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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
Water is hair color’s worst enemy, so the best thing you can do to safeguard your new hue is simply to minimize how often you wash your hair. That being said, when you do suds up, using a color-safe shampoo is critical to preserving your color while nourishing your tresses and keeping your scalp healthy.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Our best overall pick is Olaplex's No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, which helps repair damaged hair bonds broken during the coloring process, keeping the hair strong and shiny. For a more affordable option, consider Love Beauty and Planet's Murumuru Butter and Rose Blooming Color Shampoo, which is a sulfate-free formula packed with hydrating botanicals to add a glossy sheen.
Specially formulated *not* to strip color molecules, color-safe shampoo a surefire way to keep your strands shiny and vibrant and stretch out how long you can go in between DIY dye jobs or salon appointments.
We went to work, conducting research on the best shampoos for color-treated hair, evaluating each on targeted results, active ingredients, texture, and value. Our product testers tried out some of the top-rated products, using them for weeks at a time and taking note of results. Our team then combined these results with our own research and stylist-recommended products to compile this list.
Ahead, find the best shampoos for colored hair.
Best Overall: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
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Helps repair damaged hair
Effective formula
Lathers well
Could be more hydrating
Olaplex is a mainstay in the hair coloring world; there’s both a reparative in-salon treatment that many colorists use while coloring, as well as a beloved at-home version. The shampoo offers similar benefits, working to rebuild the hair bonds that are broken during the color process so that strands stay ultra-strong and healthy. That alone earns it top honors on this list, but we can’t fail to mention that while it’s sulfate-free—essential criteria for any type of color-safe shampoo—it still foams up nicely and rinses completely cleanly.
Our product tester tried out Olaplex’s Bond Maintenance System Kit (which includes the Bond Maintenance Shampoo along with the Bond Maintenance Conditioner and Hair Perfector mask) and gave it a perfect five-star rating, noting that the shampoo thoroughly cleansed her hair without leaving it feeling stripped and kept her hair feeling fresher, longer.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 3.3 / 8.5 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $30
What Our Testers Say
"Ever since I started using Olaplex shampoo and conditioner, I've noticed my hair looking salon-fresh for way longer. Not only that, but I also detect less breakage, fewer split ends, and less frizz." — Chloe Burcham, Product Tester
Runner-Up, Best Overall: Color Wow Color Security Shampoo
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Courtesy of Amazon
Rinses clean
Strengthens hair
Leaves scalp feeling fresh and clean
Can be a little drying
This pick is free of not only sulfates but also is also formulated sans silicones, oils, and parabens (just to name a few). It leaves behind not even a trace of residue so you’re never left with any build-up, works on all hair types, and is keratin- and extension-safe, too.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Mild | Size: 8.4 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $24
Best Budget: Love Beauty And Planet Murumuru Butter & Rose Blooming Color Shampoo
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Courtesy of Amazon
Smells great
Helps preserve color
No silicones
Could be more hydrating
The sulfate-free formula keeps hair super shiny so the color looks bright and fresh. It also has plant-based detangling ingredients to ward off snarls, and add a glossy sheen, leaving color-treated hair soft and manageable. But honestly, the best part may be the rose fragrance that elicits tons of compliments every time we use it.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Rose | Size: 22 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Price at time of publish: $15
Best for Fine Hair: L'Oreal Paris EverStrong Thickening Shampoo
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Boosts volume and thickness
Invigorating, fresh scent
Inexpensive
Could be more hydrating
For those who color their hair but are also constantly trying to bulk up fine strands, this pick is choice. Sulfate-free, it cleanses beautifully (and yes, foams up great) while the formula also helps to boost volume. The minty-rosemary scent is fresh and invigorating—great for sleepy mornings—and we’d be remiss not to mention the affordable price, too.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Mint | Size: 8.5 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Price at time of publish: $8
Best for Dry Hair: R+Co Gemstone Color Shampoo
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Courtesy of Amazon
Tames frizz
Moisturizes
Boosts shine
Can be difficult to lather
To keep your shade vibrant and your mane nice and moisturized, reach for this sudser. It boasts a litany of good-for-your hair ingredients—namely antioxidant-rich lychee extract, okra seed extract, vitamin E, and sunflower seed extract—and will help to add shine and fight frizz, all while conditioning and moisturizing your color-treated locks. We’ve seen a noticeable difference after only one wash, just saying.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Earthy | Size: 8.5 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $32
Best for Curly Hair: Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Shea Hydrating Co-Wash for Curly Hair
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Courtesy of Briogeo
Moisturizes curls and coils
Strengthens hair
Large bottle
Byrdie Clean
Contains alcohol
Co-washes (AKA conditioning washes) have long been lauded for thick and curly textures since the formulas are naturally more moisturizing, and they’re also a good option for colored hair since they’re not as stripping. This gentle, sulfate-free formula from Briogeo was developed with waves, curls, and coiled textures in mind, fortified with hair-loving ingredients like rice amino acids, tomato fruit ferment, shea butter, and avocado oil. The hair is left nourished and hydrated, and the natural curl pattern is more defined.
