Colored hair is a bit more delicate than untreated hair. Without proper post-dyeing treatment, your hair may become dry, brittle, or break off. Without using the right products, it also may quickly fade into a color you don’t want. To preserve your hair color for as long as possible while maintaining healthy locks, it’s crucial to use the best shampoo for colored hair.
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Color-protecting shampoo not only cleanses your hair thoroughly but also has properties that minimize the amount of dye that washes away in the shower. The best shampoo and conditioner for colored hair also revitalizes any dryness or damage that occurs when the hair is dyed. Shampoo for dyed hair is extra hydrating and gentle, making hair strands feel soft and smooth.
Keep reading to find out the importance using a special shampoo for dyed hair, how you can protect your colored hair, and discover the best shampoo and conditioner for colored hair.
Why Use a Special Shampoo for Dyed Hair?
First of all, why should you use a special shampoo for colored hair? Is your normal, everyday shampoo not up to par? Is shampoo for colored hair really that different from regular shampoo?
The shampoo you use regularly may not have the same key properties that help protect your locks in the way that shampoo for colored hair does. A color-protecting shampoo is specially formulated to preserve your new hair color for as long as possible, keeping the look you want and preserving your color investment! A color-protecting shampoo cleanses the hair gently without stripping it. The best shampoo for colored hair helps to maintain your hair color longer and showcase the true hair color you want.
Since dyed hair is often dryer and more damaged from the chemical treatments of the coloring process, you should also choose a shampoo for dyed hair that has a repairing and moisturizing formula. Shampoos for colored hair maintain hair hydration, which in turn will minimize long-term damage and eliminate excess dryness and frizz.
Now that you have the knowledge that shampoo for dyed hair works a bit differently than a normal shampoo, you may be wondering, what is the best shampoo for colored hair on the market?
How to Find the Best Shampoo for Colored Hair
With so many products on the market promising to help treat color-treated hair, choosing the best one is not an easy task. A good rule of thumb is to focus on shampoos for dyed hair that are as gentle and as reparative as possible. Aim to use products that reverse damage and strengthen hair structure, so that you can continue to color your hair in the future. With these guiding factors in mind, picking out the best shampoo and conditioner for colored hair is a little easier.
For gentle products that don’t strip the hair, look for a sulfate-free shampoo for colored hair. Silicone- and sulfate-free shampoos for colored hair are gentle on the hair. Avoiding sulfates is especially important, as these harsh ingredients can fade the hair color quickly. In particular, you should absolutely avoid anything that is labeled as “clarifying,” as these products are formulated to strip the hair. Main takeaway here: sulfate-free shampoo for colored hair is the way to go.
The best shampoo and conditioner for colored hair are reparative. Key ingredients, such as micro-proteins, help repair and seal the hair cuticle, keeping it healthy and damage-free. This helps both to protect the color and repair chemically-damaged hair.
In the best shampoo and conditioner for colored hair, you will find powerful ingredients that lock in moisture to keep hair healthy, shiny, and beautiful. I recommend choosing products that are vegan and organic, created with antioxidants which fight off free radicals in both the scalp and the hair. In regards to hair, free radicals can cause color fading, so the antioxidants fight to counteract fading, thus leaving your color intact.
If you just dyed your hair blonde or silver, choose a silver shampoo that contains purple color pigments. This specific formula will keep brassy or yellow undertones out of your hair, preserving the cool-tone, fresh color you wanted.
Best Color-Protecting Shampoos for Different Hair Types
Depending on your hair type, your shampoo and conditioner for colored hair needs will be different. Accommodating your hair can save you a lot of time and frustration when it comes to keeping your hair color in tip-top shape.
1. Color-protecting Shampoo For Blonde, Bleached or Gray Hair
Blonde or gray hair can be the most difficult hair colors to maintain. Blonde or gray hair can turn brassy, giving your hair a yellow appearance, from frequent washing or environmental factors. If your hair is starting to show signs of warm or brassy undertones, you need a purple shampoo. The rich purple tones will cancel out any yellow effects, ensuring your hair stays cool-toned. Using a purple shampoo and conditioner, like the Enriched Blonde™ Duo, will keep your hair color true to its desired tone.
2. Color-protecting Shampoo For Fragile, Dry or Damaged Hair
If you have fragile or damaged hair, either from excessive dyeing or just a natural predisposition to dry hair, it’s important to use a gentle shampoo and conditioner with restorative properties to keep your hair looking healthy and your hair color fresh. Split Fix™ Duo are made to be gentle on hair, repair damage and revitalize your hair and scalp.
