10 of the best shampoo for coloured hair to enhance dyed locks

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The best shampoo for coloured hair

by Samantha Price |
Updated on

If you're tired of your shampoo completely stripping away your colour, it's time to look into the best shampoo for coloured hair. Don't worry, we get it - there's nothing worse than watching the money you spent on your freshly dyed 'do wash down the drain. While the best shampoo and conditioner work to keep your hair looking healthy, the best shampoo for coloured hair works to keep dyed hair looking vibrant at the same time.

Most of the regular shampoos on the high street contain ingredients like parabens, silicones and more - so, basically all the nasty stuff - that strips your hair. As a result, these ingredients can lead to dry hair, breakage and fading colour in dyed tresses. If you want to avoid that from happening, then you'll be glad to know we've selected the best shampoo for coloured hair.

Hair colour shampoo works to protect, maintain and, at times, even enhance the shade of your dyed hair. Between colour protecting, colour toning and colour depositing - what option is right for you? If you're after platinum locks, then the best silver shampoo might be the best choice. But, we've also included a tonne of others just in case.

As well as tips and tricks on how to maintain lasting colour, like washing your hair less (don't worry though, the best dry shampoo will see you through) we've also assembled a guide on the best shampoo for coloured hair. Here are some of the best out there to protect, maintain and enhance your colour. Don't just take our word for it. Why not give them a go?

heat's best shampoo for coloured hair at a glance:

SHOP: Best shampoo for coloured hair

Best highly rated shampoo for coloured hair

Expert rating:
4.5
Pureology Hydrate Moisturising Shampoo for Colour Treated HairAmazon
Price: $37.00
Alternative retailers
Sephora$11.00View offer
FragranceNet.com$27.99View offer
Walmart$34.84View offer
Ulta$37.00View offer

The Pureology Hydrate Moisturising Shampoo for Colour Treated Hair is the most highly-rated shampoo that we could find. With an impressive amount of reviews, this shampoo earns a place for its hydrating sulphate-free formula that's been enriched with all the good stuff - like rose, green tea and multi-weight protein extracts to nourish and protect. Customers say that it might be a more premium price point but is totally worth it, delivering high shine and softness on coloured hair.

Pros

  • Hydrates normal to thick colour-treated hair
  • Contains natural and multi-weight protein extracts
  • Reviews love that it is vegan-friendly and sulphate-free

Cons

  • May not be the best for sensitive skin

Best shampoo for blonde-coloured hair

Expert rating:
4.0
Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo for Blonde HairAmazon
Price: $19.99
Alternative retailers
Walmart$51.79View offer

As the best toning shampoo for blonde colour-treated hair, the Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo just had to have a spot on our list. Over 50,000 reviews later, we're definitely trusting this shampoo to knock out any brassy tones from blonde hair with its purple pigment. Reviewers say it's become a staple in their haircare routine. Extend time between expensive salon visits and preserve colour with this toner that turns warm, yellow-toned hair to cooler, ash tones. Yes, please.

Pros

  • We love that the formula has UV filters to protect from the sun
  • Free from sulphates and parabens
  • Vegan-friendly formula

Cons

  • It has a powerful pigmentation so don't leave it on too long

Best value shampoo for coloured hair

Expert rating:
4.5
Bed Head by TIGI Colour Goddess ShampooAmazon

Rrp: $18.44

Price: $16.95
Alternative retailers
FragranceNet.com$12.59View offer
Walmart$18.90View offer

At fab value, the Bed Head by TIGI Colour Goddess Shampoo has been formulated with dyed hair in mind. Containing vitamin E, keratin, sweet almond oil and coconut oil extracts to keep the hair conditioned, it has a gorgeous sweet toffee scent and leaves the hair soft and shiny with volume. A fan of the product said they were blown away by the value as well as how much shine this budget shampoo delivers.

Senior Commercial Content Writer, Samantha Price: "One thing I remember about using this Bed Head shampoo is the unreal toffee scent that makes your hair smell incredible for ages. It's almost good enough to eat. The note I came away with was that my unruly, frizzy hair was left super smooth with this thick, moisturising formula. It may not be all that effective on thinner hair types, but my thick head of hair absolutely drank this up."

