What Color-Safe Shampoo and Conditioner Should You Use?

How long does it usually take for the vibrancy of your new hair color to fade away? A couple of weeks? A month, if you’re lucky? Hair salon visits aren’t cheap, and the procedure can also be harsh on your hair, requiring you to wait a significant amount of time before you go back for a retouch. This is why you want to choose the best color-safe shampoo and conditioner combo for your specific case.

You can’t (and probably don’t want to) avoid washing your hair, but this is exactly how your new color loses its vibrancy. Not to mention the dryness and brassiness that might start to creep in.

Let’s talk about how you can avoid both.

Why the special care?

The coloring process opens up the hair’s outer layer, the cuticle, allowing color to deposit inside the hair shaft. It doesn’t matter if you’re going for a bold shade, covering gray hair, or getting highlights—that cuticle needs to seal back down to lock the color in.

The issue? That process leaves your hair vulnerable. Chemical treatments, including coloring, can alter the hair’s structure and reduce its tensile strength, which makes it more prone to breakage. The cuticle can remain slightly raised, leaving a path for the expensive color to wash out and other, more damaging elements to get in. This is why you want to set up a good routine as soon as possible.

Quick tip: For the first couple of days after your color appointment, try to avoid washing your hair. This gives the cuticle enough time to close, so you can avoid losing your new color.

The best and worst ingredients

There are so many options for you to choose from, and way too many to make a decision without some help. But don’t worry, there are just a couple of easy-to-remember guidelines you should follow to make sure the color-safe shampoo you’ve picked is the right one for you.

There isn’t just one best shampoo for color-treated hair. You can pick what you like as long as you remember which ingredients to look for and which to avoid.

First, the villains.

Sulfates

Sulfates (like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS) are very effective at cleansing your scalp, creating that rich, satisfying lather. But for colored hair, they’re too harsh. You risk stripping away your hair dye along with the oil and grime. If you want your color to last, a sulfate-free shampoo for color-treated hair might be a better option.

Harsh alcohols

Some alcohols can make your hair drier than you’d want it to be. They might be effective in some formulas, but—much like clarifying or chelating agents (target mineral buildup from hard water)—can also be too aggressive for daily use on colored strands.

Now, for the heroes.

UV filters

Just like your skin, your hair can get “sunburned,” and that fades color. If you want to keep your new beautiful hairdo, you might want to look for a shampoo for dyed hair with UV filters and, ideally, invest in a hat.

Antioxidants

Ingredients, like those found in artichoke and rice, help protect your hair from environmental aggressors like pollution, improve the strength of the strands, and help preserve color and shine.

Hydrators

We’re talking glycerin, panthenol, and natural oils (argan, coconut). They can help get back the moisture lost during the coloring process. Argan oil pre-treatment can be especially helpful in protecting hair against oxidative damage that happens during hair coloring.

Gentle cleansers

Look for cleansers derived from coconuts or other natural sources, so that your color-safe shampoo cleans without stripping.

Quick Tip: Turn the bottle around. The first five ingredients of your new shampoo for colored hair do most of the work. If you see sulfates at the top of that list, it’s probably not the best choice for you. You can use a beauty product scanner to make this task easier.

What’s right for your color?

Let’s get specific. Your ideal color-safe shampoo depends heavily on the shade you chose. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work this time, so here’s how you can pick the right products.

For brunettes and dark colors

Brunettes often have to deal with dull, reddish, or brassy tones. The best shampoo for dyed hair in darker shades will often include blue or violet pigments to neutralize those unwanted warm undertones. Look for terms like “brass-banishing” or “cool complex.” These are generally used once or twice a week to maintain a cool, rich tone, paired with a nourishing, color-safe shampoo and conditioner for other washes.

For blondes, grays, and bleached hair

If you have blonde, silver, or bleached hair, you’re fighting yellow tones. In your case, a purple shampoo is the way to go. It deposits violet pigment to counteract yellow—this is how you keep your color icy and bright. But stay cautious! You can end up with violet hair if you overdo it.

The best shampoo for bleached hair is the one balanced with a strong conditioner. Look for a gentle, purple-pigmented shampoo for toning and a super-hydrating conditioner to combat the intense dryness bleaching causes.

For reds and unusual, vibrant colors

Apologies to all the redheads, but red hair dye molecules are notoriously large and tend to fade the fastest. Focus on hydration and gentle cleansing. Avoid anything too clarifying. Look for systems specifically labeled for red hair or vibrant colors, which are often packed with extra moisturizers and color-reflecting pigments to make that red pop longer. A shampoo and conditioner for colored hair in this category should feel supremely nourishing.

Quick Tip: Don’t just tone, hydrate! Even if you use a toning shampoo (purple for blondes, blue for brunettes), follow up with a deeply moisturizing conditioner from the same color-safe shampoo and conditioner line to prevent dryness.

Building a color-safe routine

Finding the best shampoo for colored hair is just step one. Your overall routine is what determines your success. Build it, follow it consistently, and you better believe those locks will shine for weeks!

Tip 1. Wash less frequently

Try to stretch the time between washes. If the situation is dire, consider using dry shampoo instead of fully washing your hair.

Tip 2. Lower water temperature

Please don’t subject your hair to hot water. Rinse with lukewarm water instead. A final cool rinse can help snap the cuticle shut for that extra shine and color lock.

Tip 3. Use a heat protectant

This is non-negotiable. Always use a heat protectant spray before styling, be it blow-drying, curling, or straightening. Heat dramatically accelerates color fading, especially if you’re someone who uses styling tools regularly.

Tip 4. Protect from the elements

Wear a hat. This is the laziest tip anyone can give you, but it works wonders. Cover your hair in the sun if you want to protect the vibrancy of your hair color.

Additionally, remember to rinse your hair after swimming in pools or the ocean. Neither chlorine nor saltwater will make the task of maintaining your new favorite shade any easier.

Quick Tip: Schedule a self-care night. Once a week, before your shower, apply a deep conditioning mask or even a little pure coconut oil to your ends. Leave it on for 20–30 minutes, then wash and condition as normal.