When was the last time you dyed your hair? Doesn’t matter if you dyed your hair right before the circuit breaker, or DIY-ed your own dye job at home, we all want our hair colour to be maintained for as long as possible.
It’s important to note that dyeing your hair can cause your strands to become dry and damaged, especially without proper care and maintenance.
To counter this, you should be reaching for colour-protecting shampoos. The best colour-protecting shampoos will do as their name suggests, they’re typically formulated to be more gentle so as to avoid any colour stripping.
The key words to look out for are “colour-protecting” or “colour safe”, as these shampoos will help nourish and hydrate damaged hair.
Do also bear in mind that there are also other shampoos that lend colours to your hair to give your hair a vibrant refresh, so give the label a read to ensure that it’s the colour you want.
Here are 20 shampoos specially formulated to help coloured hair last longer.
Whether you’re looking to maintain your new highlights or trying to revive a washed-out balayage, this colour-infusing shampoo is great for toning honey blonde and other warm coloured tresses. This 100 per cent vegan shampoo also contains no sulphates, parabens of silicone, making it extra gentle on your hair and scalp. Infuse My. Colour also has a range of other colour-infused shampoos to suit your hair colour. Available at Sephora for $33 (250 ml).
For those with thicker or coarser hair strands, reach for this colour-enhancing shampoo that salons use too. It claims to be “as gentle as water”, and formulated to reduce colour fading and amp up hair’s lustre with every use. At $29 (250 ml), from selected salons.
There’s a reason why this British brand has such a huge cult following. Created by hair gurus Adam Reed and Paul Percival, this genius formula claims to be able to respond to your hair type to nourish your hair optimally. Gentle on scalps, it helps recondition hair that’s been exposed to harsh chemicals and everyday elements, which preserving hair colour and vibrancy. Available at Sephora for $40 (250 ml).
Got a sensitive scalp? This colour-protecting, sulphate-free shampoo is designed to curb scalp sensitivity and soothe itchiness, which works to prevent hair colour from being washed out. At $29 (250 ml), from Watsons and Guardian stores.
Great for dry hair, this 100 per cent sulphate- and paraben-free formula is also vegan and made with natural botanicals like rosemary to be extra gentle to your precious locks while keepin them well-hydrated. It claims to be able to keep your hair colour “pure for up to four weeks”. Available at Watsons and other leading personal care stores at $15.90 (250 ml).
Expertly crafted with the finest ingredients such as sunflower, linseed extract, and hydrolysed proteins, this richly moisturising and sulphate-free low-foam shampoo luxuriously and delicately cleanses hair while maintaining colour and vibrancy. At $65 (200 ml), from Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa.
This shampoo also doesn’t contain sulphates and is specially formulated with coconut and botanical surfactants that work to eliminate build-up on your hair while remaining true-to-hue. It also contains rice proteins and moringa seed to thoroughly clean and nourishes your hair. At $38 (250 ml), from Rita Hazan and Amazon.
If you have bleached your hair blonde, this shampoo touted by Hollywood stylists is said to help banish brassiness while giving your hair a boost of moisture with nutrient-packed argan oil. It’s also infused with a floral fragrance that’s extra alluring and is free of sulphates, phthalates, parabens, gluten and drying alcohol. At $16.90 (355 ml), from selected Guardian and Watsons stores, and Shopee.
Featuring Shiseido’s unique Color Retention Technology, this shampoo delays colour fade by preventing water from being absorbed, thus reducing the loss of dye and melanin pigments. It also protects your hair from UV rays that can cause hair to discolour. At $36 (250 ml), from selected salons.
This revolutionary 2-in-1 product is best used between your regular shampoo-and-conditioner routine. It features Joico’s unique “whipped technology” which pumps out a rich creamy foam that’s said to not only protect hair colour up to three times longer, but make it twice as resistant to breakage too. At $36 (245 ml), from selected salons.
This gentle hair wash is enriched with hydrolysed oats to hydrate locks and botanical extracts that leave coloured hair shiny and soft. Available at Aesop stores and Shopee for $67 (500 ml).
Its powerful anti-oxidant blend of plant extracts, green tea extract, and vitamins A, C and E work to protect hair from free radical damage, while organically-derived babassu betaine extract cleanses hair without washing away colour. Bonus: its invigorating scent is made up of organic ingredients like rose geranium, peppermint, grapefruit, lavender, and ylang ylang. Available at Tangs for $47 (250 ml).
The shampoo comes with keratin and tamanu oil, which act to keep hair looking lustrous. At $40 (250 ml), from selected salons.
This shampoo is infused with nutrient-rich conditioning sunflower oils, which contain vitamin E and essential fatty acids, to cleanse hair gently without stripping it of its colour. Apricot extract, a fortifying blend of vitamins B3, B5, and B6 and a UV-protective filter also aid in making hair colours last longer. At $61 (250 ml), from Kiehl’s stores.
If your hair is badly damaged from years of colour treatments, this gentle sulfate-free shampoo prevents colour from fading while repairing the hair fibre. It’s infused with Pomegranate extracts to help prolong your hair colour’s intensity and radiance, giving you silky tresses. At $18.90 (400 ml), from selected Guardian and Watsons stores.
Infused with colour-boosting fruit extracts, hydrating African plant extracts, and free radical-fighting antioxidants, this gentle shampoo helps keep your hair colour vibrant and leave locks smooth and tangle-free. At US$46 (S$65), from Net-A-Porter.
This nourishing sulfate-free shampoo hydrates dry and damaged coloured hair with a formula of sweet almond oil, vitamin C, green tea extract, and ProVitamin B5. At $45 (350 ml), from Amazon.
Feed your hair with the superfood quinoa which contains high protein to help replenish moisture and repair coloured hair from within. It also contains other natural extracts like sugar cane and lemon peel to help boost your hair’s shine and smoothness. Available at Amazon for $34.99 (250 ml).
The key ingredient here is hawthorn, which protects hair fibres by preventing free radicals from forming after exposure to UV rays. The results: Hair colour that lasts longer. Available at Lazada.
This article was first published in Women’s Weekly.