If you’ve recently dyed your hair, you’ll want to make sure the colour’s vibrancy lasts as long as possible. Shampoo strips the hair of its natural conditioning oils, and every time you wash, you’re fading your new hair colour.
But a good shampoo can help to spread out visits to the hairdresser, saving you time and money. How do colour shampoos work? Shampoos designed for coloured hair offer a gentler wash. They’re often tailored to moisturise, provide UV protection and add ingredients that are colour protecting. You can find products suited to every shade out there, from purple shampoos that neutralise brassy tones to pastel-enhancing shampoos.
In this article, we’ve picked out some of the best colour shampoo contenders for a range of hair types and budgets.
10. Aesop’s Colour Care Shampoo
Product: Aesop’s Colour Care Shampoo
Cost: $30
The hair-care industry has a long way to go to reach ethical standards of production. If you’re looking for a product that’s trying to change that, Australia’s Aesop could be the brand for you: they were in the top four performing brands in an independent study on labour rights, animal testing and environmental sustainability. Their Colour Care Shampoo is sulphate-free with oats and vitamin B5 to soften hair, and tangerine rind and mint for a sweet scent.
Who is it best suited for: All hair colours.
Review: “I love this shampoo, it is very gentle on the hair, and cleanses it so well, but also protects the colours and leaves my hair feeling soft and shiny, and I love how it looks, the brassiness is removed, and my hair is ever so soft.” – Review via Adore Beauty.
Buy it at an Aesop or Myer store, or online here.
9. milk_shake’s Colour Maintainer Shampoo
Product: milk_shake’s Colour Maintainer Shampoo
Cost: $53.95
This product is great if you have thick hair and worry about products weighing it down. A milk-derived protein conditions your hair, leaving a sweet scent. Sunflower, wheat, soy, and coconut soothe the hair to make combing a breeze.
Who is it best suited for: All hair colours.
Review: “My hair is bleached and multi-processed, and it was looking pretty dull and dry. This, along with the conditioner and the incredible milk, has totally turned my hair around. It’s now silky, soft, and shiny!” – Review via Amazon.
You can buy it here at Salon Style.
8. John Frieda’s Radiant Red Colour Boosting Shampoo
Product: John Frieda’s Radiant Red Colour Boosting Shampoo
Cost: $9
This product is used to maintain rich, red tones and help prevent your hair colour from becoming dull and brassy. It uses pomegranate extract and vitamin E to help smooth the hair. The downside is it uses sulphates, which will strip the colour quicker than pricier brands.
Who is it best suited for: Redheads.
Review: “I really liked the way my hair turned out after leaving the salon but noticed that a lot of the colour was bleeding out when I showered. I picked up this product with the matching conditioner and noticed a huge difference.” – Review via Influenster.
You can buy it at Chemist Warehouse.
7. Olaplex’s No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Product: Olaplex’s No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Cost: $50
While pricey, this is a product loved by hairdressers. Like Living Proof, this shampoo is proven to moisturise and repair, eliminate frizz, and leave your hair with a silky shine.
Who is it best suited for: All hair colours.
Review: “I have really long hair past my hips that has been bleached repeatedly. This product has been a godsend. It’s restored shine and movement, and has really healed my hair.” – Review via Sephora.
You can buy it here at Sephora.
6. L’oreal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo
Product: L’oreal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo
Cost: $8
This product by L’oreal claims to seal colour inside hair fibres. It’s an affordable option for those who can’t drop big bucks on a shampoo.
Who is it best suited for: All hair colours.
Review: “After being mostly unhappy with expensive shampoos, I started using Elvive colour protect as a way to save a bit of money. That was about five years ago, and I haven’t looked back since. It’s a great shampoo, my colours lasts really well, and my hairdresser is always telling me how great the condition of my hair is.” – Review via Chemist Warehouse.
Buy it at Woolworths.
5. Keratin Complex Timeless Colour Shampoo
Product: Keratin Complex Timeless Colour Shampoo
Cost: $33.95
A gentle sulphate-free shampoo, this product is enhanced with the protein keratin, which smooths down the cells that overlap to form your hair strands. This shampoo is a great option if your biggest concern with your dyed hair is frizz!
Who is it best suited for: All hair colours.
Review: “Excellent helps control frizzy hair during rainy days. I love it and won’t use any other keratin shampoo.” – Review via Ulta.com.
Buy it at Active Skin.
4. Living Proof’s Restore Shampoo
Product: Living Proof’s Restore Shampoo
Cost: $44
One of the cons of colouring your hair is that it tends to dry it out, leading to split ends and that awful crunchy texture. While not marketed as a colour shampoo, Living Proof’s Restore Shampoo is great for coloured hair in that it’s super hydrating and claims to repel dirt and oil so you can shampoo less often.
Who is it best suited for: All hair colours.
Review: “I was looking for a shampoo to help with the dryness of dyed blonde hair. In just one wash, I have seen a big difference in the quality of my hair.” – Review via Mecca.com.au.
You can buy Living Proof’s Restore Shampoo here at Mecca.
3. MUVO’s Ultra Rose Shampoo
Product: MUVO’s Ultra Rose Shampoo
Cost: $27.95
Pink tones are hard to up-keep – nobody wants to be in the salon every eight days to get that fresh floral tone. The creators of MUVO Ultra Rose Shampoo have been making hair care products for over 80 years, and their carefully crafted shampoo uses Australian native plant ingredients to hydrate dry hair while enhancing rose tones.
Who is it best suited for: Light blondes.
Review: You can watch an in-depth review here.
Buy it at MUVO.com.au.
2. Wella’s Invigo Cool Blonde Colour Refreshing Shampoo
Product: Wella’s Invigo Cool Blonde Colour Refreshing Shampoo
Cost: $29.95
Wella is one of the best popular brands on the market when it comes to being gentle on hair and not stripping back your colour. This purple shampoo tones and uses colour pigments to prevent natural and coloured blonde hair from yellowing or becoming brassy. It’s also good for toning brown hair that has orange undertones.
Who is it best suited for: Blondes, grey hair.
Review: “It really bought out and lifted the different blonde tones and highlights in my hair. Only criticism is it doesn’t foam up a lot, so it doesn’t spread when you rub the hair to clean it.” – Review via justmylook.com.
Buy it at Hairhouse Warehouse.
1. Bed Head Colour Goddess Shampoo
Product: Bed Head Colour Goddess Shampoo
Cost: $14
Created by TIGI, this oil-infused shampoo is low in sulphates (which lift colour from the hair) and is filled with essential vitamins and nutrients. It should leave your hair looking glossy and won’t break the bank. It was also a Product Advisor winner against 22 other popular brands.
Who is it best suited for: Brunettes.
Review: “Not only is my hair glossy (I have blonde shoulder-length hair), but it smells gorgeous too. It reminds me of butterscotch.” – Review via justmylook.com.
Buy it at Priceline.
