Hair color shampoos have become increasingly popular over the years as a way to enhance or change hair color between salon visits. But do they really work? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll examine whether hair color shampoos live up to their claims.
What Are Hair Color Shampoos?
Hair color shampoos, also sometimes called hair color enhancing shampoos or toning shampoos, are specialized shampoos that deposit color pigments onto the hair as you wash. This can help boost fading salon color, cover grey hair, add highlights or lowlights, intensify your natural shade, or in some cases, completely shift your hue.
Hair color shampoos work in a few different ways:
- Direct dyes: These shampoos use pigments that sit on the cuticle, or outer layer of the hair, and wash out over several shampoos. They provide a temporary color boost.
- Gradual dyes: These deposit tiny amounts of permanent dye with each use, leading to subtle, gradual color change over 4-12 washes.
- Bleaches or color strippers: Lightening shampoos use ingredients like hydrogen peroxide or sodium hydrosulfite to lift underlying pigment.
- Toning shampoos: These neutralize brassiness and enhance color results without significantly altering your base shade.
Hair color shampoos are available in drugstores, beauty supply stores, salons, and online. You can find options ranging from global brands like John Frieda, Clairol, and L’Oreal to salon favorite lines such as Joico, Redken, Matrix, and more.
The Pros
There are some key potential benefits that make hair color shampoos an enticing option:
- Convenience: You can color your hair at home as part of your regular wash routine.
- Cost: Hair color shampoos are generally cheaper than professional coloring services.
- Lower commitment: The results last several washes but are not permanent.
- Damage control: They may cause less damage than permanent dye, since they don’t penetrate into the cortex.
- Subtle results: For people seeking a soft, natural effect, they can enhance without overpowering.
- Easy to use: There’s no mixing, applying, or processing time involved.
- Targeted gray coverage: They can discreetly conceal emerging grays between salon visits.
The convenience, cost-effectiveness, and low commitment make hair color shampoos especially appealing for at-home color maintenance.
The Cons
There are also some drawbacks to consider with hair color shampoos:
- Can be drying: Frequent use may cause dryness or irritation.
- Limited color selection: The range of shade options is much smaller than permanent hair dye.
- Subtle results: While some see subtle as a pro, if you want dramatic color change, they likely won’t satisfy.
- Doesn’t cover grey well: Most don’t lighten hair, so they blend rather than cover grey.
- Color fades quickly: Depending on the type, color effects last 3-12 washes.
- Hard to target: It’s not as easy to only color certain sections compared to regular dye.
- Can stain skin/surfaces: Rinse with care to avoid staining.
- May still contain harsh ingredients: Not always safer or gentler than permanent dye.
These factors mean hair color shampoos work best for minor color refreshes rather than significant makeovers. Managing expectations is key.
Fact or Fiction: Common Hair Color Shampoo Claims
It’s easy to get sucked in by convincing claims on hair color shampoo packaging. But how well do the most popular promises stack up against reality?
"Boosts color intensity and shine"
Verdict: FACT
Many toning, enhancing, and color depositing shampoos can noticeably improve the vibrancy and luminosity of color-treated hair, at least temporarily. Ingredients like Vegetable color and optical brighteners can help bump up color impact, while oils and silicones give the illusion of shine.
"Long-lasting color"
Verdict: FICTION
While the color effects of hair coloring shampoos last longer than one wash, most begin fading after 3-6 washes. Gradual color buildup shampoos yield the longest lasting effects, but still wash out eventually. For truly long-lasting color, permanent dye is needed.
"Gentle, nourishing formula"
Verdict: DEPENDS
Some hair color shampoos use fairly mild surfactant systems and incorporate nourishing oils, antioxidants etc. However, many still rely on harsh sulfates and chemical colorants. Always check the ingredient list: plant extracts, fatty alcohols and silicone are gentler than sulfates and alcohol dyes.
"Dermatologist tested for safety"
Verdict: MAYBE
Some brands conduct third party dermatological testing to ensure hair color shampoos are non-irritating. However, this claim is unregulated. Irritation also depends on your individual sensitivities. Proceed cautiously if you have a sensitive scalp.
"Salon quality formula"
Verdict: STRETCH
Drugstore shampoos typically can’t match the performance of professional salon-grade color products. However, salon lines like Redken, Matrix and Joico do offer at-home hair color shampoos that come close to their in-salon counterparts.
