15 Low-Maintenance Shampoos for Color-Treated Hair (2024)

This color-safe shampoo is deeply hydrating and restorative with a unique blend of grapefruit extract, baobab seed oil, and the brand’s Alpha Keratin complex. The added ingredient of hydrolyzed quinoa also helps enhance color and add shine to keep your hair looking as vibrant as it was when you first dyed it.

Rating: 4.2/ 5 stars

An ELLE Editor says: “If you really color your hair, multiple times a year, and want to protect your hair, give it this gift. Virtue products work by depositing keratin protein (the very same thing that hair is made of) back into the hair so that it repairs cracks in the cuticle. My hair feels noticeably soft after using this, without feeling limp, and moisturized, without feeling greasy.” — Kathleen Hou, beauty director

Crafted to treat highly processed hair, this shampoo is nourishing and hydrating to fight against any dryness caused by long-term coloring. The gentle cleanser is also great for treating hair that is permed or relaxed and helps restore nutrients, shine, and softness. Use this as a treatment to fight against damage or as a preventative measure if you’re thinking about starting your color journey.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I can’t believe how wonderful this shampoo made my hair feel after the first use. Well worth the price to me. You don’t need a lot on each use, either, it lathers well.”

For those with blonde, silver, or gray tones, a purple shampoo is key in your hair routine to neutralize and tone any brassiness for a fresh, vibrant shade. This shampoo gently removes product buildup while toning and protecting your hair from external forces such as sun damage or environmental aggressors. An added bonus is that this shampoo is customizable to suit your particular hair type and texture to meet your hair goals.

Function of Beauty star rating: 4.7/5 stars

A Function of Beauty reviewer says: “Hello purple shampoo!!!! Living in the city, the water has always been harsh on my hair. My platinum hair turns brassy soon after I get my hair done and it is very frustrating. I have tried many purple shampoos and they dry out my hair - not function of beauty. This one makes my hair bright white long after my touch-ups and it is safe to use a couple times a week.”

A cult favorite product, and for good reason, this shampoo is formulated with Olaplex’s patented bond-building technology to rebuild and strengthen hair bonds. By helping to repair your strands and reduce breakage, this shampoo also fights frizz and is highly moisturizing for soft, smooth results.

Ulta rating: 4.3/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “I basically own the entire Olaplex line now and have repurchased the shampoo already! I get regular highlights/ bleach in my hair and this has been amazing and making it feel thick and healthy again! A little goes a long ,way so it lasts forever. I also switch it out with the Ouia Detox Shampoo every once in awhile—don’t over wash your hair—this is a bind builder and can actually damage it if you over use. I wash my hair 2-3 times a week and use this twice max.”

If you are new to lighter shades and are looking for a product that will treat and tone but won’t break the bank this might be the one for you. Perfect for all hair types, this shampoo is great for balancing your hair tone and removing any yellow hues that might affect your color, leaving you with shiny, radiant, salon-worthy strands.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I love this stuff! Only purple shampoo I buy. People always ask if I got fresh highlights, and it’s truly just this shampoo. Haven’t had my hair done in years and I can maintain my beautiful blonde/platinum color. I’ve saved so much money. Just be careful, I have turned my hair slightly purple more than once but it was totally my fault. Comes out easily after a wash or 2 if you mess up. I will forever buy this shampoo and no one can convince me otherwise.”

For a clean option, try this Leaping Bunny certified shampoo infused with an antioxidant elixir and Pro Vitamin B5 to protect against heat, sun damage, and fading. This salon-grade shampoo is also made with the unique Mirabelle plum seed oil, which extends the longevity of your hair's color vibrancy. So, no matter what color you prefer, this shampoo ensures a long-lasting radiant hue.

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I have long, color-treated hair and am 71 years old. This product seems to keep my hair soft and very manageable even in the dry house during Winter. There isn’t much of a scent, which I would prefer, but I’d rather have soft, tangle-free hair than a great smell.”

Humidity is commonly known to cause frizz and dryness in our hair. For hair that is color-treated, this can have even more damaging effects as that can also lead to added breakage and damage. This shampoo is highly moisturizing and nourishing to combat humidity for silkier, smoother hair with minimal frizz for up to 72 hours after washing.

Monat rating: 5/5 stars

A Monat reviewer says: “Love this shampoo... smells so delicious and fruity. The entire anti-frizz system works for me! I worked outdoors during a humid, rainy day, and my hair didn’t frizz at all.”

Getting healthy color-treated hair doesn’t mean you need to compromise on fragrance. This plant-based shampoo has Bulgarian rose petal extract and is infused with natural coconut oil to add softness and shine while protecting your color and moisturizing your tresses.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “Smells amazing…. I never love how a shampoo smells this much. I have also noticed my hair becoming less oily and needing a wash less often.”

Because of the stress that long-term coloring and processing can cause, it is common to experience dryness or a brittle texture. To combat that, this affordable, color-safe shampoo features a blend of linseed elixir and antioxidants to protect and strengthen the strands for bold pigment and shine for up to 8 weeks.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I was kind of shocked when this shampoo did such a great job. My color lasts at least a week longer, possibly 2, and it leaves the hair feeling really soft.”

When you get your hair colored the last thing you want is to experience and type of dullness that could take away from your desired result. The color protection complex infused formula works to add a lustrous pigment and even aids in detangling for manageable, glossy strands.

Amazon rating: 4.7/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I play sports, so I have to wash my hair frequently. This product gets the job done without stripping my color so my hair comes out shiny. The light scent is very nice. I use the conditioner that goes with it and the two have kept my brown hair in good shape. I’ll be buying it again.”

