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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
Maybe you dye your hair at home, see a colorist at a salon, or just want to tweak your natural hair color. In any case, the right treatment can help you maintain or achieve the desired shade while lathering up in the shower. Enter: color-depositing shampoo.
These special washes contain various pigments that either temporarily color your hair or eliminate unwanted undertones. For instance, Chicago-based hairstylist Shelly Aguirre says, "Traffic-stopping silver is all about getting rid of any yellow or dull-looking [tones] to make the gray hair shine." The secret, she tells Byrdie, is purple shampoo.
Meet the Expert
Shelly Aguirre of Chicago's Maxine Salon is a professional stylist specializing in helping clients maintain their desired look. With 12 years of experience teaching at salons and tradeshows, she is one of the most sought-after hairstylists and educators in the industry.
There are also blue shampoos that cancel out brassiness, green for neutralizing red, red for intensifying red, and formulas that deliver not-so-natural vibrant hues. To help you find the best option, we compiled expert recs and fan favorites for enhancing, maintaining, and creating your shade of choice.
Ahead, the best color-depositing shampoos on the market.
Best Overall
Celeb Luxury Color Depositing Shampoo
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Several colors available
Hydrating
Strengthening
Plant-based
Pricey
Whether you want to go icy-blonde, revive your highlights, see how you look as a brunette, or play around with purple hair, Celeb Luxury Colorwash is where it's at. The Gem Lites line includes warm and cool-toned natural hues like platinum, strawberry blonde, golden-brown, amber, and dark ash.
With the Viral collection, you've got everything from electric blue and ruby red to lavender and soft orange, Ă la Lady Gaga's Ally in A Star is Born. Just lather it into wet hair, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse clean. For a little more intensity, repeat the process or use it daily until you achieve the desired shade.
Unlike many other color-depositing shampoos, Celeb Luxury won't dry out your hair. It moisturizes while cleansing and promises to strengthen your hair in the process.
Price at time of publish: $35
Hair Type: Chemically Treated | Size: 8.25 oz. | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Budget
Pure Blends Hydrating Color Depositing Shampoo
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Several colors available
Balances unwanted tones
Contains keratin
Potentially too heavy for fine hair
For babes on a budget, we suggest Pure Blends. This sulfate-free pigmented shampoo comes in various colors of the rainbow to help you maintain or achieve the shade you're going for.
Price at time of publish: $27
Hair Type: All | Size: 8.5 oz. | Scent: Coconut | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Black Hair
Maria Nila Black Colour Refresh
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Amazon
Balances unwanted tones
Nourishing
Leaves hair shiny
Doesn't replace regular shampoo
Maria Nila's Colour Refresh is formulated to help black hair maintain a true raven hue while eliminating unwanted reddish, coppery tones. What's more, it softens and nourishes with argan oil, leaving a lustrous shine in its wake.
Price at time of publish: $33
Hair Type: All | Size: 10.1 oz. | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Brunette Hair
John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Visibly Deeper Color Deepening Shampoo
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Budget-friendly
Natural pigments
Works on natural or color-treated hair
Results aren't dramatic
John Frieda Midnight Brunette deepens and enhances brown hair. It works with natural or color-treated hair and calls on earth-derived pigments like evening primrose oil and cocoa to achieve the ideal chocolate hue.
Price at time of publish: $12
Hair Type: Chemically Treated | Size: 8.3 oz. | Scent: Floral | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Blonde Hair
Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo for Beautiful Color
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Balances yellow tones
Leaves hair shiny
Nice scent
Pricey
To combat yellowish tones in bleached hair, Aguirre recommends Oribe Bright Blonde purple shampoo. "This line has a little more pigment and will definitely add shine and body," she tells Byrdie. "Oribe is a high-end product line and uses the top ingredients and technology in all of their products. [My clients] instantly feel the luxury and high performance of such an elite product line."
Price at time of publish: $46
Hair Type: Color-Treated | Size: 8.5 oz., 33.8 oz. | Scent: Citrus | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Gray Hair
Redken Color Extend Graydiant Shampoo
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Ulta
Balances yellow tones
Enhances cool tones
Leaves hair shiny
Slightly drying
For gray hair, the best option is Redken's aptly named Graydiant Shampoo. The anti-yellow purple wash turns gold into silver while enhancing the multidimensional cool tones in your hair.
Price at time of publish: $46
Hair Type: Chemically Treated | Size: 10.1 oz., 33.8 oz. | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Silver Hair
ORIBE Silverati Shampoo
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Courtesy of Dermstore
Balances yellow tones
Combats dullness
Leaves hair shiny
Doesn't lather up much
"Oribe makes a great silver-enhanced shampoo and conditioner," says Aguirre. "The Silverati line is perfect for those clients who want to cancel any yellow or dullness with their gray and also add lots of shine."
Price at time of publish: $46
Hair Type: Color-Treated | Size: 8.5 oz., 33.8 oz. | Scent: Bergamot, jasmine, sandalwood | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Blue
Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo
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Balances orange tones
Plant-based formula
Generous amount
Watery consistency
As Aguirre explains, blue shampoos help ward off any unwanted yellowish, orange, and brassy tones. We're big fans of Aveda's Blue Malva, a plant-based formula that does wonders for ombre, balayage, and color-treated brown hair.