Pros

  • Now on offer, it's fantastic value
  • Enriched with vitamin E, keratin and natural oils
  • Reviews note it has an unreal sweet toffee scent

Cons

  • Formula may contain sulphates, we're not sure

Best popular shampoo for coloured hair

Expert rating:
4.5
L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Colour ShampooLookFantastic
Price: $14.85 (was £16.50)

www.lookfantastic.com

The formula of the L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Colour Shampoo is enriched with resveratrol, a potent antioxidant inspired by skincare to nourish the hair. Working to boost the radiance of colour-treated hair, it protects colour for up to eight weeks. Fans of the product say it leaves their coloured hair shiny and protected. Talk about getting the most out of your dye job.

Senior Commercial Content Writer, Samantha Price: "I won't lie, I noticed a big difference when I ran out of this shampoo and switched to other brands. This shampoo really does maintain the colour and gently cleanses rather than stripping the dye from your hair. The formula is a creamy consistency that feels really moisturising on your hair and it feels cleansing without being too harsh. I'd definitely recommend it."

Pros

  • Reviews noted a big difference between the high quality of this shampoo and others
  • Colour protection for up to eight weeks
  • Enriched with antioxidants for health and hydration

Cons

  • May cause build-up on the scalp

Best budget shampoo for coloured hair

Expert rating:
4.0
OGX Fade-Defying Orchid Oil Shampooperfumes club
Price: $20.02

For the best budget option, the OGX Fade-Defying Orchid Oil Shampoo is pretty bloomin' good. A sulphate-free formula and UV filters help to slow premature hair fading. While orchid oil and grape seed oil extracts work to add moisture to the hair. One reviewer noted that this range from OGX really seems to be helping their colour last. Affordable and effective - what's not to love?

Pros

  • We love that it helps to hydrate and replenish colour-treated hair
  • Orchid oil, grape seed oil and UV filters to protect
  • Sulphate-free which is very important

Cons

  • Thick consistency makes it hard to get out of bottle

Best salon-worthy shampoo for coloured hair

Expert rating:
4.5

With salons everywhere recommending Wella, it comes as no surprise that the Wella Professional Invigo Colour Protection Shampoo is such a highly-rated pick. It's enriched with ingredients like vitamin E and histidine to control the oxidation process after colouring, protecting colour for longer. Customers say that since switching to this shampoo their colour has seemed to last longer. Get salon-worthy hair at a reasonable price and cut back on your appointments at the same time.

Pros

  • Reviews note it is a fab choice for thin hair, and leaves it manageable
  • Copper-encapsulating molecules maintain vibrancy
  • Vitamin E and histidine control oxidation

Cons

  • May need to purchase a pump dispenser for the bottle

Best celebrity-endorsed shampoo for coloured hair

Expert rating:
4.5
Color Wow Colour Security ShampooLookFantastic

As loved by Love Island's Molly Marsh, the Colour Security Shampoo from Color Wow is currently a trending choice. With its amino-fortified complex, it works to prevent breakage and dullness, all while defending against fading colour. Free from sulphates, the gentle cleansing formula gets rid of any build-up on the scalp without stripping dye.

Senior Commercial Content Writer, Samantha Price: "This is my current go-to shampoo for keeping my coloured hair protected. After finding out I'm a huge fan of Color Wow, I decided to put this to the test, too. Freshly dyed hair tends to lift quicker in the first week of being done due to unsealed cuticles. And, I noticed a lot less of the dye running down the shower drain after using this. Now, I don't want to wash my hair without it. It leaves the hair feeling glassy and silky."

Pros

  • Amino-fortified complex to help hair healthy
  • Reviews praise its gentle cleansing formula
  • Sulphate-free is an important bonus

Cons

  • May not be best for all hair types

Best balancing shampoo for coloured hair

Expert rating:
4.5
REDKEN Shampoo For Coloured HairAmazon
Price: $22.81

According to reviews, the REDKEN Shampoo For Coloured Hair is a long-lasting solution that protects the pigment in your hair. A little goes a long way with this mighty bottle, and its pH-balanced formula strengthens hair from the scalp to the tip. Gentle and conditioning, it works to boost vibrancy and breathe new life into dull, tired hair.

