Maybe you dye your hair at home, see a colorist at a salon, or just want to tweak your natural hair color. In any case, the right treatment can help you maintain or achieve the desired shade while lathering up in the shower. Enter color-depositing shampoo.
These special washes contain various pigments that either temporarily color your hair or eliminate unwanted undertones. For instance, professional hairstylist Shelly Aguirre says, "Traffic-stopping silver is all about getting rid of any yellow or dull-looking tones to make the gray hair shine." The secret, she tells Byrdie, is purple shampoo.
Between shampoos that cancel out brassiness, green for neutralizing red, red for intensifying red, and many, many more—there are a ton of formulas to sift through. To help you find exactly what you're looking for, we researched dozens of different brands, considered expert recommendations, and compiled this list of the best color-depositing shampoos on the market. We accounted for intended hair type, ingredients, and whether or not they include fragrance before cross-referencing them with our expert-recommended picks to land on these top-rated products.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best for Black Hair:
Best for Brunette Hair:
Best for Blonde Hair:
Best Blue:
Best Purple:
What We Like
Several colors available
Hydrating
Strengthening
What to Consider
Can leave behind residue
Hair Type: Chemically Treated | Size: 8.25 oz | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Whether you want to go icy-blonde, revive your highlights, see how you look as a brunette, or play around with purple hair, Celeb Luxury Colorwash is where it's at. The Gem Lites line includes warm and cool-toned natural hues such as platinum, strawberry blonde, golden-brown, amber, and dark ash.
With the Viral collection, you've got everything from electric blue and ruby red to lavender and soft orange, à la Lady Gaga's Ally in A Star is Born. Just lather it into wet hair, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse clean. For a little more intensity, repeat the process or use it daily until you achieve the desired shade.
Unlike many other color-depositing shampoos, Celeb Luxury won't dry out your hair. It moisturizes while cleansing and promises to strengthen your hair in the process.
What We Like
Several colors available for less
Balances unwanted tones
Contains keratin
What to Consider
Potentially too heavy for fine hair
Hair Type: All | Size: 8.5 oz | Scent: Coconut | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
For babes on a budget, we suggest Pure Blends. This sulfate-free pigmented shampoo comes in various colors of the rainbow to help you maintain or achieve the shade you're going for. With a foamy lather and loads of hydration, this formula is gentle on hair while also depositing intense color. Whether your goal is color correction, fade prevention, or just having a little fun—you can't go wrong with this option.
What We Like
Balances unwanted tones
Nourishing
Leaves hair shiny
What to Consider
Doesn't replace regular shampoo
Hair Type: All | Size: 10.1 oz | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Maria Nila's Colour Refresh is formulated to help black hair maintain a true raven hue while eliminating unwanted reddish, coppery tones. What's more, it softens and nourishes with argan oil, leaving a lustrous shine in its wake. There are other options, too, like a poppy pink, a striking silver, and a vivid violet.
What We Like
Boosts brown color and adds depth
Natural pigments
Works on natural or color-treated hair
What to Consider
Results aren't dramatic
Hair Type: Chemically Treated | Size: 8.3 oz | Scent: Floral | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
John Frieda Midnight Brunette deepens and enhances brown hair. It works with natural or color-treated hair and calls on earth-derived pigments like evening primrose oil and cocoa to achieve the ideal chocolate hue. Wash it through your hair and watch as it adds richness, texture, and depth to your hair while intensifying all shades of brunette.
What We Like
Balances yellow tones
Leaves hair shiny
Nice scent
What to Consider
Reviewers expressed it can be drying
Hair Type: Color-Treated | Size: 8.5, 33.8 oz | Scent: Citrus | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
To combat yellowish tones in bleached hair, Aguirre recommends Oribe Bright Blonde purple shampoo. It's specially designed to cleanse without affecting the brilliance of your hair's color. Plus, it contains optimal levels of violet pigment to brighten strands while being safe for daily use for those with color- and keratin-treated hair.
