HERE S EVERYTHING ON THE BEST SHAMPOOS FOR COLOURED HAIR
Worried about the pH level of your hair getting messed up? Don’t be! This sulphate-free shampoo for coloured hair regulates your hair’s pH level and freezes the colour pigments. In addition to gently cleansing your hair, it also provides protection against UV rays. The Schwarzkopf Professional Bonacure pH 4.5 Color Freeze Sulfate Free Micellar Shampoo ensures smooth, shiny hair and promises up to 90% colour retention.
The Best Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair? None.
Six Sure Fixes for Dry Hair Reading The Best Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair? None. 5 minutes Next Is Jojoba Oil Good For Hair?
The best shampoo for color-treated hair is no shampoo at all. But fear not, that doesn’t mean not washing, it means washing it differently – and without detergent, that little devil.
Imagine that your hair is a piece of clothing made of an exquisitely delicate fabric. Attached to it is a label attached that reads: This garment is hand-woven and individually dyed, Do not machine launder; hand-wash in cool water with garments of similar color. Do not wring out water to avoid distressing fibers. Do not tumble dry. Air-dry only. Do not iron. (Alongside the text would be a series of little icons that nobody can really decipher.)
It’s a useful analogy because our hair actually is a delicate fabric like silk or cashmere (which actually is animal hair). And when it gets dyed, the following happens:
Semi-permanent
color adds color without changing natural color dramatically and may last up to a dozen washings. It contains tiny molecules that enter through the cuticle (like scales on a fish or shingles on a roof) and into the cortex (the core fibers) without interacting with natural pigments. The molecules’ small size allows them to exit the hair shaft over time, leaving the hair as it was before treatment with no visible difference between colored length and new growth.
Demi-permanent color
lasts through about 2 dozen washings. Pre-color molecules enter through the cuticle into the cortex where they interact with the natural color to create medium-sized molecules. Their larger size means they take longer to wash out. They do not contain ammonia so the natural pigment can’t be lightened. However, they may contain a small amount of peroxide to create a subtle color enhancement.
Permanent color
is much harder to wash out, and is required for more significant color changes by using both ammonia and peroxide. Tiny molecules enter into the cortex where they react and expand to a size that is unlikely to escape. They lighten natural pigment to form a new base to accept new permanent color; the result is a mix of natural pigment and the new chosen shade, which is why the same formula may appear differently on different people.
If you’re blonde, for example, and going to brown, permanent color uses the interaction between the ammonia and the peroxide to create a new base color in the shaft. If you are going more than 3 levels in the opposite direction – from brown to blonde, say – there’s an additional step called a double-process where bleach is used to strip existing color first so that the ammonia-peroxide reaction deposits new color in the shaft, or lays it on the surface if a semi-permanent dye is used.
In other words, your cuticle that is your protective layer is chemically forced open into an unnatural position, and then coaxed shut again to protect the color deposited within. It’s a delicate operation that can leave hair stressed and fragile.
So after all these efforts of chemical creativity, that last thing you want is to see your color at your feet in the shower. You want to see it on your head in the mirror. Here’s how to be sure that happens:
Traditional, detergent-based shampoo can work too well. In fact, the very act of washing – no matter what you do or don’t use – contributes to the fading of color. Anything that swells the hair shaft – and causes the cuticles to lift – can allow the color you’ve just enclosed in the cortex to escape.
SAFE? SORRY.
A shampoo labeled as color-safe generally means formulation with a less aggressive detergent that disturbs cuticles less, It is also likely to contain extra conditioning agents, proteins, or other supplemental ingredients for color “support,” aka masking the damage by detergent.
To spare your hair, one beauty blog suggests “Mixing conditioner with your shampoo to create a milder cleanser.” Another prescribes, “Coconut oil on your ends before shampooing to protect it.” Both have their heads in the right place, but our brains invented another, easier, better, smarter way.
GO FOAM-FREE
Cleanse Consciously. Detergent – sulfate-based or otherwise – is the enemy of color-treated hair, virgin hair, curly hair, straight hair, fine hair, thick hair, baby hair, gray hair – any kind of hair, not to mention the skin on the scalp. That is why we built our company around New Wash – an Aloe- and essential oil-based cleanser with no detergent whatsoever – that leaves your cuticles in their natural, smooth, flat state, and leaves color untouched. It preserves your natural oils that are nature’s best conditioners, and it moisturizes while cleansing to the ideal degree.
