I’ve dyed my hair every shade imaginable—think fiery reds, cool blues, and everything in between—so I’ve become a bit of a shampoo-savant when it comes to color-treated hair.
A truly stellar shampoo for dyed locks has to juggle a lot: it must preserve that fresh-from-the-salon vibrancy, mend some of the damage inflicted by bleach or dye, and still nail the essentials like cleansing and adding hydration or bounce, tailored to your hair’s unique needs.
My years of bleach-and-dye experiments have made me a testing ground for color-safe formulas, and by now, I’ve got a sharp eye for the ingredients that strip color (no thanks!) and the nourishing ones that keep it locked in. Hydration is the golden thread running through it all.
“If your hair’s dry, it’s porous—it’ll just spit out the color,” says stylist and salon owner Christine Bellemare, and she’s spot on.
That’s why some of my favorite picks, like the deeply hydrating Malin+Goetz, don’t even scream “color-safe” on the bottle but still deliver where it counts.
My Top Shampoo Picks for Color-Treated Hair
1. Best Budget Bleach Fix: Bondbar Bonding Shampoo
Price: $10 (Amazon)
Specs: Sulfate-free | Soybean oil | Rosy fresh scent | 8 oz
Olaplex kicked off the bond-building craze, but newcomers like Bondbar prove you don’t need to splurge.
This budget-friendly pick targets hydrogen and ionic bonds (a different angle from Olaplex’s covalent focus) with soybean oil for moisture.
“It’s cheap yet holy-grail-worthy—moisture and protein in harmony,”.
It’s not an everyday player, though—too much can weigh hair down, especially finer types. If you’re curious about bond building without the price tag, this is your gateway.
2. Best for Oily Color-Treated Hair: Sachajuan Colour Protect Shampoo
Price: $34 (Amazon | Dermstore) Specs: Contains sulfates | UV protectant | Fruity scent | 8.4 oz
Sulfates get a bad rap for fading colorfast—and they can—but if your scalp’s an oil slick, you need their cleansing muscle. Sachajuan strikes a clever balance, tempering sulfates with its “OceanSilk technology,” a fancy term for a duo of mineral-rich algae that nourish and hydrate.
Brooke Jordan, co-owner of the Bird House, swears by it for her color-treated clients.
Strategist writer Dominique Pariso put it to the test after getting highlights and was hooked: “My color stayed vibrant for months, and my hair looked amazing after every wash.”
The fruity scent’s a bonus, and the UV protectant keeps sun damage at bay—perfect for oily-haired color lovers.
3. Best for Vibrant Colors: Redken Color Extend Magnetics
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Price: $27 (Amazon | Ulta) Specs: Sulfate-free | Amino acids | Fruity scent | 10.1 oz
Bold shades like reds, pinks, and blues deserve to pop, and this formula keeps them looking fresh by removing dulling buildup.
Unlike depositing shampoos that can lose their effect over time, this one helps maintain vibrancy without fading.
It even extended the time between red hair treatments last summer—perfect for a packed schedule.
With amino acids to strengthen strands and a fruity scent that boosts your mood, it’s a go-to for keeping color bold and hair healthy.
4. Best for Bleached Hair: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
@alatorreee adding @Olaplex N°.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and N°.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner to my curly hair routine because my hair has never felt softer after a curly routine like it does with this duo! #olaplexpartner #olaplexroutine ♬ original sound – Melissa
Price: $32 (Amazon | Dermstore) Specs: Sulfate-free | Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate | Citrus scent | 8.5 oz
Bleach is relentless—it shatters the covalent bonds in your hair’s cuticles, leaving strands fragile and brittle.
Olaplex No. 4 steps in with its unique bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate to mend those broken bonds, blending in moisturizing heroes like coconut oil, sunflower-seed oil, and glycerin.
Originally a salon-only gem, this at-home version delivers the same clever science, though in a gentler dose.
Pairing it with a matching conditioner amps up the repair, making it a go-to for heavily processed hair. You only need a tiny bit—a coin-sized drop does the trick—but it’s not for everyone.
If your hair isn’t practically crumbling from bleach, it might be more than you need.
5. Best Overall: Kérastase Chroma Absolu Shampoo
Price: $44 Options: Fine to Medium Hair ($44 at Amazon | Sephora) | Medium to Thick Hair ($44 at Amazon | Sephora) Specs: Sulfate-free | Lactic acid, centella asiatica | Freesia-sandalwood scent | 8.5 oz
Once you start coloring your hair, the upkeep shifts into high gear, and Kérastase makes it feel effortless—like having a salon expert in your shower.
There are two customized options: Bain Chroma Respect for fine to medium hair and Bain Riche Chroma Respect for medium to thick strands.
Both skip sulfates in favor of lactic acid, a gentle exfoliant that cleanses without stripping while still creating a rich lather. The formula is packed with amino acids to fortify color-treated hair and tartaric acid to fight oxidative stress from free radicals.