Hair Type: Curly, coily | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 16 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $32
Best for Thick Hair: OUAI Thick Hair Shampoo
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Courtesy of Target
Softening formula
Boosts shine
A little goes a long way
Not for very oily hair
Formulated with thicker hair textures in mind, this shampoo from OUAI is rich in hydrating ingredients like marshmallow root extract, shea butter, and avocado oil. The ultra-nourishing formula works to detangle and boost shine while keeping frizz at bay, plus it’s sulfate-free, meaning it’s safe for color-treated hair, to boot.
Hair Type: Thick | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Floral | Size: 10 / 32 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $30
Best for Natural Hair: GIRL+HAIR CLEANSE+ Water-To-Foam Moisturizing Sulfate Free Shampoo For Curly Hair
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Courtesy of Sally Beauty
Rich, foaming texture
Soothes the scalp
Invigorating, fresh scent
Not Byrdie Clean
Natural hair requires a whole different kind of washing and styling protocol, so for colored kinky, coiled hair, reach for this mega-gentle cleanser. It starts as water, turns into a rich foam, and leaves curls, which, can be innately drier and more prone to damage than straight strands with plenty of moisture. In short, it doesn't strip natural oils, nor color. There's also shea butter and tea tree oil in the mix, and it'll help nourish both your locks and your scalp.
Hair Type: Curly, coily | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Minty | Size: 10.1 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $13
Best for Damaged Hair: Living Proof Restore Shampoo
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Courtesy of Ulta
Smooths hair
No silicones
Value size available
May contribute to buildup over time
The proprietary ingredient this brand relies on—a “Patented Healthy Hair Molecule”—was created by MIT scientists, so you know it’s going to be legit. The formula aims to restore dry and damaged hair cuticles right away while helping to ward off future damage. Yes, please. Not to mention that it also repels dirt and oil so that you can stretch out washes further, always a boon when you have colored hair.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 8 / 24 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $59
Best for Blonde Hair: Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Shampoo
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Courtesy of Sephora
Boosts and preserves blonde shades
Vegan
Boosts shine
Strong scent
Blondes are more susceptible to dealing with all kinds of color fading and changes, namely unwanted brassy tones that can make cooler blonde shades appear dingy. Enter this option, a violet-based shampoo that works to instantly counteract those orange and brassy undertones and leaves any cool blonde shade refreshed and revived. It’s a great choice for those with gray hair, too.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 8 / 33.8 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $26
Best Splurge: Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Nourishing formula
Boosts shine
Strengthens hair
Could be more moisturizing
Color-treated hair is prone to damage, which is where this luxe, sulfate-free pick comes in. Gentle and reparative, this rejuvenating shampoo helps combat dryness, split ends, and breakage and even addresses a dry and flaky scalp. It’s splurgy, yes, but the brand’s Bio-Restorative Complex and Signature Complex—packed with ingredients like biotin, plant collagen, and niacinamide—make it well worth the investment. Plus, it smells incredible, thanks to bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Floral | Size: 2.5 / 8.5 / 33.8 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $17
Best Drugstore: Pantene Illuminating Color Care Shampoo with Biotin
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Courtesy of Walmart
Inexpensive
Contains biotin
Great for fine and thin hair
Could be more hydrating
Devoted drugstore shampoo users will love this formula, but it’s so good that even those who use salon brands exclusively should give it a try. Color-safe and sulfate-free, the formula aims to strengthen and support hair health. Plus, the floral and citrus fragrance is sophisticated, yet never cloying.