How to Use Hair Color Shampoo
Getting the best results from hair coloring shampoo depends partly on using good technique. Here are some application tips:
- Clarify first: Use a clarifying shampoo 1-2 washes before to remove residue and prep hair.
- Shampoo mid-lengths to ends: Focus application on the mid-lengths and ends to avoid overly dark roots.
- Massage thoroughly: Take time to massage shampoo through for even coverage.
- Leave on: For deeper color deposition, leave on for 3-5 minutes before rinsing.
- Rinse thoroughly: To avoid stains, rinse hair until the water runs clear.
- Use cool water: Hot water can accelerate color fading. Finish with a cool water rinse.
- Condition after: Always follow with a hydrating conditioner.
- Repeat often: Use 1-2 times a week to build up the deepest color.
How Long Does It Last?
On average, the color results from a hair color shampoo last anywhere from 1 to 6 washes, depending on the type of shampoo and your hair type. Here’s a breakdown:
| Type of Hair Color Shampoo | Average Duration of Color |
|---|---|
| Temporary/Direct Dye | 1-2 washes |
| Semi-permanent/Gradual Dye | 4-6 washes |
| Demi-Permanent Dye | 6-12 washes |
| Bleaching/Lightening | 2-3 washes; results fade gradually |
| Toning | 3-5 washes |
Factors like wash frequency, shampooing technique and hair porosity also impact duration. Using a color-protecting shampoo between uses helps extend the life of hair color shampoo results.
Color Options
Hair color shampoos are available in a diverse range of hues from natural to bold. Here are some of the most popular color shampoo options:
- Enhancing browns: For brunettes seeking extra richness and dimension.
- Anti-yellow toners: Neutralize brassiness and brighten blondes.
- Color boosting reds: Revive fading red or copper color.
- Vibrant fashion shades: Candy pinks, electric blues and pastel lilacs.
- Soft natural blondes: Add sun-kissed honey lights.
- Warm caramel browns: For subtle, natural-looking highlights.
- Cool ash browns: Tone down unwanted warmth and orange.
- Silver brighteners: Reduce yellowing and enhance silvery shades.
- Anti-grey: Conceal emerging grays and prevent yellowing as hair lightens with age.
Gray coverage shampoos, color enhancing shampoos, bleaches/highlighters and toners are likely the most popular picks for everyday use.
What to Look for
With so many options on shelves, it can get overwhelming to choose. Keep these tips in mind when selecting a hair color shampoo:
- Match your base color. Look for shades formulated for your hair color type.
- Consider your color goals. Do you want to enhance, tone, lift or deposit?
- Check the shade swatch. Look for a hue as close to your target as possible.
- Read the description. See what type of technology it uses.
- Examine ingredients. Look for caring ingredients like oils and stay away from harsh sulfates.
- See expertise. Opt for salon brands for high performance color.
- Read reviews. Look for consistently positive feedback.
- Do an allergy test. To check for irritation, do a patch test first.
Taking the time to read the details helps ensure you select a shade and formula well-suited to your particular hair situation.
DIY Hair Color Shampoo Recipe
You can also make your own custom hair color shampoo at home with just a few simple ingredients:
What You Need:
- Shampoo (preferably sulfate-free and silicone-free)
- Herbal hair color (like radish, beetroot, turmeric, etc.)
- Essential oils (like lavender, rosemary, etc. for scent)
- Vegetable glycerin (improves slip and color deposition)
How to Make:
- Make a concentrated herbal hair color by boiling or steeping your chosen herbs, spices, fruits or vegetables. Strain.
- Mix about 1 tablespoon of the concentrated color with 2-3 tablespoons of shampoo.
- Add 5-10 drops of essential oils for fragrance if desired.
- Add 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin for extra conditioning and color effects.
- Shake or stir to combine. Use immediately or store in fridge for up to 1 week.
For best results, apply your homemade shampoo mix to damp hair and allow it to sit for 5 minutes before rinsing. The natural pigments will gradually enhance your color with repeated use.
The Bottom Line
While hair color shampoos have limitations, they can be an excellent temporary color refresh and maintenance option between salon appointments when expectations are realistic. Look for gentle, heritage-powered formulas that complement your shade. With the right product choice and application technique, you can safely enhance your color at home.