Plus, if you’ve ever been bleached, you may have felt the burn scalp-wise. New Wash harnesses the power of Aloe Vera juice both as a cleansing agent and an anti-inflammatory salve.
So to protect your color investment, wash the New way and top the best-tressed list every season.
(Pssst: Looking for new color ideas? You’ll love this.)
HERE’S EVERYTHING ON THE BEST SHAMPOOS FOR COLOURED HAIR
Tired of your same old black hair? Well, switching things up has never been this easy. Box dyes, permanent hair colour, temporary hair colour sprays. There are just so many ways to add a splash of colour to your tresses! But if we’re being really honest, dying your hair isn’t all that simple because with great power comes great responsibility. Permanent hair colouring comes with its own unique struggles. Simply dying your hair isn’t enough, maintenance is equally important. No one likes to watch their hair colour fade away too soon. So, I guess it’s time to deep dive into the world of hair colouring and discover ways to make it last!
WAYS TO PROTECT COLOURED HAIR
From using the right dye shampoo to following some basic post-colouring etiquettes, here are all the ways in which you can protect your coloured hair and make it last long:
1. Use A Sulphate-Free Shampoo
The first thing you should do after getting your hair coloured is throw out your regular shampoo and replace it with a sulphate-free colour protecting shampoo. Sulphate-free shampoos are a lot more gentle than regular shampoos that contain sulphates. Not only do they help retain hair dye, but they also ensure that the hair is not stripped of its natural oils.
2. Do Not Wash Your Hair Everyday
Now, just because you have the right shampoo doesn’t mean that you, or your hair, are invincible. Even the best shampoos for colour-treated hair has its limits and no matter how much you might want to, you simply can’t go back to the old ways of shampooing daily (if that is something you used to do). The less frequently you wash your coloured hair, the better it is. However, don’t go overboard. Wash it as frequently as you need to keep it clean and healthy but be cautious!
3. Experiment With Dry Shampoo
Caring for coloured hair is not easy. On one hand, you don’t want the colour to slowly wash away each time you take a shower. On the other hand, you can’t possibly step out with dirty hair, right? Well, why not consider using a dry shampoo then? Dry shampoos are a great option to fall back on between your washes. They help cleanse your scalp and give your hair a fresh look without having to go through the whole routine of washing, conditioning, drying, and setting your lovely locks.
4. Ditch Those Hot Water Showers You Love So Much
This is a tough one to give up. We know! But it’s important too. Hot water tends to open up the cuticles in your hair. On the other hand, showering with cold water will ensure that your cuticles are nicely sealed off to make sure your colour does not escape.
5. Apply Hair Mask
At the end of the day, hair colouring is a chemical process and your tresses will need all the nourishment that they can get. So, in addition to purchasing a sulphate-free hair dye shampoo, invest in a hair mask as well and apply it once a week. A good hair mask treatment can take you a long way!
BEST SHAMPOOS FOR COLOURED HAIR
1. GK Hair Moisturizing Colour Protection Shampoo
Colouring is a chemical process, so it only makes sense to balance that out with the goodness of natural plant extracts and seed oils found in the GK Hair Moisturizing Color Protection Shampoo. This colour protecting shampoo is meant to add life to brittle hair while ensuring that the hair dye lasts for as long as possible. This shampoo is also enriched with an anti-aging blend of proteins, called juvexin keratin, which helps moisturise, protect and fortify coloured hair. This hair colour shampoo is suitable for both men and women!
2. Schwarzkopf Professional Bonacure pH 4.5 Color Freeze Sulfate Free Micellar Shampoo
Worried about the pH level of your hair getting messed up? Don’t be! This sulphate-free shampoo for coloured hair regulates your hair’s pH level and freezes the colour pigments. In addition to gently cleansing your hair, it also provides protection against UV rays. The Schwarzkopf Professional Bonacure pH 4.5 Color Freeze Sulfate Free Micellar Shampoo ensures smooth, shiny hair and promises up to 90% colour retention.