Senior Commercial Content Writer, Samantha Price: "I recently tried REDKEN's Shampoo For Coloured Hair, and while I can't say for certain as I haven't been using it long enough, I did notice that I had a lot less colour fallout as I was washing my hair. After washing, I did notice that my colour seemed a lot more vibrant, too. But I may have to give this one a go for a repeated amount of time to see a considerable difference."

Pros

  • The pH-balanced formula for scalp health
  • Enhances hair colour vibrancy and shine
  • Reviews state that the formula strengthens hair from root to tip

Cons

  • May not be the best for sensitive skin

Best shampoo for red-coloured hair

Expert rating:
4.0
John Frieda Radiant Red Boosting Shampooboots
Price: $6.99

Enhancing shades of red hair, the John Frieda Radiant Red Boosting Shampoo is great for keeping up with the maintenance that comes with the shade. Don't worry, we know it all too well. With a combination of pomegranate and vitamin D extracts, it extends the life of red hair by infusing red tones with every wash. Fans of the product say it's perfect for keeping their colour vibrant.

Senior Commercial Content Writer, Samantha Price: "When my hair was a deeper shade of red, I used to use this shampoo to keep my colour. I will say that the effects are subtle, the shampoo isn't a total hair transformation - but it does make your hair look more vibrant, shiny and maintains the colour. Plus, it's super cheap, currently the cheapest on our list."

Pros

  • Formula preserves and enhances red shades
  • Contains pomegranate and vitamin D extracts for hydration
  • Reviews say it infuses red tones with every wash

Cons

  • It does contain sulphates

Best shampoo for brunette-coloured hair

Expert rating:
4.5
John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Colour Vibrancy ShampooAmazon
Price: $18.32

If you have brunette tresses and looking to enhance the colour, the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Colour Vibrancy Shampoo might just be the one for you. This moisturising shampoo rehydrates and replenishes dry, brunette hair. It helps maintain hair colour for any shade of brunette, wash after wash. Reviewers say only a small amount is needed and it leaves the hair looking oh-so glossy.

Pros

  • Affordable price point and reviews note it is a big bottle
  • Formulated with light-reflecting complex
  • Reveals dimensional tones

Cons

  • It does contain sulphates
best-shampoo-for-coloured-hair
©Getty images

FAQs

What types of shampoo are best for coloured hair?

Colour protecting: Using mild ingredients, unlike clarifying agents found in the best shampoo for oily hair, colour-protecting shampoo gently cleanses the hair without stripping it of its pigment. They work to preserve the colour by ditching harmful ingredients that cause the colour to fade.
Colour toning: These work to deposit colour throughout the hair to change or maintain the tone of your hair. Noticing your blonde hair is looking a little brassy? A purple colour toning shampoo will sort that right out. There are loads of different toning shampoos out there, so buy according to what you're after.
Colour depositing: In a similar sense, these shampoos work to deposit temporary pigment throughout the hair, but these are often used to maintain and enhance the shade of your current hair. They often come in the form of a shampoo or a hair mask.

How to care for coloured hair?

This goes out to all types of hair, whether it's been dyed or not. However, as we know, coloured hair does require a lot more maintenance. Not only should you invest in the right colour shampoo, but you should follow our guide on how often you should wash your hair. Honestly, your hair will thank you for it.
First and foremost, cut back on the heat. Whether that's the temperature of the water you're washing your hair with, to ditching the straighteners and curlers. Instead of using a hair dryer, allow your hair to air dry instead if you can. Always use a heat protectant spray.
Get rid of any of your shampoos that contain drying ingredients. Parabens, silicones, sulphates, you name it. The best dandruff shampoos and clarifying shampoos are harsh on coloured hair, so you should avoid these if you want to keep your colour from fading.
Instead, make sure that your hair has plenty of moisture. Using conditioner, conditioning hair masks and colour depository masks between your next date with your box dye (or your next salon appointment) will only help to keep your hair looking fresh.

Samantha Price is a Senior Commercial Content Writer for Closer. During her time at Bauer, she has worked on writing expertly crafted buying guides on beauty, fashion and lifestyle.

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