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The 14 Best Color-Depositing Shampoos of 2023

 

Our best overall pick is the Celeb Luxury Color Depositing Shampoo

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, Chicago-based 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.

MEET THE EXPERT

Shelly Aguirre of Chicago's Maxine Salon is a professional stylist specializing in helping clients maintain their desired look. With 12 years of experience teaching at salons and tradeshows, she is one of the most sought-after hairstylists and educators in the industry.

 

Between shampoos that cancel out brassiness, green for neutralizing red, red for intensifying red, 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 considered the intended hair type (some shampoos perform better on certain hair types), the ingredients, and whether or not they include fragrance before cross referencing them with our expert-recommended picks to land on these top-rated products.

Best Overall: Celeb Luxury Color Depositing Shampoo

What We Like

• Several colors available
• Hydrating
• Strengthening

What We Don’t Like

• Pricey

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 like 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.

Size: 8.25 ounces | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Budget: Pure Blends Hydrating Color Depositing Shampoo

What We Like

• Several colors available
• Balances unwanted tones
• Contains keratin

What We Don’t Like

• Potentially too heavy for fine hair

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.

Size: 8.5 ounces | Scent: Coconut | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best for Black Hair: Maria Nila Black Colour Refresh

What We Like

• Balances unwanted tones
• Nourishing
• Leaves hair shiny

What We Don’t Like

• Doesn't replace regular shampoo

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.

Size: 10.1 ounces | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Brunette Hair: John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Visibly Deeper Color Deepening Shampoo

What We Like

• Budget-friendly
• Natural pigments
• Works on natural or color-treated hair

What We Don’t Like

• Results aren't dramatic

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.

Size: 8.3 ounces | Scent: Floral | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Blonde Hair: Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo for Beautiful Color

What We Like

• Balances yellow tones
• Leaves hair shiny
• Nice scent

What We Don’t Like

• Pricey

To combat yellowish tones in bleached hair, Aguirre recommends Oribe Bright Blonde purple shampoo. "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."

Size: 8.5 ounces, 33.8 ounces | Scent: Citrus | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Gray Hair: Redken Color Extend Graydiant Shampoo

What We Like

• Balances yellow tones
• Enhances cool tones
• Leaves hair shiny

What We Don’t Like

• Slightly drying

For gray hair, the best option is Redken's aptly named Graydiant Shampoo. The anti-yellow purple wash turns gold into silver while enhancing the multidimensional cool tones in your hair.

Size: 10.1 ounces, 33.8 ounces | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Blue: Aveda Blue Malva Color Shampoo

What We Like

• Balances orange tones
• Plant-based formula
• Generous amount

What We Don’t Like

• Pricey

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 ombre, balayage, and color-treated brown hair.

Size: 33.8 ounces | Scent: Sweet almond | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Green:​​Matrix Total Results Dark Envy Shampoo

What We Like

• Budget-friendly
• Balances red tones
• Award-winning formula

What We Don’t Like

• Slightly drying

Matrix's award-winning Dark Green Envy neutralizes reddish undertones in black and dark-brown hair. This color-depositing shampoo works in just a few minutes and leaves you with brilliantly glossy hair.

Size: 10.1 ounces, 33.8 ounces | Scent: Citrus, cedar | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Purple: Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

What We Like

• Balances yellow tones
• Brightens lightened hair
• Strengthening

What We Don’t Like

• Pricey

Celebrity hairstylist Laurie Heaps suggests using a 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."

Size: 8.5 ounces | Scent: Floral, amber | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Red: Joico Color Infuse Red Shampoo

What We Like

• Lasts for 12 washes
• Works on natural or color-treated hair
• Contains keratin

What We Don’t Like

• May stain hands

Calling all redheads! To turn up the heat on your natural or color-treated hair, reach for Joico Color Infuse Red. This pigmented shampoo instantly ignites any shade from burgundy and ginger to copper and dark strawberry blonde and lasts for up to 12 washes.

Size: 10.1 ounces | Scent: Floral | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Cool Tones: SheaMoisture Purple Rice Water Strength & Color Care Shampoo

What We Like

• Budget-friendly
• Balances yellow tones
• Leaves hair shiny

What We Don’t Like

• Can leave a waxy feeling on hair

SheaMoisture's Purple Rice Water Shampoo is just the thing for cool-toned hair. Whether you're working with white, platinum, silver, or gray hair, you can count on a brighter, shinier, brass-free finish.

Size: 13.5 ounces | Scent: Floral | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Bold: Infuse My. Colour Color Depositing Shampoo

What We Like

• Several colors available
• Suitable for daily use
• Minimizes fading

What We Don’t Like

• May stain hands

This pigmented shampoo comes in all the bold shades we love, like ruby red, metallic gold, dusty rose, candy pink, and indigo. A single wash will offer a hint of color, and you can use it as often as you'd like to intensify the shade.

Size: 8.5 ounces | Scent: Fresh | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Teens: Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Color Shampoo

What We Like

• Budget-friendly
• Softens hair
• Nice scent

What We Don’t Like

• Slightly messy

Lime Crime's sugar-scented Unicorn Hair is ideal for teens, tweens, and anyone else who wants to experiment with playful color. This tinted shampoo comes in a handful of hues, including royal purple, fuchsia, peach, and pastel pink.

Size: 8 ounces | Scent: Sugar | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Silver Hair
Verb Purple Shampoo

What We Like

• Pro-grade violet pigment
• Great for dryness
• Nourishing ingredients

What We Don't Like

• Can temporarily stain your scalp

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 açaí 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.

Hair Type: All | Size: 12 oz. | Scent: Subtly fruity | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Cool Tones
Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo with Centaury

What We Like

• Neutralizes unwanted warm tones
• Adds softness and shine

What We Don't Like

• Doesn't lather

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.

Hair Type: All | Size: 13.5 oz. | Scent: Natural | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Final Verdict 

The best color-depositing shampoo overall is Celeb Luxury Colorwash (view at Amazon), a moisturizing, fortifying formula that comes in a range of natural shades and bold hues. For those on a budget, we recommend Pure Blends Color Depositing Shampoo (view at Beauty Care Choices), a hydrating hair wash that helps you achieve or maintain your desired shade.

What to Look for When Buying Color-Depositing Shampoo

Existing Hair Color

When buying 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 ombre 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.

How We Researched

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

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. You can find more of her bylines on MyDomaine.