3. L’Oreal Paris Colour Protect Shampoo
Getting your hair coloured can drain out your pockets. Thankfully, the L’Oreal Paris Colour Protect Shampoo doesn’t need you to spend much! This L’Oreal colour protect shampoo is armed with a protective UV filter that prevents your coloured hair from any damage. Its unique hair protecting formula nourishes your hair fibre and ensures detangled strands after every wash. For optimal results, pair this hair colour shampoo for men and women both with the L’Oreal Paris Color Protect Conditioner and reap the benefits!
4. Matrix Biolage Colorlast Color Protecting Shampoo
Formulated with pure extracts of bee pollen, kelp, and soap bark tree, the Matrix Biolage Colorlast Color Protecting Shampoo is a state-of-the-art formula inspired by nature. One of the best shampoos for colour-treated hair, it is an expert at balancing and retaining moisture in the hair. It also evens out the surface of the hair so that the colour looks vibrant and shiny always. If you want to retain the radiance of your hair colour for a long time to come, this shampoo is your best bet!
5. Wella Professionals INVIGO Color Brilliance Shampoo With Lime Caviar
Retaining hair colour is all about the cuticles. If the cuticles aren’t sealed shut, it leaves room for the dye to escape. With the Wella Professionals INVIGO Color Brilliance Shampoo With Lime Caviar that worry is put to rest. This hair dye shampoo has a low pH formula which helps seal the cuticles after colouration. Enriched with lime caviar rich in antioxidants and vitamins, this is the best colour-protecting shampoo for coloured hair that’s dull and damaged. This shampoo offers marvellous colour protection for up to 7 weeks!
6. LOreal Professionnel Series Expert Resveratrol Vitamino Color Shampoo
Finding a shampoo that is phenomenal at cleansing hair while also ensuring that the colour doesn’t fade is the dream, and the dream has a name: LOreal Professionnel Series Expert Resveratrol Vitamino Color Shampoo. This L’Oreal colour protect shampoo is everything you could ever want. It also has a unique water repel technology that protects the colour in your hair by double locking it such that the texture remains silky-smooth and the colour remains vibrant and eye-catching!
7. BBlunt Colour Protect Shampoo
The infallible formulation from BBlunt carries amino acids and UV filters that grant your tresses up to 90% colour protection. The meticulous shampoo cleanses the hair and scalp while ensuring the vibrancy of the hue. Furthermore, enriched with BBlunt’s signature shine tonic, the shampoo bestows the mane with an incomparable glossy shine. What the Nykaa team loves is how the BBlunt Colour Protect Shampoo has been crafted for Indian hair types and hence caters to every hair texture.
8. Bare Anatomy EXPERT Color Protect Shampoo For Coloured Hair
Supercharged with amino acids and quinoa protein, this Bare Anatomy bestseller locks in the colour pigment to ensure colour retention. Free of parabens and sulphates, the potent shampoo also helps enrich the colour with every wash, making it look vibrant and sharp. All you need is a dollop of this creamy concoct to get lush, soft hair, a claim verified by 87% of the 300 testers. Now that’s an eye-opening stat!
FAQS ON MAINTAINING COLOURED HAIR
1. Is coconut oil good for coloured hair?
Yes, coconut oil is good for coloured hair as it acts as a moisturiser. Applying coconut oil on colour-treated hair will not fade the colour. Instead, it will moisturise, repair damage, and stimulate growth. You can apply coconut oil an hour before washing your hair. You can also apply it at night before sleeping, leave it on overnight, and then wash your colour-treated hair in the morning.
2. What happens if you use a regular shampoo on coloured hair?
Regular shampoos tend to contain sulphates and other harsh ingredients in them. These ingredients might strip the colour from your hair. Regular shampoos might also eliminate natural oils and leave your hair feeling dry and rough.
3. How do you keep colour-treated hair shiny?
Using the right hair care products can help maintain colour-treated hair. For starters, make sure you replace your regular shampoo with a sulphate-free hair dye shampoo. Pair the shampoo with a moisturising sulphate-free conditioner. Also, try to use a hair mask once every week.
4. How often should you wash coloured hair?
If you want your coloured hair to last long, then try to wash it as infrequently as possible. Washing it once every 2-3 days is ideal. This will help retain the colour and natural oils in your strands.