Testers Swear By These 11 Nourishing Shampoos for Color-Treated Hair (2025)

TL;DR

Our top pick is awarded to the K18 Peptide Prep pH Maintenance Shampoo because it cleanses, boosts vibrancy, protects color, and imparts shine—and only requires a few drops to make a big difference. Another great choice is theOlaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, which is extremely cleansing and strengthening.

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Activated charcoal, K18Peptide, salicylic acid | Hair Type: Fine, medium, thick | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Citrus | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This shampoo took the top spot because of its ability to improve everything from dryness, damage, shine, static, and color vibrancy. It uses thepatented K18 peptideto limit protein loss while washing and maintaining each strand’s strength, resulting in a healthier and thicker head of hair. The product nourished our already-dry hair after using just a tiny amount of the shampoo. Plus, we didn’t need a lot of shampoo for our hair to feel super clean afterward, and it wasn’t harsh on our scalp (no tingling or irritation).

Megan, tester with 1B hair (not pictured): “I would absolutely recommend this product to anyone that feels like their hair gets oily or greasy quickly. Even with product applied after I washed my hair, it stayed really clean and strong throughout washes.”

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, behentrimonium methosulfate, Cetearyl alcohol, blend of coconut oil-derived surfactants | Hair Type: Fine, medium, thick | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 3.3, 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We 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. The shampoo thoroughly cleansed our hair without stripping it, keeping it feeling fresher, longer. Now, we always look forward to using it.

Jessica, tester with 3A hair:“I had some damage and flyaways around my face from a recent hair coloring experience that left them fried. I had never had this type of damage before and was really happy with how the shampoo and conditioner tamed them. They were sticking up all over the place and looked really unhealthy before the test, and now they lay flat and look so much better.”

Key Ingredients: Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, sodium cocoyl glycinate | Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Citrus | Size: 2.5, 8.4, 32 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're craving glossy, healthy-looking hair but don't have the time to book a treatment at the salon, this shampoo from Color Wow has got you covered. After a couple of washes, our tester Karla found that her hair was shinier and smoother, and her color looked even more vibrant. The sulfate-free formula contains a blend of gentle cleansing agents that are able to keep the hair cuticle smooth, so it won't fade color even with continued use. Karla loved the sudsy lather and light citrus scent, and she found that it didn't strip her hair of moisture—but she had to shampoo twice for it to fully cleanse impurities. She usually includes a purple shampoo in her hair wash routine, but this shampoo was able to tone brassiness enough for her to skip it temporarily. Another plus she noticed was less frizz and breakage, so it's a great option if you're also dealing with damaged hair.

Karla, tester with type 2 hair: "I’ve been coloring my hair for twelve years and have tried everything—from drugstore to high-end shampoos. Overall, this shampoo is a great choice. It’s sulfate-free, leaves my hair feeling strong and clean without over-drying, and compared to other color-treated hair shampoos I’ve tried, it makes my hair feel noticeably softer."

Key Ingredients: Bond cure technology, vegan proteins, ultra-violet pigments | Hair Type: Fine, medium, thick | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Amber vanilla | Size: 9.2, 16.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Blondes are more susceptible to color fading and changes, namely unwanted brassy tones that can make cooler blonde shades appear dingy. Purple shampoo can instantly fix any brassiness, and after testing multiple purple shampoos, Amika is one of our favorites. Even post an ash blonde bleaching, this shampoo helped our tester's hair feel uber-nourished and soft. After leaving the shampoo in for five minutes on the first wash, her hair looked frosty and cool, and the results improved with each wash.

Elise, tester with 1B hair: “Compared to other toning shampoos and regular shampoos that have left my hair feeling crunchy and dry, this one washed out effectively in one rinse and really does condition, tone, and repair my color-treated hair with each wash. Since the shampoo is so moisturizing, it also doesn't leave my scalp feeling stripped dry, nor does it feel too oily.”

Key Ingredients: Keravis, astaxanthin, arginine | Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Citrus, floral | Size: 1.7, 9, 33.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While this shampoo is marketed as a strengthening and repairing formula, Associate Editorial Director Ally Hirschlag was truly surprised at how well it was able to maintain her red permanent hair color after six weeks of use. After the testing period was complete, she loved that her color looked more vibrant than it did when using any other shampoo. When it comes to the formula, it contains a ton of strengthening ingredients, such as arginine and astaxanthin, to keep the strands looking healthy and soft. The thick consistency meant it took a bit of effort to rinse out, but that it only made it feel even more nourishing—and she only needed to use a quarter-size amount to cleanse her 3A coils. Her hair felt softer and more manageable over time, and it also reduced shedding with each use.

Ally Hirschlag, associate editorial director with 3A hair: "Red is a notoriously finicky permanent color—it's relatively unstable and likes to fade quickly. But looking at my before and after photos, my color still looks pretty vibrant. I have some highlights as well, and I'd say they've stayed out of the realm of brassy while using this shampoo."