3. Color-protecting Shampoo For Thinning Hair
Hair loss or thinning is a fairly common problem especially among men. The best thing to do for thinning hair is to use products that stimulate the hair follicles and promote hair growth. With excessive hair dyeing, the hair follicles may be extra dry and sensitive, leading to hair loss or fallout. Grow Perfect™ Shampoo has natural ingredients that create the ideal hair growing conditions on your scalp to help promote hair growth.
4. Color-protecting Shampoo For Curly or Wavy Hair
Those with curly hair know the struggle of wanting strands to be defined and frizz-free. Curly hair often requires a little extra care to ensure that it looks the best. Nourishing and hydrating products are the way to go to keep your curls in place. When it comes to curly hair, it’s especially important to opt for a sulfate-free shampoo for colored hair, such as Curl Crush™ Shampoo.
Sometimes, those with curly hair may opt for co-washing to lock in hydration. Co-washing is washing your hair with just conditioner instead of shampoo. While this option isn’t for everyone, it can be a way to keep dry hair healthy and seal in moisture, which can help you to preserve that beautiful hair color. Curl Crush™ Co-Wash is developed specifically for cleansing and conditioning hair simultaneously, so it can basically be used both as a shampoo and conditioner for colored hair - if you have curls!
5. Best Volume Shampoo for Dyed Hair
Many volumizing shampoos are formulated with way too harsh ingredients that can strip out your hair color. But not the Volume Wizard™ Shampoo! This shampoo gives your hair bouncy volume, while being gentle and hydrating enough even for dyed hair. For the maximum effect, use it together with Volume Wizard™ Conditioner and Volume Wizard™ Hair Powder to make it look like you have just stepped out of the hair salon.
How Else Can You Protect Your Hair Color?
Using the best shampoo for colored hair that you can find is not an easy feat, but it’s the best thing you can do to protect your hair color. In addition to shampoo and conditioner for colored hair, here are other crucial ways to keep your hair color vibrant and long-lasting:
1. Minimize Washing
One way to make sure your hair color stays put for as long as possible is to minimize how often you wash your hair. Some people can go for a week between washes, while other people can only go a day or two. You know your hair best. Experiment to discover how long you can go in between washes (without your hair becoming unbearable). Make sure to use a shampoo and conditioner for colored hair when you do wash it.
My secret to washing my hair only a couple of times a week is powder dry shampoo. The non-aerosol Refresh Powder™ Dry Shampoo refreshes my hair instantly. And thanks to its natural formula it's good for my hair and scalp!
2. Stay Out of the Sun
Protect your hair from ultraviolet (UV) rays by using a sun protection spray for your hair. Excess time in the sun dries out hair follicles, and as a result, hair becomes dry, damaged, and frizzy. Spending too much time in the sun can lead to hair color fading quickly or hair tones pulling warmer hues. To avoid any hair color mishaps, try using a Sun Defense Hair Mist to protect and hydrate the hair while keeping color intact. This product helps to minimize harmful, long-term effects on your hair.
3. Avoid Heat Styling
Heat will also cause hair color to fade fast. Heat styling can damage the hair cuticle, leaving hair dry and broken. Avoid heat on your hair and instead, try a Heatless Curls Kit. Get soft and shiny curls without the repercussions of heat damage.
If you must apply heat to your hair, make sure you use a heat protectant, like Thermal Shield™ Heat Protectant. It will create a barrier between your heat styling tool and your colored hair. If you must blow dry your hair, opt to use a Bamboo Hair Towel Wrap first. Bamboo is naturally absorbent, and efficiently dries hair to speed up blow dry time. Decreasing the amount of heat you use on your hair will preserve your desired hair color and keep your hair shiny, moisturized, and healthy.
4. Use a Hair Mask
To combat the dry or brittle effects of dyeing your hair, make sure to take the time to incorporate hydrating and repairing products into your hair care routine. Take your hair hydration game to the next level by going beyond conditioner for dyed hair. To truly lock in hair moisture, use a repairing hair mask for dry, damaged hair at least once a week. Split Fix™ Hair Mask works to diminish split ends and breakage, while leaving hair hydrated and protected against future damage. If the color treatments have taken their toll on your hair, incorporating products that contain strengthening micro-proteins, like this Protein Repair™ Hair Mask, can repair any hair damage and fortify your natural hair.
Using a shampoo for dyed hair is the easiest way to preserve your hair color. Remember, the best shampoo for colored hair will depend on your specific hair type and color, but make sure to take care of your hair so that your hair color doesn’t go down the drain and you can keep your hair healthy for any future hair dyeing to come!
