How do I choose a shampoo for bleached hair?

“You want to look for any shampoo that is moisturizing and hydrating,” explains Jana Rago, owner of Jana Rago Studios in Boston. “You do not want to use a clarifying shampoo because you don’t want to oxidize the hair, as it will strip out the toner or gloss that you have in it. Plus, it takes out the shine and causes breakage.”

Do you need color-safe shampoo for bleached hair?

Yes, Rago advises using a color-safe shampoo for bleached hair. “You also want to make sure the pH level isn’t high in the shampoo, as it will dry out the hair and lead to frizz and breakage,” she says.

Do you need purple shampoo for bleached hair?

“Certain blondes do need to use purple shampoo, as it can help keep a fresh and vibrant look,” says Rago. “If you have well water or mineral water in your shower, you may benefit from using purple or blue shampoo, as the water type can also affect your bleached hair.”

The 9 Best Shampoos for Bleached Hair of 2023

Having bleached hair can be a lot of work. Besides spending some regular quality time at the salon, you'll also need to do some serious maintenance at home. Bleached tresses can easily go from white to a yellow tint over time. Thankfully, just adding a simple shampoo with a purple hue can keep your color as fresh as the day you left the hairdresser.

These purple shampoos work to combat brassiness, but in most cases should only be used once a week. Since bleaching your hair can also cause hair damage, we've picked some favorites that address various concerns like split-ends, frizz, and more.

Read on for the best shampoos for bleached hair.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo at Amazon

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Best Drugstore:

Hair Food White Nectarine & Pear Color Protect Shampoo at Walmart

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Best Strengthening:

Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Damaged Hair:

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo at Amazon

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Best Toning Shampoo:

dpHUE Cool Blonde Shampoo at Sephora

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Best for Conditioning:

Verb Ghost Shampoo at Sephora

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Best for Frizz:

Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Dry Hair:

Kerastase Blond Absolu Cicaflash Conditioner at Sephora

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Best Natural Formula:

Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Shampoo at Nordstrom

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In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What To Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Byrdie

4.6

Courtesy of Nordstrom

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

What We Like

Hair feels silky
Blonde looks brighter
Mini size available

What We Don't Like

Expensive

This gentle toning formula from Oribe is literally perfect for bottle blondes. Containing violet and pearl pigments, lemon, chamomile, lavender extract, natural keratin, and a UV filter, this product protects, brightens, and corrects like nothing else. It leaves the hair feeling clean, but it's nourishing enough to repair and restore that silky hair feeling that’s often lost in the lightening process. The formula also lathers beautifully and has that signature Oribe fragrance, too.

Price at time of publish: $46 for 8.5 oz bottle

Hair Food Hair Food White Nectarine & Pear Color Protect Shampoo

View On Walmart

What We Like

Cleanses without stripping
Helps build volume
Smells great

What We Don't Like

Doesn't boost color

This cheap and cheerful drugstore buy is really something special. It’s sulfate and paraben-free, gently cleanses the hair, but won’t strip or dull bleached strands. Expect a soft, voluminous finish and hair that smells like ripe, juicy fruit. Bonus points for the giant pump bottle that seems to last forever.

Price at time of publish: $9

Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Mielleorganics.com View On Riteaid.com

What We Like

Made with nourishing oils
Strengthening formula
Helps protect from damage

What We Don't Like

Could be more hydrating

Because bleach can leave the hair weak and brittle, a good strengthening shampoo is key for both repairing damage and preventing more down the road each time you wash. This rosemary mint blend from Mielle Organics totally revives your locks with intense moisture while biotin helps to strengthen and encourage growth (which is great for all of that frustrating breakage). Hot tip? Start using this one before you head to the salon to help lessen the blow of bleach.

Price at time of publish: $15

Ulta

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

What We Like

Helps repair damage
Smooths hair
Hair looks shinier and thicker

What We Don't Like

Can weigh hair down

Platinum hair is beautiful, but it comes at a cost. Bleaching the hair can lead to dry, brittle strands that are practically begging for some TLC. This is especially true if they're already damaged from daily heat styling or brushing. Luckily, there are ways to enjoy icy blonde, bleached hair while keeping damage at a minimum. This strengthening and reparative shampoo works at the molecular level by re-linking broken bonds for smooth and strong strands. A dime-sized amount of the highly-moisturizing formula can reduce breakage, frizz, and flyaways—paving the way towards the shiny hair you deserve.

Price at time of publish: $30 for 8.5 oz bottle

View On Sephora View On Dermstore

What We Like

Tones color
Blonde looks brighter
Hair feels silky

What We Don't Like

A little expensive

After investing time, energy, and money into achieving platinum hair, the last thing you want is for unwanted brassiness to ruin your look. To keep yellow and brassy tones at bay—and neutralize any that are already present—look to a purple shampoo for help.

This formula contains purple pigments and silk proteins to keep your platinum hair looking and feeling its best. It’s the perfect choice for color-treated or naturally blonde hair of all textures—fine, medium, and thick—and takes care of brassiness and color fading while cleansing. As a bonus, this shampoo is free of sulfates and parabens.