Hair Type: Fine, thin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Floral/citrus | Size: 9.6 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Price at time of publish: $7
Best Natural: Innersense Color Awakening Hairbath
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Courtesy of Innersense
Contains certified organic ingredients
Smooths hair
Hydrating formula
A little expensive
Completely color-safe, this clean formula is full of natural ingredients like coconut and pumpkin seed oils and shea butter. The creamy texture safeguards your shade and leave your strands looking—and feeling—strong and healthy. It'll help boost hydration, shine, smoothness, manageability, while keeping fly-aways at bay.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Citrus | Size: 10 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $28
Best Dry Shampoo: MoroccanOil Dry Shampoo for Dark Tones
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Courtesy of Amazon
No residue
Smells great
Hydrates
Not for very oily hair or scalp
As we said, the longer you can go without washing your hair, the longer your color will last. That's where the beauty of a great dry shampoo, like this guy, comes in. It uses rice starch to do the dry shampoo thing—remove excess oil—but it's also infused with argan oil and leaves the hair hydrated and shiny, not dull. This variant is made for dark tones (so don't worry, it won't leave behind a chalky residue), but there's also an option for light tones with subtle violet pigments that knock out brassiness and keep your blonde fresh.
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 1.7 / 5.4 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Price at time of publish: $26
Final Verdict
When it comes to maintaining color-treated hair, we're reaching for Olaplex's No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo come wash time, hands down. The beloved formula helps repair damaged hair bonds broken during the coloring process, keeping the hair strong and shiny. For a more affordable option, consider Love Beauty and Planet's Murumuru Butter and Rose Blooming Color Shampoo, which is a sulfate-free formula packed with hydrating botanicals to add a glossy sheen.
Meet the Expert
Mark Debolt is a celebrity colorist and co-founder of Mark Ryan Salon. A protégé of celebrity colorist Marie Robinson, his areas of expertise include his signature blend of foil highlighting, balayage, and specialty color placement techniques. Currently, he’s an ambassador, educator, and hair color expert for Wella Professionals.
What to Look For
Color-Safe Formulas
When it comes to shampooing color-treated hair, celebrity colorist Mark Debolt stresses the importance of only using a product designed to prolong the life of color-treated hair. This will ensure that there aren’t any potentially dulling or stripping ingredients in the formula.
Avoid Harsh Sulfates
Debolt also recommends avoiding some sulfates, though it’s worth noting that not all are necessarily bad for your color. “There is often conversation about sulfates in hair care, but it’s a complex topic because there are different grades of sulfates,” he says. “Salon-professional hair care often contains sulfates that are perfectly okay for color-treated hair, while drugstore brands contain harsher sulfates that can remove color.” Our advice? Look for sulfate-free options unless the formula is recommended directly by your colorist.
Avoid "Clarifying" and "Detoxifying" Formulas
Debolt also says to avoid shampoos that are labeled as “clarifying” or “detoxifying.” “These products often contain ingredients that will remove artificial pigment from the hair,” he says. Another ingredient to look out for is chamomile, which he says will also remove pigment from color-treated hair.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She considered dozens of shampoos for color-treated hair for this roundup, evaluating each on targeted results, active ingredients, texture, and value. Product testers tried out some of the top-rated products, using them for weeks at a time and taking note of results. Our team then combined these results with our own research and stylist-recommended products to compile this list.
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