Key Ingredients: Bio-restorative complex, Mediterranean cypress extract, Oribe signature complex | Hair Type: Fine, medium, thick | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Fresh | Size: 2.5, 8.5, 33.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Gentle and reparative, this rejuvenating shampoo helps combat split ends, dryness, 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 such as biotin, plant collagen, caffeine, and niacinamide—make it well worth the investment. We noticed a difference in our hair’s texture immediately after first use (it went from dry to soft and smooth). Just know that the shampoo is thick (with gold flakes in it!) and somewhat difficult to spread—so if you have thinner hair, use it sparingly to avoid greasiness.

Sophia, tester with type 1 hair: “I've gotten a lot of compliments from friends and family saying how my hair looks healthy—it's usually pretty dead and dry looking 95% of the time. I do think this shampoo made a difference in my hair, and I'm very happy with how my hair is after using the product consistently.”

Key Ingredients: Fast-absorbing powders, powder removal active, and odor neutralizers | Hair Type: Straight, wavy, curly, coily | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Light | Size: 2.4, 5.5, 9.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Only doing a real wash a few days a week? This dry shampoo will help you get by. And even better, it turns oily locks into a fresh blowout sans the salon appointment, thanks to the formula's fast-absorbing powders. We love how it imparts shine without weighing hair down or leaving it white and crunchy. The nozzle is a little intense, though, so beware not to overdo it.

Ally Hirschlag, associate editorial director: “I got the volume and root lift I hoped for along with a conditioned look/feel that I never expected. It truly looked like I'd turned back time to the first day post-hair wash.”

Key Ingredients: Zinc pyrithione, squalane, coconut oil, sugar kelp extract | Hair Type: All, especially oily and dry scalp | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Mint, vanilla, sage, lavender | Size: 9.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

It’s such a bummer getting a fresh dye and noticing pesky dandruff interrupting the strands of your new hue. Jupiter’s Balancing Dandruff Shampoo (which comes in a scalp care system set) has rave reviews for its big impact on dandruff—and after trying it out, we can back it. The cruelty-free scalp treatment uses an FDA-approved OTC active ingredient, zinc pyrithione, to tackle dandruff from the root, help scalp itchiness, and minimize flaking within a few weeks.

Phoebe, tester with type 1 hair: “I noticed improvement immediately, and all itchiness was gone within a couple of weeks of use.”

Key Ingredients: Hemisqualane, bisabolol | Hair Type: All hair types | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: None | Size: 8.6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Some shampoos can cause or exacerbate existing scalp issues, like irritation. That’s why finding a product that’ll keep your skin soothed while protecting your color-treated hair is important. Meet: SEEN Skin-Caring Fragrance-Free shampoo, which was designed by a Harvard-trained dermatologist. While it didn’t fully remove the flakes from our hair during testing, the gentle formula reduced itchiness while hydrating our locks and boosting color—making it the best option we tested for sensitive skin types.

Allison, tester with 1B hair: “I have color-treated hair, and I thought the shampoo maintained my color and, if anything, I thought it enhanced the brightness of my hair.”

Key Ingredients: Olive oil extract | Hair type: Coarse, staticky | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 3.5 oz | Scent: Lavender | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Using a shampoo bar (instead of the traditional bottle) is a more sustainable option that provides all of the benefits. The Davines Love shampoo bar got sudsy quickly and cleaned our hair well. Yes, getting fully cleansed hair might’ve taken a little longer, but that means more time to enjoy the steamy shower. Another bonus? After washing our hair three times weekly for multiple weeks, the bar looked almost brand new—that’s more bang for your buck.

Allison, tester with 1B hair: “It took me a couple of washes to get used to the bar and ensure I'd distributed product evenly throughout my scalp and hair, but after that, it was smooth sailing. The shampoo bar was gentle on my strands and scalp, and my hair felt soft and clean after each use.”

Key Ingredients: Rosemary botanicals | Hair Type: Color-treated, dry hair | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 8.5, 23 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you have fine, color-treated hair, you’ll want to consider picking up a bottle of L’Oréal Paris’s EverPure Moisture shampoo. The lightweight formula spreads nicely, gets sudsy, and rinses out completely—avoiding a heavy coating on your hair. It’s also made without sulfates, which is great for protecting color-treated hair. Our tester was super impressed with how smooth this made her hair feel, even after just one wash.

Ashley, tester: “I was surprised by the results I got from using this shampoo. The first time around my hair felt immediately softer, even while it was still wet. What surprised me most was the second and third time I used it, my hair air-dried so much smoother.”

FAQ

• How often should you wash color-treated hair?

  Wash your hair as infrequently as possible to preserve color. Two to three times per week should suffice, letting your hair's natural oils condition color-treated tresses.

• What products are safe to use on color-treated hair?

  To safely style color-treated hair, avoid hair care products with sulfates and anything that lists alcohols (ethanol or propanol) as an ingredient.

• Do color-protecting shampoos really work?

  According to Clark, the answer is a resounding affirmative. Clark notes that some people give up on shampoos for color-treated hair because they aren’t as sudsy as other products (she recommends washing twice!) or because they feel like they don't maintain the color long enough.
  

  “So often I will have people sit in my chair and say ‘the color has faded quite a bit,’ and it’s like, ‘yeah, it’s been six months,’” Clark explains. “It’s normal for color to fade! Color-treated shampoos lock in the color better and allow it to remain gorgeous and vibrant for at least six to eight weeks. After that time, it’s probably time to come in for a professional color service such as a hair gloss.”