I’ve been highlighting my hair for years, and I’ve learned that a good shampoo and conditioner really can make a difference. The trick is finding one that protects your color but also works with your hair type. Blonde hair can get brassy, brunette hair can turn warm, and as we get older, dryness, damage, and thinning can become part of the equation too.
I’ve rounded up some of the best shampoos and conditioners for color-treated hair, including several you’ll find in my own shower, plus some other top picks for blonde, brunette, gray, fine, and damaged hair.
Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Color-Treated Hair at a Glance
| Best For | Shampoo & Conditioner |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Redken Acidic Color Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner |
| Highlighted Blonde Hair | Kérastase Blond Absolu Shampoo and Conditioner |
| Purple Shampoo | Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Shampoo and No. 5P Conditioner |
| Mature Color-Treated Hair | Hair Biology Vivid & Protected |
| Brunette Hair | Wella Ultimate Color Shampoo and Conditioner |
| Gray Hair | RŌZ Foundation Shampoo/Conditioner and Mask |
| Red & Vibrant Hair Color | Davines MINU Shampoo and Conditioner |
| Fine Color-Treated Hair | Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo and Conditioner |
| Damaged Color-Treated Hair | Bumble and bumble Bond-Building Repair Shampoo and Conditioner |
| Drugstore | L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner |
Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Color-Treated Hair
Redken Acidic Color Gloss Shampoo | Redken Acidic Color Gloss Conditioner
Redken Acidic Color Gloss: Best Overall Shampoo and Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair
There’s nothing better than walking out of the salon with freshly colored, super-shiny hair. The trick is keeping it looking that way!
Redken Acidic Color Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner are designed to protect color while helping hair look smooth and glossy. The acidic formula helps smooth the hair cuticle, which gives colored hair that gorgeous reflective shine.
I like this as the best overall pick because it isn’t tied to one particular hair color. You can be blonde, brunette, red, or somewhere in between. It’s a good everyday choice when your biggest goal is keeping your color looking vibrant and shiny between salon visits.
Best for: Most types of color-treated hair, especially when shine and color vibrancy are your biggest concerns.
Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Lumière Shampoo | Kérastase Blond Absolu Cicaflash Conditioner | Kérastase Blond Absolu Masque Cicaextreme
Kérastase Blond Absolu: Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Highlighted Blonde Hair
This is one I can personally vouch for because you’ll find several products from the Kérastase Blond Absolu line in my shower.
I’ve been highlighting my hair for years, so keeping it soft and shiny without letting my blonde look dull is always top of mind. I use the Bain Lumière Shampoo, Cicaflash Conditioner, and Masque Cicaextreme.
Bain Lumière gently cleanses highlighted and lightened hair, and I love following it with Cicaflash when my hair needs moisture without feeling weighed down. When my ends are feeling particularly dry, I pull out the mask.
It’s definitely a splurge, but when you’re already spending good money on professional highlights, I think it’s worth taking care of them between appointments.
Best for: Highlighted, bleached, or dry blonde hair.
Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer
Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer: Best Purple Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
Blondes, you know how it goes. You leave the salon with gorgeous, creamy blonde highlights, and a few weeks later, those yellow and brassy tones start creeping back in.
That’s when I reach for Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo, which is another product I personally own and use.
This is a strong purple shampoo, so I don’t use it every time I wash my hair. I work it into my routine when I notice my blonde getting warmer than I’d like.
Purple shampoo isn’t just for blondes either. It can also help neutralize unwanted yellow tones in gray, white, and silver hair.
Best for: Blonde, highlighted, gray, or silver hair that needs occasional toning.
Hair Biology Vivid & Protected: Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Mature Color-Treated Hair
I’ve been using Hair Biology products on and off for years, and I like that this line was created with the changing needs of mature hair in mind.
Our hair can become finer, drier, and more fragile as we get older. Add regular coloring or highlighting to the mix, and it may need a little more TLC than it did 20 years ago.
The Hair Biology Vivid & Protected Shampoo and Conditioner are made specifically for color-treated hair and are a nice everyday option for helping protect color while keeping mature hair soft and manageable.
I’ve shared more about my experience with the brand in my Hair Biology review.
Best for: Mature, color-treated hair.
Wella Ultimate Color Shampoo | Wella Ultimate Color Conditioner
Wella Ultimate Color: Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Brunette Hair
Blondes aren’t the only ones who have to think about keeping their color fresh. Rich brunette shades can start looking dull and lose that gorgeous glossy finish between salon visits too.
Wella Ultimate Color Shampoo and Conditioner are made to gently cleanse color-treated hair while helping protect that rich, vibrant look. The conditioner adds moisture and softness, which is especially nice if regular coloring has left your hair feeling a little dry.
If your brunette hair tends to turn orange or brassy, that’s a slightly different problem. You may want to occasionally swap in a blue toning shampoo, like Matrix Brass Off, to help cool those unwanted warm tones.
Best for: Color-treated brunette hair that you want to keep rich, shiny, and vibrant.
RŌZ Foundation Shampoo/Conditioner
RŌZ Foundation Shampoo + Conditioner: Best for Gray Hair
Gray hair has needs that go beyond keeping yellow tones away. As we get older, gray hair can become drier, coarser, and a little more wiry, so moisture becomes just as important as keeping your silver looking bright.
RŌZ Foundation Shampoo/Conditioner and Mask are a great combination for giving gray hair the gentle cleansing, moisture, and TLC it needs. The shampoo is sulfate-free, and the mask helps hydrate and smooth dry, thirsty strands.
