There’s nothing quite like that fresh-from-the-salon color. But a few weeks later? Fading and brassiness start to creep in. That’s where a good color depositing shampoo comes in handy. It’s an easy way to refresh your tone right in your own shower.
These shampoos aren’t permanent dye. They just deposit a temporary layer of pigment onto your hair to either boost your existing color or neutralize unwanted tones, like yellow in blonde hair or red in brunette hair. I’ve tried a bunch of them over the years to keep my color looking its best between appointments.
So, I put together a list of the ones that actually work, whether you’re a brunette fighting brass, a redhead trying to stay vibrant, or a blonde keeping things cool.
This one costs around $28. If you’re a brunette who constantly fights off those creeping orange and red tones, this is your new best friend. It uses blue pigments to neutralize that unwanted warmth, making my brown hair look so much cooler and richer.
It really does feel like it brings my color back to life. I also noticed my hair felt super soft and shiny after using it, probably thanks to the silk proteins in the formula. It’s a great way to stretch the time between salon visits.
The Downside: The fragrance is pretty strong. If you’re sensitive to scents, you might want to test it out first.
You can usually find this for about $20. What I love about Tressa is the sheer number of shades they offer. They have everything from natural browns and reds to fun metallic colors like rose gold.
It’s great for maintaining just about any color you can think of. It deposits just enough pigment to keep your hair looking vibrant and healthy without being too overwhelming. It’s a solid choice for regular upkeep.
The Downside: The packaging isn’t the best. I’ve had a bottle leak a little during shipping, which was a mess.
This one is a bit pricier at $32. For blondes and anyone with gray or silver hair, this is a fantastic purple shampoo. It cancels out yellow tones perfectly without leaving that dreaded purple tint behind.
Some purple shampoos can be incredibly drying, but I found this one left my hair feeling clean and bright, not stripped. It really helps maintain that cool, vibrant blonde I’m always chasing.
The Downside: It can still be a little drying if you use it too often or have very dry hair to begin with.
Expect to pay around $25 for this shampoo. If you have vivid, bold hair color, this is the stuff. It comes in 22 different shades, from hot pink to silver, and the pigment is seriously intense.
It’s designed for hair that’s already been lightened or dyed, and it does an amazing job of keeping those fun colors from fading. My hair always looks super shiny and salon-fresh after I use it.
The Downside: This stuff will stain. I highly recommend wearing gloves and being careful around your shower curtain and grout.
This is a steal at about $15. Fanola is famous in the toning world for a reason—it’s incredibly powerful. If you have stubborn orange tones in your blonde or highlighted hair, the blue pigment in this shampoo will knock them right out.
It’s very effective and saves you from needing a toning appointment at the salon. The formula also has coconut oil, which adds a nice bit of shine to processed hair.
The Downside: Like the dpHUE, this one has a very strong fragrance that lingers.
This one costs about $30. For all the redheads out there, this is a must-have. It does a beautiful job of reviving faded red tones, especially those cooler, pinkish reds.
After just one wash, my red looked so much more vibrant and shiny. It’s perfect for extending the life of your color so you don’t have to run to the salon the second it starts to fade.
The Downside: It’s not the most pigmented formula out there. It’s more for a subtle refresh than a dramatic color boost.
This one is usually priced around $22. This product is a cleansing conditioner, or “clenditioner,” so it’s a one-step process. It cleanses, conditions, and deposits color all at once, which is great if you’re short on time.
It’s packed with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, so it’s super gentle and won’t strip your hair. With 20 shades, it’s great for adding a subtle hint of color or maintaining your current shade.
The Downside: The color results can be a bit unpredictable, especially on damaged or porous hair. I’d do a strand test first.
You can get this for about $18. This one is specifically for people with dark brown or black hair. It uses green pigments to neutralize unwanted red undertones, which can make dark hair look dull and brassy.
It sounds strange, but the green tint works wonders. My dark hair looked deeper and richer, and it felt really silky. It’s a great tool for maintaining that deep, cool brunette color.
The Downside: This shampoo only tones; it doesn’t have any pigments to actually enhance or revive your dark color.
Using a color depositing shampoo is one of the easiest things you can do to protect your investment in your hair color. Just a few minutes once or twice a week can make a huge difference.
Just remember to pick the right color for your goal. If you want to cancel out a tone, look for its opposite on the color wheel (blue for orange, purple for yellow, green for red). If you just want a refresh, grab a shampoo that matches your current shade.
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