Price at time of publish: $58
Hair Type: All | Size: 33.8 oz. | Scent: Sweet almond | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Green
​​Matrix Total Results Dark Envy Shampoo
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Ulta
Budget-friendly
Balances red tones
Award-winning formula
Slightly drying
Matrix's award-winning Dark Green Envy neutralizes reddish undertones in black and dark-brown hair. This color-depositing shampoo works in just a few minutes and leaves you with brilliantly glossy hair.
Price at time of publish: $20
Hair Type: Chemically-Treated | Size: 10.1 oz., 33.8 oz. | Scent: Citrus, cedar | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Purple
Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo
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Kohl's
Balances yellow tones
Brightens lightened hair
Strengthening
May leave some residue
Celebrity hairstylist Laurie Heaps suggests using a purple shampoo to remove brassiness from color-treated hair. "I personally like Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo," she tells Byrdie. "When seeing your colorist for [platinum blonde hair], ask if your salon has Olaplex on hand. This will help protect your hair as you lift and lighten."
Price at time of publish: $30
Hair Type: Straight, Wavy, Curly, Coily | Size: 8.5 oz. | Scent: Floral, amber | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Red
Joico Color Infuse Red Shampoo
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Ulta
Lasts for 12 washes
Works on natural or color-treated hair
Contains keratin
May stain hands
Calling all redheads! To turn up the heat on your natural or color-treated hair, reach for Joico Color Infuse Red. This pigmented shampoo instantly ignites any shade from burgundy and ginger to copper and dark strawberry blonde and lasts for up to 12 washes.
Price at time of publish: $23
Hair Type: Straight, Wavy, Curly, Coily | Size: 10.1 oz. | Scent: Floral | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Cool Tones
SheaMoisture Purple Rice Water Strength & Color Care Shampoo
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Courtesy of Sally Beauty
Budget-friendly
Mineral rich
Leaves hair shiny
Can leave a waxy feeling on hair
SheaMoisture's Purple Rice Water Shampoo is just the thing for cool-toned hair. Whether you're working with white, platinum, silver, or gray hair, you can count on a brighter, shinier, brass-free finish.
Hair Type: Damaged | Size: 13.5 oz. | Scent: Floral | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Bold
Infuse My. Colour Color Depositing Shampoo
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Amazon
Reduces tangling
Suitable for daily use
Minimizes fading
May stain hands
This pigmented shampoo comes in all the bold shades we love, like ruby red, metallic gold, dusty rose, candy pink, and indigo. A single wash will offer a hint of color, and you can use it as often as you'd like to intensify the shade.
Price at time of publish: $24
Hair Type: Chemically Treated | Size: 8.5 oz. | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Teens
Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Color Shampoo
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Ulta
Budget-friendly
Softens hair
Nice scent
Slightly messy
Lime Crime's sugar-scented Unicorn Hair is ideal for teens, tweens, and anyone else who wants to experiment with playful color. This tinted shampoo comes in a handful of hues, including royal purple, fuchsia, peach, and pastel pink.
Price at time of publish: $17
Hair Type: All | Size: 8 oz. | Scent: Sugar | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Final Verdict
The best color-depositing shampoo overall is Celeb Luxury Colorwash, a moisturizing, fortifying formula that comes in a range of natural shades and bold hues. For those on a budget, we recommend Pure Blends Color Depositing Shampoo, a hydrating hair wash that helps you achieve or maintain your desired shade.
Meet the Expert
Laurie Heaps is a celebrity stylist specializing in hair color trends.
What to Look for When Buying Color-Depositing Shampoo
Existing Hair Color
When buying color-depositing shampoo, the first thing to consider is your existing hair color. Some products are formulated specifically for brightening blonde, silver, or highlighted hair, while others may only show up on light hair.
On the other hand, toning shampoos designed to neutralize unwanted undertones in darker hair colors may have a staining effect when used on lighter hair. If possible, Aguirre suggests visually comparing the shampoo to your existing hair color before using it. That way, you "can truly see the difference in the actual tones of these products."
Desired Result
You'll also want to consider the desired result. Do you want to brighten your chemically lightened hair and banish yellowish undertones? Are you looking to eliminate the brassiness from your balayage or ombre hair? Do you want to experiment with a jewel tone or simply enhance your natural color?
If you're rocking an icy-cool blonde, Heaps says purple shampoo is the way to go. However, if you're transitioning from light to dark hair, a chocolatey brown treatment can help get you there.
Frequency of Use
Lastly, you'll want to take note of the product's recommended frequency of use. Some tinted shampoos are suitable for daily use, while others are meant to be used two to three times a week to maintain a specific shade.
There are also pigmented hair washes that offer two to four weeks of color with a single-use. Like traditional hair dye, these are meant to be used only once until the color fades away.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
Freelance commerce writer Theresa Holland covers haircare, skincare, makeup, and lifestyle products at Byrdie. For this story, she interviewed two hairstylists, compiling their product recommendations and tips for using tinted washes. Before landing on her final picks, she combed through reviews, pored over formulations, and considered shampoos from dozens of brands. From the above list, Theresa has personally tried John Frieda, Olaplex, Oribe, and Aveda. You can find more of her bylines on MyDomaine.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough color-depositing shampoos from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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