If your gray or silver hair starts looking yellow, that’s when I’d bring in a purple shampoo like the Olaplex No. 4P I use on my blonde highlights. You don’t necessarily need a purple shampoo every time you wash. Think of it as an extra toning step when you need it.
Best for: Gray, silver, or transitioning hair that’s becoming dry, coarse, or dull.
Davines MINU Shampoo | Davines MINU Conditioner
Davines MINU: Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Red and Vibrant Color-Treated Hair
Redheads have one of the toughest color-maintenance jobs of all. Red, auburn, and copper shades can lose their vibrancy surprisingly quickly.
Davines MINU Shampoo and Conditioner are made specifically for color-treated hair and focus on gently cleansing while helping your color stay shiny and vibrant.
I like that this isn’t a red color-depositing shampoo. Red hair comes in so many shades, from soft copper to deep auburn, so a gentle color-protecting formula can be much more versatile. This is also a good one to consider if you have another rich salon color that’s particularly prone to fading.
Best for: Red, copper, auburn, and vibrant color-treated hair where fading is your biggest concern.
Bumble and bumble Bond-Building Repair Shampoo | Bumble and bumble Bond-Building Repair Conditioner
Bumble and bumble Bond-Building Repair: Best for Damaged Color-Treated Hair
Dry and damaged hair aren’t exactly the same thing. If your hair has been through years of highlighting, bleaching, chemical processing, and heat styling, you may need something that goes beyond adding moisture.
Bumble and bumble Bond-Building Repair Shampoo and Conditioner are designed to strengthen damaged hair and smooth the cuticle, making them a good choice when processing has left your hair feeling weaker or more brittle.
I’d look at this duo when your hair isn’t just feeling dry. It’s breaking, looking frazzled, or simply doesn’t feel as strong as it used to.
Best for: Bleached, overprocessed, brittle, or damaged color-treated hair.
L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo | L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Conditioner
L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture: Best Drugstore Shampoo and Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair
You don’t have to spend $40 on a bottle of shampoo to take good care of your color. L’Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner are sulfate-free, made with color-treated hair in mind, and much easier on the wallet than many salon brands.
I also like that the EverPure line includes several different formulas. If moisture isn’t your biggest concern, there are other versions geared toward things like volume and bond repair. This is a great place to start if you want a simple, affordable shampoo and conditioner for colored hair.
Best for: An affordable everyday shampoo and conditioner for dry, color-treated hair.
Fino Premium Touch Shampoo and Conditioner
One More Shampoo and Conditioner I’m Using: Fino Premium Touch
My daughter is actually the one who got me to try Fino Premium Touch. She had been using it and loved it, so of course, I had to see what all the fuss was about!
Fino is a Japanese haircare line that’s become very popular for helping dry, damaged hair feel softer and smoother. Since highlighting can leave my hair feeling dry, especially on the ends, I was curious to see how it would work on mine.
I’ve been using the shampoo and conditioner, and I like having them in my rotation when my hair feels like it needs a little extra moisture and TLC.
How to Choose a Shampoo and Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair
The best shampoo for colored hair should clean your scalp and hair without leaving it feeling stripped, but there’s no single formula that’s going to be right for everyone. Start with your hair color and your biggest hair concern.
Blonde and gray hair may benefit from purple shampoo when yellow tones start showing up. Brunette hair that’s turning orange may do better with a blue shampoo. Red and copper shades need gentle cleansing to help preserve their vibrancy.
Then think about your hair texture. Fine hair usually does better with lightweight moisture, while thick, coarse, or heavily processed hair may love a richer formula.
You’ll also notice that many shampoos for color-treated hair are sulfate-free. These formulas can be a good choice if your hair tends to feel dry or your color fades quickly, but I wouldn’t choose a shampoo based on one ingredient alone. The most important thing is finding a formula that works well with your particular hair.
How Often Should You Wash Color-Treated Hair?
Here’s one of the easiest ways to help your expensive salon color last longer: Don’t wash it when you don’t need to.
Every wash can gradually contribute to fading, so stretching an extra day between shampoos can help. How often you need to wash really depends on your scalp, hair texture, and lifestyle.
I also skip piping-hot water. Warm or lukewarm water is much kinder to both your hair and your color. I’ve shared a few more easy tips in my post on what to do about fading hair color.
Can You Use Clarifying Shampoo on Color-Treated Hair?
Yes, and sometimes colored hair really needs it! Dry shampoo, hairspray, styling creams, oils, and hard-water minerals can all build up on your hair. Eventually, that buildup can make even gorgeous color look dull.
The key is not overdoing it. Clarifying shampoos cleanse more deeply than your everyday shampoo, so they’re something to use occasionally rather than every time you wash. I’ve rounded up my favorites in my guide to the best clarifying shampoos, including options for color-treated and gray hair.
How to Keep Color-Treated Hair From Fading
Your shampoo and conditioner are important, but they’re only part of keeping your color looking fresh. Wash your hair only when it needs it, turn down the water temperature, and use a heat protectant before blow-drying, curling, or straightening.
Sun exposure can also fade color, and chlorine and hard water can leave blonde, gray, and color-treated hair looking dull or discolored.
Don’t forget about moisture either. Soft, healthy-looking hair reflects light, which helps your color look richer, shinier, and more dimensional. I’ve shared more tricks in my guide to making your hair shiny after 40.
What Are You Using on Your Color-Treated Hair?
I’m always curious about what other women are using and loving, especially when it comes to hair products. There are so many new ones popping up all the time!
Do you swear by one of these, or is there another shampoo and conditioner I need to try? Let me know in the comments. I may just have to add it to my shower!
