The 14 Best Color-Depositing Shampoos of 2021

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Whether you get your hair colored at the salon or DIY at home, one thing’s for certain—a fresh dye job can go a long way toward boosting your confidence. But that bright, shiny color you love so much has the potential to get brassy or fade—sometimes rather quickly.

Enter color-depositing shampoo, which can be used to enhance both dyed hues and natural color. “Color-depositing shampoo deposits pigments of your natural or colored hair to refresh the color,” explains Regina Janvier, texture expert at Maggie Rose Salon. “It’s useful when you want to replenish the pigment lost during washes and/or use of heat tools.”

Ready to refresh your mane? Read on for the best color-depositing shampoos for all hair colors.

Pure Blends Hydrating Color Depositing Shampoo

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Janvier loves this color-depositing shampoo, and for good reason. “The formula is super-lightweight and prevents fading,” she says. It also comes in a variety of shades for different hair colors, from cool silver and sunny blonde to dark chocolate tones and more. That means it’s super easy to find the right one for you. Plus, the sulfate-free formula contains nourishing coconut oil to keep hair shiny and smooth.

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One of the most common issues people experience when lightening brown hair? That dreaded brassiness. This budget-friendly color-depositing shampoo, a favorite of Leigh Hardges, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon, alleviates that frustration. It leaves behind cool blue-violet pigments to counteract brassiness and makes orange undertones a thing of the past.

Punky Color 3-in-1 Depositing Shampoo and Conditioner

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Whether you’re a blonde, brunette, or redhead—or even if you’re sporting blue, green, or purple hair—this line of drugstore color-depositing shampoos and conditioners has something for you. Thanks to the conditioning ingredients in the formula, it also does a great job of boosting shine and moisturizing parched strands.

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Hardges is a fan of this splurge-worthy violet shampoo for blonde hair. The sulfate-free formula corrects brassiness and unwanted yellow tones by imparting violet pigments onto your hair. It also features a brightening complex made up of lemon, ginger root, and chamomile extracts, which keeps blonde hair looking shiny and bright.

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Treat blonde hair to something special with this color-depositing shampoo. It’s full of deep purple pigments to counteract any orange or brassy tones in blonde (or gray) hair. The gentle formula cleanses strands without stripping away the color or much-needed moisture. It’s safe to use on all hair textures, from straight to tightly coiled, and leaves hair super-shiny and soft.

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Visibly Deeper Color Deepening Shampoo

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Deepen brunette hair with this color-depositing shampoo, favorite of Janvier. A great pick for both natural and dyed brunettes, this shampoo is chock full of natural cocoa to add richness to your tone and primrose oil to moisturize. “This product is super-hydrating and a little really goes a long way,” says Janvier.

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Brown hair looking a little brassy? This blue-pigmented color-depositing shampoo excels at neutralizing the offending orange and red tones. In addition to the blue pigments in the formula, silk proteins help soften and strengthen strands.

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This color-depositing shampoo makes it easy to add depth to Black hair. The 98% natural formula has a charcoal-black tone and is infused with quinoa, black walnut, and mongongo seed oil. Expect rich, shiny Black hair post-shower. Bonus: The floral-citrus scent is downright heavenly.

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If you have red hair, then you know how tricky it is to keep your color looking vibrant. In fact, red hair tends to fade faster than other shades. This color-depositing shampoo, which Hardges likes, is a good option for a variety of red tones. In addition to enhancing and refreshing the hues, it also provides UV protection, which is a major plus since the sun can seriously fade redness.

Redken Color Extend Color Depositing Graydiant Shampoo

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Gray and silver hair will look their absolute best when you use this color-depositing shampoo. A blend of custom pigments and amino acids get rid of unwanted yellow tones while adding softness and shine.

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Using a purple color-depositing shampoo is an effective way to keep silver hair bright, shiny, and brass-free. This formula gets rid of brassiness and brightens silver hair, and also contains extracts that help detangle and moisturize.

DevaCurl No-Poo Blue Anti-Brass Zero Lather Cleanser

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Traditional color-depositing shampoos may be too drying for curly hair. That’s why we love this no-lather curl cleanser, which features blue pigments to counteract brassiness in lightened brunette hair. The formula, which contains blue lotus flower, is deeply nourishing so you can be assured your curls will be soft and bouncy after you wash.

Celeb Luxury Viral Colorwash: Color Depositing Shampoo

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Bold hair colors require special care. This color-depositing shampoo gets high marks for bold colors because it’s available in a bunch of hues, from pastel lavender to hot pink to teal and beyond. The range provides a major dose of vibrancy to rainbow shades, while also boosting shine and hydrating hair.

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Pump up your color with this line of color-depositing shampoos that comes in brown, red, platinum, and more. The entire line is vegan, as well as sulfate- and paraben-free. What’s more, these shampoos provide intense color refresh and loads of shine.

Final Verdict

Our all-around favorite color-depositing formula, the Pure Blends Hydrating Color Depositing Shampoo, blends pigments with nourishing ingredients so you don’t have to worry about your hair feeling dry after using it. The MATRIX Total Results Brass Off Color Depositing Blue Shampoo reduces brassiness at a great price point, and the Celeb Luxury Color Depositing Shampoo will keep bold colors looking bright.

A color-depositing shampoo can help keep your dye job looking fresh, but don’t go overboard because these shampoos do deposit a lot of pigment. “Only use it when you need it,” says Hardges. She adds that it’s important to ask your colorist which one is best for your hair type and desired results.

Janvier suggests using a deep conditioner after cleansing with a color-depositing shampoo. “Most color depositing shampoos aren’t hydrating, and it’s important to keep the hair quenched,” she says.

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