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.

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

Best highly rated shampoo for coloured hair: Pureology Hydrate Moisturising Shampoo for Colour Treated Hair, £13.67 on Amazon

Best shampoo for blonde-coloured hair: Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo for Blonde Hair, £16.96 on Amazon

Best value shampoo for coloured hair: Bed Head by TIGI Colour Goddess Shampoo, £9.20 on Amazon

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?

SHOP: Best shampoo for coloured hair

Best highly rated shampoo for coloured hair

GREAT DEAL

Pureology Hydrate Moisturising Shampoo for Colour Treated HairAmazon
Price: $37.00
Alternative retailers
Sephora$11.00View offer
Walmart$33.10View 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. We're sold.

Customer review: "This shampoo is great for coloured hair. I would definitely recommend buying both the shampoo and conditioner together. Although slightly pricey, it does do the job very well and makes my hair feel amazing after using."

Pros

  • Hydrates normal to thick colour-treated hair
  • Contains natural and multi-weight protein extracts
  • Vegan-friendly and sulphate-free

Cons

  • May not be the best for sensitive skin

Best shampoo for blonde-coloured hair

20% off

Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo for Blonde HairAmazon
Price: $29.99

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. Extend time between expensive salon visits and preserve colour with this toner that turns warm, yellow-toned hair to cooler, ash tones. Yes, please.

Customer review: "After using many purple shampoos on the market (including some very pricey ones), I decided to buy this a couple of weeks ago and didn’t realise how much of a staple this would become in the hair routine. I love it. I previously used it on my hair to achieve an overall cooler tone to my balayage, which worked great."

Pros

  • UV filters to protect from sun
  • Free from sulphates and parabens
  • Vegan-friendly formula

Cons

  • Powerful pigmentation so don't leave it on too long

Best value shampoo for coloured hair

Bed Head by TIGI Colour Goddess ShampooAmazon

Rrp: $28.99

Price: $20.44
Alternative retailers
FragranceNet.com$14.69View offer
Walmart$18.70View 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 that's good enough to eat (but don't do that, please). Leaving the hair soft and shiny with volume, it'll be your new go-to.

Customer review: "My favourite shampoo. My hair is colour treated and I find this shampoo leaves my blonde looking lovely. It also gives my hair great volume which I love. It always feels so clean after use. I love the smell as well - it smells like caramel!"

Pros

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

Cons

  • May contain sulphates

Best budget shampoo for coloured hair

OGX Fade-Defying Orchid Oil Shampooperfumes club
Price: £4.93 (was £7.24)

www.perfumesclub.co.uk

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. What's not to love?

Customer review: "My first time using this product was 5 days after freshly dyed hair. I have tried so many brands and always noticed colour loss in the shower water. This beats Loreal, Tresemme, Osmo, Aussie and many more. It also has UV protection which is a bonus as it will protect against fading in the sun."

Pros

  • Helps to hydrate and replenish colour-treated hair
  • Orchid oil, grape seed oil and UV filters to protect
  • Sulphate-free

Cons

  • Thick consistency makes it hard to get out of bottle

Best salon-worthy shampoo for coloured hair

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. Get salon-worthy hair at a reasonable price and cut back on your appointments at the same time.

Customer review: "Great shampoo for my very fine hair. Removes product effectively and leaves it very manageable. My hairdresser actually uses this but was quite expensive to buy in the salon. Was pleased to purchase this large 1-litre bottle at a very competitive price. I also purchased the pump dispenser which allowed me to dispense just the right amount and reduce wastage. Will certainly purchase again."

Pros

  • A fab choice for thin hair
  • Copper-encapsulating molecules maintain vibrancy
  • Vitamin E and histidine control oxidation

Cons

  • Wella pump may not be compatible

Best celebrity-endorsed shampoo for coloured hair

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.

Customer review: "I should start by saying I do use a lot of Color Wow products and this shampoo is now added to the list of faithfuls from the range! I have naturally blonde hair but it’s very much helped with colour and bleach as well as extensions so finding products that work can be a challenge!  This shampoo lathers brilliantly and leaves my head feeling very clean. The shampoo is clear, goes on easily and rinses just as easily.  My hair is soft and shiny and I’ve found I'm not washing it as much since I started using this."

Pros

  • Amino-fortified complex to help hair health
  • Gentle cleansing formula
  • Sulphate-free

Cons

  • May not be best for all hair types

Best balancing shampoo for coloured hair

Alternative retailers
Walmart$26.60View offer

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.

Customer review: "I have had my hair coloured for many years and as I am getting older my hair is getting drier and duller. I have tried many different products to restore the shine and strength of my hair and this shampoo worked the best for me. I have been using it now for over 2 years and I am happy with the results."

Pros

  • pH-balanced formula for scalp health
  • Enhances hair colour vibrancy and shine
  • Strengthens hair from root to tip

Cons

  • May not be the best for sensitive skin

Best shampoo for red-coloured hair

John Frieda Radiant Red Boosting Shampooboots

Enhancing shades of red hair, the John Frieda Radiant Red Boosting Shampoo is great for keeping up with the maintenance that comes with red hair. 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.

Our review: "Ok, so this shampoo is not going to make it look like you've just thrown on a red hair dye, so let's manage expectations here. But, after using this shampoo I did notice my hair looked slightly enhanced. Because red hair dye requires a lot more maintenance than other shades thanks to faster fading pigments, this shampoo from John Frieda might just save you some money (or a lot of money) between salon appointments so it's a win in our books."

Pros

  • Preserves and enhances red shades
  • Contains pomegranate and vitamin D extracts
  • Infuses red tones with every wash

Cons

  • Does contain sulphates

Best popular shampoo for coloured hair

L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Colour ShampooLookFantastic
Price: £14.85 (was £16.30)

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 radiance of colour-treated hair, it protects colour for up to eight weeks. Talk about getting the most out of your dye job.

Our review: "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

  • Highly rated on LookFantastic
  • Colour protection for up to eight weeks
  • Enriched with antioxidants

Cons

  • May cause build-up on the scalp

Best shampoo for brunette-coloured hair

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.

Customer review: "Much bigger tube than I expected so definitely good value for money. It’s a cheap alternative to the brunette shampoo I normally use but smells nice, cleans my hair and seems to be a bit more conditioning than my normal non-brunette shampoos so worth buying."

Pros

  • Affordable price point
  • Formulated with light-reflecting complex
  • Reveals dimensional tones

Cons

  • Does contain sulphates

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.

best-shampoo-for-coloured-hair
©Getty

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 'Sam' Price is a Beauty, Fashion & Wellness Products Writer at heat magazine. In 2021, Sam began her journey as a Storytelling Executive at Closer and heatworld on an internship, creating beauty and fashion content across these brands. It was 2022 when Sam was employed as a Commercial Content Writer writing about Family Life on Yours, Mother & Baby and Spirit & Destiny. Now, she specialises in beauty, fashion and wellness content across many brands.

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