"This line has a little more pigment and will definitely add shine and body," she tells Byrdie. "Oribe is a high-end product line and uses the top ingredients and technology in all of their products. My clients instantly feel the luxury and high performance of such an elite product line."
What We Like
Balances orange tones
Plant-based formula
Generous amount of product
What to Consider
Watery consistency
Hair Type: All | Size: 33.8 oz | Scent: Sweet almond | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
As Aguirre explains, blue shampoos help ward off any unwanted yellowish, orange, and brassy tones. We're big fans of Aveda's Blue Malva, a plant-based formula that does wonders for balayage, color-treated, and ombré brown hair. The brand is known for its effective plant-based formulas and aromatic fragrances, like this one, which contains organic ylang ylang, lemon, eucalyptus, and other pure flower and plant essences.
What We Like
Balances red tones
Smells amazing
Award-winning formula
What to Consider
Slightly drying
Hair Type: Chemically-Treated | Size: 10.1, 33.8 oz | Scent: Citrus, cedar | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Matrix's award-winning Dark Green Envy neutralizes reddish undertones in black and dark-brown hair. This color-depositing shampoo works in a few minutes thanks to its blue-yellow direct dyes and leaves you with brilliantly glossy hair. Along with color correction, this shampoo will cleanse and refresh your hair leaving it squeaky clean every time. Plus, the scent will remind you of being at the salon with top notes of citrus, jasmine, and cedarwood.
What We Like
Balances yellow tones
Brightens lightened hair
Strengthening
What to Consider
May leave some residue
Hair Type: Straight, Wavy, Curly, Coily | Size: 8.5 oz | Scent: Floral, amber | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Celebrity hairstylist Laurie Heaps suggests using purple shampoo to remove brassiness from color-treated hair. "I personally like Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo," she tells Byrdie. "When seeing your colorist for platinum blonde hair, ask if your salon has Olaplex on hand. This will help protect your hair as you lift and lighten."
Read Full Review: Olaplex’s Toning Shampoo Saved Me a Trip to the Salon
What We Like
Keeps red hues vibrant
Works on natural or color-treated hair
Contains keratin to repair and strengthen hair
Lasts for 12 washes
What to Consider
May stain hands
Hair Type: Straight, Wavy, Curly, Coily | Size: 10.1 oz | Scent: Floral | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Calling all redheads! To turn up the heat on your natural or color-treated hair, reach for Joico Color Infuse Red. This pigmented, paraben-free shampoo instantly ignites any shade from burgundy and ginger to copper and dark strawberry blonde and lasts for up to 12 washes. Instantly boosting shine, this shampoo will make your hair silky and smooth while controlling static too.
What We Like
Minimizes fading
Suitable for daily use
Reduces tangling
What to Consider
May stain hands
Hair Type: Chemically Treated | Size: 8.5 oz | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This pigmented shampoo comes in all the bold shades we love, such as ruby red, metallic gold, dusty rose, candy pink, and indigo. A single wash will offer a hint of color and will brighten between visits to the salon. With revitalizing power, this shampoo will bring back life to dull and faded hair. Use this product to refresh your previous color or add a little something new to your natural shade.
What We Like
Many color options
Softens hair
Nice scent
What to Consider
Slightly messy
Hair Type: All | Size: 8 oz | Scent: Sugar | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Lime Crime's sugar-scented Unicorn Hair is ideal for teens, tweens, and anyone else who wants to experiment with playful color like rainbow tones. For teens and tweens who like to change their look, this product is ideal because it protects color-treated hair and is less temporary than traditional semi-permanent dye. This tinted shampoo comes in a handful of hues, including royal purple, fuchsia, peach, and pastel pink, so there is a color for everybody.
What We Like
Pro-grade violet pigment
Great for dryness
Nourishing ingredients
What to Consider
Can temporarily stain your scalp
Hair Type: All | Size: 12 oz | Scent: Subtly fruity | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Those looking to cancel any yellow or dullness in their silver or gray hair should check out this shampoo from Verb. The formula is loaded with professional-grade violet pigment and açai extract to neutralize unwanted brassiness. Plus, it contains coconut fatty acids, which are absorbed by the hair and leave each strand feeling hydrated and nourished.
