at the salon to achieve the colour you want, the goal is to keep your hue looking vibrant for as long as possible. Since running out for regular professional touch-ups is not a sustainable solution, the experts at Briogeo Education Team share how to keep your hair healthy and your colour from fading:
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Cleanse gently: "Always cleanse and condition your strands with a shampoo and conditioner that are specifically formulated to help prevent colour fade. Colour Me Brilliant Mushroom + Bamboo Color Protect Shampoo and Colour Me Brilliant Mushroom + Bamboo Color Protect Conditioner are not only sulphate-free but feature a unique Colour Protection Complex of Turkey Tail Mushroom and Bamboo Extract that work synergistically to preserve colour vibrancy and protect colour fade."
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Start incorporating more hydrating hair products into your routine, especially during winter. Antioxidant-rich ingredients to increase shine and lustre. The best leave-in conditioners and shampoo for dry hair will bring some moisture to thirsty hair.
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Protect your hair from the sun: "Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture 3-in-1 Leave-In Spray delivers UV protection to your strands with a few sprays, courtesy of the naturally powerful ingredient Sunflower Sprout Extract."
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Always use a heat protectant: Whether it’s a blow-dryer, a straightener, or a curling iron, whenever you use heat on your color-treated hair, make sure to prep your hair first by applying heat protection."
Emma Hawkins is a Style Writer at Bauer Media UK covering fashion and beauty. Her team label her "the hair guru," as there isn't a hair style or colour she hasn't tried and tested, including blue-dip dye, a micro fringe, pink extensions as well as a full-head bleach – some more successful than others. Her other loves? Sparkly eyeshadows and Harry Potter.