Price at time of publish: $28

Courtesy of Sephora

View On Sephora View On Asos View On Urban Outfitters

What We Like

Vegan
Helps prevent fading
Cleanses without stripping

What We Don't Like

Not Byrdie Clean

If you're looking to condition rather than brighten while still protecting your color, go the way of this ultra-nourishing shampoo. The formula makes use of plant-based ingredients like moisturizing moringa seed oil, sunflower seed extract (which naturally protects color from UV damage and combats brassiness), and quinoa protein to strengthen and repair over-processed strands.

Price at time of publish: $20 for 12 oz bottle

Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Shampoo

Courtesy of Sephora

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Loveamika.com

What We Like

Smooths hair
Tones brassiness
Value size available

What We Don't Like

Scent could be better

Yes, it is possible to bleach hair that has some texture, but if you’re a curly girl who’s dying to go blonde, be prepared for some maintenance to keep your strands safe. Amika’s toning shampoo enhances blonde, silver, and gray tones (both dyed and natural), and the protein- and vitamin-packed formulas help to strengthen hair. However, those proteins can also be drying, which is where Amika’s signature ingredient comes in.

The brand is known for its use of sea buckthorn berry (also known as obliphica) which they claim contains over 190 biologically active compounds. It's said to have more vitamin C than oranges, more vitamin A than carrots, and high concentrations of the rare omega-7, normally found in fish oil (but without the smell). Omega-7 keeps free radicals at bay and promotes the production of collagen, which is the foundation of strong hair, skin, and nails. It’s also formulated to be free of any nasty synthetics or chemicals and has no artificial fragrance.

Price at time of publish: $26 for 10.1 oz bottle

Kérastase Blond Absolu Cicaflash Conditioner

Courtesy of Sephora

View On Sephora

What We Like

Moisturizes dry hair
Lathers well
Helps prevent fading

What We Don't Like

Contains alcohol

This innovative formula works to illuminate blonde, bleached, or lightened hair without any violet toning pigment, so it’s a really great option for everyday use. It’s frothy and light and plumps up dry, limp hair strands thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid (like filler for your hair). You’ll be left with strands that are bright and bouncy and full of shine.

Price at time of publish: $44 for 8.5 oz bottle

Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Shampoo

View On Nordstrom View On Aveda.com

What We Like

Made with clean ingredients
Multiple sizes available
Scalp feels refreshed

What We Don't Like

Contains salt

This innovative launch from Aveda contains a plant-derived bond repair technology to strengthen and rebuild broken, damaged hair. Think of it as a plant-based Olaplex that’s free from all sulfates, silicones, mineral oil, parabens, and synthetic fragrance. It’s safe for all types and works especially well to nourish blonde, bleached strands prone to snapping. It gives the hair a really airy feeling and smells like an expensive day spa thanks to Aveda’s exclusive essential oil blend, too.

Price at time of publish: $13 for 1.7 oz bottle

Final Verdict

When it comes to a shampoo for bleached hair that simultaneously tones, Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo is as good as it gets. It’s hydrating, smells incredible, and will brighten warm, brassy, dull strands. For damaged hair, Team Byrdie highly suggests Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo to really repair and rebuild breakage, whereas the Kerastase Blond Absolu Strengthening Conditioner is the perfect, everyday, in-between option.

What to look for when buying a shampoo for bleached hair

The ingredients

Bleached hair is often more porous and damaged than regular hair due to the lightening process, so it’s important to consider the formulation. According to hairstylist and salon owner Anthony Nader, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium chloride, and parabens can strip the hair of nutrients, so are best avoided when possible. Instead, he suggests looking for shampoos that contain wheat germ, protein, antioxidants, avocado oil, or shea butter to gently cleanse without stripping.

Do you actually need a toning shampoo?

Those with bleached hair might be familiar with the concept of toning shampoos, or formulas with a blue, silver, or violet tint to counteract the warmth and brassiness that can come from lightening the hair. They’re fantastic to use between salon appointments to keep color fresh, but Nader points out they need to be used properly, or you can risk over-toning.

“The rule I go by is the more warm or brassy your strands are, the higher in pigment your colored toning shampoo should be,” explains Nader. “Also keep in mind that toning formulas should be used to correct warmth—if you’re happy with your color and tone, stick to a gentle cleansing shampoo. Otherwise, you’ll end up with accidental mauve locks.”

FAQ

How do I choose a shampoo for bleached hair?

“You want to look for any shampoo that is moisturizing and hydrating,” explains Jana Rago, owner of Jana Rago Studios in Boston. “You do not want to use a clarifying shampoo because you don’t want to oxidize the hair, as it will strip out the toner or gloss that you have in it. Plus, it takes out the shine and causes breakage.”
Do you need color-safe shampoo for bleached hair?

Yes, Rago advises using a color-safe shampoo for bleached hair. “You also want to make sure the pH level isn’t high in the shampoo, as it will dry out the hair and lead to frizz and breakage,” she says.
Do you need purple shampoo for bleached hair?

“Certain blondes do need to use purple shampoo, as it can help keep a fresh and vibrant look,” says Rago. “If you have well water or mineral water in your shower, you may benefit from using purple or blue shampoo, as the water type can also affect your bleached hair.”

Why Trust Byrdie

Team Byrdie is home to a few blondes. Writer Emily Algar actually just stopped bleaching her bob after six years, so rest assured we’ve tried some of the best shampoos for bleached hair out there.

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 any shampoos for bleached hair from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

The 13 Best Products for Fighting Brassiness

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.