When it comes to color retention, pH balance is often left out of the conversation. This pH-balanced shampoo reduces the absorption of substances that can contribute to faded color. The brand’s patented ArganID sets the hair cuticle, locking in moisture, while a blend of pomegranate extract and sun protection quat fight off environmental aggressors to minimize added stress and keep your hair feeling soft and smooth.

Moroccan Oil rating: 4.9/5 stars

An ELLE writer says: “I’ve always been a fan of Moroccanoil products, but this has become a recent favorite. The true test of a good shampoo for me is whether I can easily run my finger through my curls to detangle, and this shampoo absolutely delivered. My hair felt clean without feeling stripped.” — Tasha Nicole Smith, beauty assistant

For a gentle cleanse, the Shu Uemura shampoo not only protects the hair fibers but also helps to balance the scalp’s natural oils. Made with musk rose oil to heal and nourish the strands and goji berry extract to prevent fading, this shampoo provides a luxurious lather, offering not only a salon-quality feel but also salon-worthy results.

Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars

An ELLE Editor says: “My colorist first recommended this shampoo to me, and since then, I’ve been suggesting it to any of my friends with highlights. If you’re worried that coloring your hair will turn it into straw, rest assured that this shampoo will prevent that. My hair always looks glossy, lustrous, and vibrant with this, and it staves off any brassiness for many months.” — Kathleen Hou

If you want to make sure that your color lasts, this shampoo ensures vibrancy for up to 40 washes. This wash contains a protein infusion blend and quinoa to infuse the strands with the necessary nutrients to keep hair looking lively and bright.

Ulta rating: 3.9/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “This is excellent for my color-treated hair. It helps restore the moisture I strip it of and keeps it soft. Absolutely love this!”

Perfect for all hair types, this shampoo uses a UVA/UVB filter to prevent excess sun damage that leads to premature fading. With added ingredients featuring orchid extract and grape seed oil, this shampoo also delivers a boost of hydration.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An ELLE writer says: “This was the first shampoo I bought when I first started being my hair. I quickly became a staple in my stash. Since I was new to coloring, I loved this affordable option and it also made my hair so easy to detangle afterwards. Bonus, it smells so good!” — Tasha Nicole Smith

This shampoo is packed with biotin and a blend of vitamins and antioxidants that protect your locks with every lather. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, or oily, this shampoo will help to retain your color while promoting hair health and growth.

Walmart rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Walmart Reviewer says: “Love this sulfate-free shampoo. [It] smells great and makes my hair so soft after one use. It took away the frizz and made my hair look so shiny. I will be ordering more.”

Clariss Rubenstein is a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles

Amanda Buescher is a hair loss practitioner and licensed trichologist and the founder of Thairapy Wellness Center

Celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein says to “look for a shampoo that hydrates and moisturizes.” Color-treated hair tends to oxidize more than non-processed hair, so you want to make sure your hair is moisturized and nourished to prevent oxidization.

Licensed trichologist Amanda Buescher adds that paying attention to pH-balanced products helps strengthen the hair.” As long as the shampoo is between 4.5 and 5.5 on the pH scale, it is a color-safe shampoo no matter how it’s marketed. “Hair is naturally at a 4.5-5.5 on the pH scale, so shopping for products that are pH-balanced and formulated for your hair type and structure is more beneficial to lasting color,” she adds. If your hair’s pH is balanced, the color is locked in longer. “If your shampoo is not pH-balanced, the cuticle won’t seal down and allows for artificial color pigments to wash out of the hair. Products, like Function of Beauty’s Purple toning products, are not only specially formulated for your hair type and structure, but also keep orange and yellow pigments neutralized so the color stays bright and brass-free while at the same time hydrating and nourishing hair.

“Avoid products with sulfates in the ingredients. Surfactants are common in shampoos to properly cleanse the hair, but sulfates are the harshest surfactant, as it strips out natural oils and artificial color pigments,” Buescher adds. “When too many strong surfactants or sulfates are in the shampoo, it can fade color-treated hair by lifting the cuticle layer too aggressively.”

According to Rubenstein, avoid shampoos with sodium listed in the ingredients, including “sodium laurel sulfate, sodium laureate sulfate, sodium chloride, and petrochemicals,” she says. Buescher agrees and explains that since sodium is the scientific fancy name for salt, it doesn’t agree with color-treated hair. “Salt is an absorption agent and acts like a magnet to color molecules, pulling them out of the hair,” she adds.

You shouldn’t be washing your hair too much, but how often you wash your hair depends on the color. “Hair tinted red will fade no matter what you do. This is because red color molecules are the largest in size and don’t penetrate into the hair as well as other color molecules. I recommend washing the hair every 4-5 days to prolong the red-tinted hair color. Hair that has been tinted brown or black will fade the least because the color molecules are the smallest. I recommend washing dark color-treated hair every 2-3 days or as needed. For blonde or lightened hair, I recommend shampooing every 2-3 days. Blondes should be treating their hair with a purple shampoo to maintain a bright blonde color,” Buescher explains. However, if your hair is blonde, avoid using purple shampoos daily, as purple shampoos can fade the blonde hue to an ashy or grey color.

Also, be sure to keep a deep conditioner on hand. “Deep conditioners and masks are made to add intense moisture. Using a mask or deep conditioner too often can compromise the hair structure, making it become stretchy and increasing the risk of breakage. Deep conditioners and masks should not be used more often than every 5 shampoos, no matter what color the hair is tinted,” Buescher says.