These Shampoos Will Help Your Haircolor Last Longer (2024)

Whether you're dyeing your hair at home or at the salon, maintaining your dream shade is no easy task. It takes time, effort, and (sometimes a lot of) money to keep the hue vibrant and the roots blended. Clearly it makes sense to do all you can to prevent fading and stretch out your next dye time. Interestingly, the number one thing you can do is nothing: "The leading cause of color fading is washing your hair," says Fae Norris, a hairstylist at Rock Paper Salon in Los Angeles. So try to resist lathering up frequently. Water itself pulls dye molecules out of the hair, as do sulfates, common ingredients in shampoos that are there to make them lather but can also be color-stripping, Norris shares. When you do wash, make sure it's with a color-safe shampoo.

Color-safe usually means that it's a sulfate-free formula; extra points if it's also hydrating. If you find that you miss the deep clean nature of a rich, sudsy lather, however, then the pros suggest that you limit your sulfate-based shampoo to once a month and reach for a color-preserving formula the rest of the time.

What to consider

How to choose

Besides looking for a sulfate-free shampoo, you'll want to think about your hair type and what it needs. Do you have curly hair that needs more moisture or fine hair that needs more volume? "Pick a shampoo that will protect the hair color but also treat the hair for its other needs," advises Ajani.

No matter what hair color (from bright red to dirty blonde) or texture (from fine and straight to thick and coily), stylists say these are the best shampoos for color-treated hair.

The Experts:

Fae Norris, a hairstylist at Rock Paper Salon in Los Angeles

Patricia Ajani, colorist and curl specialist in Montreal

Dana Tizzio, a hairstylist at Butterfly Studio Salon in New York City

Eliut Rivera, hairstylist and owner of Eliut Salon

Trey Gillen, a stylist at Ceron Hair Studio in Houston

Jackie Wright, an artistic designer at Salon Eva Michelle in Boston

Graham Nation, celebrity stylist in Los Angeles

Michelle Cleveland, celebrity stylist and extension artist

Bryant Anthony, an advanced designer at Salon Eva Michelle in Boston

Sarah Pinckney, owner of MBS Salon in Mill Valley, California

Dave Stanwell, celebrity hairstylist

"This sulfate-free shampoo is safe and gentle enough for even the most highly damaged, sensitive hair, plus it smells amazing," says Dana Tizzio, a hairstylist at Butterfly Studio Salon in New York City.

Get long-lasting results with this formula that infuses a blend of proteins and quinoa to preserve color vibrancy. It keeps color bright for up to 40 washes.

Even though this is a sulfate-free shampoo, the formula lathers exceptionally well and works with a wide variety of hair types, says Norris. It's gentle enough to preserve color, but still cleans effectively.

This is a hydrating and strengthening shampoo that not only protects color but also contains sunflower extract to shield strands from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays, says Rivera.

To promote lasting color, this shampoo has antioxidants as well as UV protection to keep hair from turning brassy, says Gillen. It also helps leave hair more hydrated, smooth, and shiny, he says.

Protect color from stripping or fading with this formula, which contains jojoba and argan oils for an added boost of hydration, says Wright.

This purple shampoo contains special pigments that help preserve blonde hair without over-toning or making it look too cool, says Nation.

Copper, often found in our water supply, fades haircolor. This formula contains molecules that neutralize the copper to help hair maintain vibrancy. It also has vitamin E to further protect against fading plus a finger lime extract with restorative protein, says Cleveland.

Though this shampoo does have sulfates for lather, it’s infused with ingredients that help to keep hair's natural oils intact and help retain color, says Norris. It's a great—and widely available—budget-friendly pick.

If you have fine or thinning hair, Tizzio recommends this lightweight shampoo that promotes volume and fullness. It's also a great choice for anyone with split ends resulting from too much color, she says.

This vegan, sulfate-free shampoo works to repair the hair from damage done due to lightening, says Anthony.

"Perfect for daily use, this leaves all hair types looking smooth and glossy with a fresh, weightless feel," says Pinckney. She also appreciates that the formula has an amino acid complex so every shade appears rich and gleaming. An extra bonus is that the shampoo leaves hair with a subtle, earthy scent that smells amazing.

This shampoo checks all of the boxes. It's sulfate free, and the ingredients are safe for all hair types, which is why it's one of Ajani's favorites. "Because of the low pH of the shampoo, it cleanses the hair, protects the color without dehydrating it and gives the hair a lot of shine and suppleness," she says.

"After a color service, I always like to put moisture back in the hair to nourish it and keep the hair soft," says Stanwell. He recommends this particular shampoo because in addition to hydrating it tames frizz.

"This shampoo is great for color-treated hair that has also been pre-lightened, relaxed, or has had any chemical service," says Ajani. Because the brand is committed to repairing damaged hair, the formula uses plant-based surfactants to remove dirt and oil without drying out your locks.