Best for Cool Tones
Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo with Centaury
What We Like
Neutralizes unwanted warm tones
Adds softness and shine
Gently cleanses hair
What to Consider
Doesn't lather
Hair Type: All | Size: 13.5 oz | Scent: Natural | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Those with dreams of cool-toned hair will love this purple shampoo from Klorane. With the help of ingredients like organic centaury (a natural violet pigment that cancels out warm tones), this shampoo gets unwanted yellow and copper out of blonde, platinum, silver, gray, or white cool-toned hair. You can count on it to restore your hair's vibrancy, give it a soft-to-the-touch finish, and add tons of shine.
What to Look for in a Color-Depositing Shampoo
- Existing hair color: When buying a color-depositing shampoo, the first thing to consider is your existing hair color. Some products are formulated specifically for brightening blonde, silver, or highlighted hair, while others may only show up on light hair. On the other hand, toning shampoos designed to neutralize unwanted undertones in darker hair colors may have a staining effect when used on lighter hair. If possible, Aguirre suggests visually comparing the shampoo to your existing hair color before using it. That way, you "can truly see the difference in the actual tones of these products."
- Desired result: You'll also want to consider the desired result. Do you want to brighten your chemically lightened hair and banish yellowish undertones? Are you looking to eliminate the brassiness from your balayage or ombré hair? Do you want to experiment with a jewel tone or simply enhance your natural color? If you're rocking an icy-cool blonde, Heaps says purple shampoo is the way to go. However, if you're transitioning from light to dark hair, a chocolatey brown treatment can help get you there.
- Frequency of use: Lastly, you'll want to take note of the product's recommended frequency of use. Some tinted shampoos are suitable for daily use, while others are meant to be used two to three times a week to maintain a specific shade. There are also pigmented hair washes that offer two to four weeks of color with a single-use. Like traditional hair dye, these are meant to be used only once until the color fades away.
FAQ
What is color-depositing shampoo?
Color-depositing shampoo is essentially an in-shower treatment that tints or tones your hair with pigments. They can either neutralize unwanted tones, enhance your natural color, brighten dyed hair, or deposit a temporary bold hue, like purple, pink, or blue. Some formulas actually cleanse your hair like regular shampoo, and others are meant to be used after washing and before conditioning.
How often should you use color-depositing shampoo?
It really depends on the formula, but generally speaking, you should use a color-depositing shampoo two to three times a week to achieve the desired results. Since tinted washes don't contain permanent dye, you can rest assured the effects will eventually fade.
All that said, some formulas will offer up to four weeks of color with a single wash, in which case you can wait until it's gone before using it again. Also, if the pigmented shampoo is particularly drying, it may be best to alternate with something more moisturizing.Do color-depositing shampoos work for all hair types?
Most color-depositing shampoos are suitable for all hair, including curly, textured, straight, wavy, thick, fine, natural, color-treated, and chemically relaxed. However, not all formulas are suitable for all hair colors. For instance, purple shampoo may not do anything to black hair, and a red-neutralizing shampoo could stain blonde hair. So, for blond hair stick with a great purple shampoo specific to your hair type.
Why Trust Byrdie
Freelance commerce writer Theresa Holland covers haircare, skincare, makeup, and lifestyle products at Byrdie. For this story, she interviewed two hairstylists, compiling their product recommendations and tips for using tinted washes. Before landing on her final picks, she combed through reviews, pored over formulations, and considered shampoos from dozens of brands. From the above list, Theresa has personally tried John Frieda, Olaplex, Oribe, and Aveda.
Team Byrdie consulted with experts to ensure the quality of this story:
- Shelly Aguirre is a sought-after hair stylist and extension specialist.
- Laurie Heaps is a celebrity stylist specializing in hair color trends.
According to ourDiversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough color-depositing shampoos from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.comand we will evaluate the product ASAP.