It delivers shine and hydration, sealing the cuticle for a smooth, healthy finish—plus, with two versions, you get just the right level of moisture for your hair type.
A solid all-around pick for keeping color vibrant, though if bleach has left your strands desperate for repair, a bond builder like Olaplex might be worth checking out later on this list.
6. Best for Bleached, Frizzy Hair: K18 Peptide Prep Maintenance Shampoo
Price: $36 (Sephora) Specs: Sulfate-free | Amino acids, glycerin | Clean scent | 8.5 oz
When bleach leaves your hair a tangled, frizzy disaster, K18 rides to the rescue.
Famous for its speedy salon treatments—done in ten minutes compared to Olaplex’s lengthy hour-plus sessions—this at-home shampoo vows to smooth and de-frizz your strands in just a four-minute wash.
It’s on the expensive side, but a small amount delivers big results.
The gentle formula suits even sensitive scalps, with amino acids and glycerin locking in moisture without dulling your color.
It’s a dream for styling, boasting a crisp scent and a rich lather. Ideal for wrangling bleach-ravaged mayhem.
7. Best Purple Shampoo for Blondes: Clairol Shimmer Lights
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Price: $13 (Amazon) | $11 (Target) Specs: Contains sulfates | Purple pigment | Floral scent | 16 oz
Bleached blondes know the struggle—brassy yellows and oranges creeping in. Clairol Shimmer Lights uses purple pigments (thank you, color wheel!) to neutralize those tones fast.
Mary Ann Hennings, hair-department head for Daisy Jones and the Six, relied on it for Suki Waterhouse’s locks, noting its quick brightening power.
Sulfates give it a deep clean, while vegetable proteins nourish it. At this price and size, it’s a cheerful, wallet-friendly staple for keeping blonde cool.
8. Best for Curly Color-Treated Hair: Pattern Hydration Shampoo
Price: From $21 (Nordstrom | Ulta) Specs: Contains sulfates | Ten oils, shea butter | Jasmine-bergamot-sandalwood scent | 9.8 oz
Curly hair is a balancing act—oily roots, dry ends—and adding color just raises the stakes. Pattern delivers with sulfates to clear buildup, plus a hydration dream team of honey, aloe vera, and ten nourishing oils (including coconut and avocado), along with rich shea butter.
Perfect for 3B to 4C curls, it keeps coils both vibrant and deeply moisturized. Already a top pick for curly hair, it earns its spot here too—making sure color stays fresh while curls stay quenched.
9. Best Budget Pick: Malin+Goetz Moisturizing Shampoo
Price: $30 (Amazon)
Specs: Sulfate-free | Coconut surfactant, glycerin | Fresh scent | 8 oz
I recently crowned this my go-to shampoo for just about any hair type, and it easily earns a top spot here too.
While it’s not specifically made for color-treated hair like Kérastase, it’s a hydration powerhouse, perfect for dyed hair prone to dryness.
It cleanses gently with a coconut-derived surfactant, then envelops strands in a glycerin-rich lather that feels luxurious without weighing hair down.
The formula strikes the ideal balance—not fully organic, not fully chemical—making it a versatile pick for color or chemically treated hair without being too heavy.
If you’re into double-shampooing, pair it with a color-care option for the ultimate cleansing and moisture combo.
10. Best for Fine Color-Treated Hair: Kevin Murphy Angel Wash
Price: $36 (Amazon) Specs: Sulfate-free | Green tea, oat protein | Fresh scent | 8.4 oz
Fine, limp hair needs volume, but color requires protection too—and Kevin Murphy’s Angel Wash nails both.
It cleanses gently with sodium cocoyl isethionate, a mild surfactant, while coconut-derived thickeners add lightweight body.
Green tea and vitamin C defend against UV fading, while glycerin, sunflower oil, rosehip oil, and wheat/oat proteins hydrate and plump strands for a fuller look.
What to Look for in a Color-Safe Shampoo
Here’s the checklist I—and the pros—swear by when hunting for the perfect shampoo:
- Sulfate or Sulfate-Free: Sulfates are powerhouse cleansers, but they can be too aggressive, fading color in a flash. Sulfate-free options are gentler, though some folks with oily scalps might still crave that deep-clean feel.
- Color-Protecting Ingredients: Look for heavy hitters like lactic acid, amino acids, UV protectants, or bond rebuilders—stuff that keeps your hue vibrant and shields it from fading.
- Size: Bigger bottles are a time-saver for the committed, while smaller ones let you test-drive without breaking the bank.
Bottom Line
After dyeing my hair every hue under the sun and testing countless formulas, I’ve learned that the right shampoo is a game-changer for keeping color-treated hair vibrant, healthy, and happy.
Whether you’re battling bleach damage with Olaplex or K18, preserving bold reds with Redken, or hydrating curls with Pattern, there’s a pick here tailored to your needs.
From budget-friendly Bondbar to luxurious Kérastase, these shampoos balance cleansing, repair, and moisture—because vibrant color deserves nothing less.
Pick your match, and let your hair shine as bright as your personality!