10 Best Lightening Shampoos Of 2023 You Should Try

Trust these products to rid your hair of unwanted hues from your hair-dye disaster.

Reviewed by Andrea CottinAndrea Cottin, Hairstylist
By Shiboli ChakrabortiShiboli Chakraborti, Certified Skin Care Coach  • 
All products recommended on StyleCraze are independently selected by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we may receive a commission. Learn more about our product selection process here.

If you think your new hair color is a disaster and you want to do away with it asap, get your hands on the best lightening shampoo. The right lightening shampoo will strip away the hair color faster than regular shampoo. This way, you get to get back your natural hair color without repetitive aggressive hair color treatments. If you want to get rid of some hair color that you don’t vibe with anymore, try out one of these 13 best hair-lightening shampoos!

Top Picks
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Best For Instant Results: Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Value For Money: Tio Nacho All Day Volume Natural Lightening Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Vegan Formula: Pro:Voke Illuminex Touch Of Silver Strengthening Purple Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Non-Greasy Shampoo: Camomila Intea Blond Highlights Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Long-Lasting Formula: Manzanilla Grisi Vitagloss Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Non-Drying Formula:John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Pleasant Scent: Manzanilla Grisi Gold Extra Lightening Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Travel-Friendly Packaging: Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best No-Tears Option: Manzanilla Grisi Kids Shampoo
Price on Amazon
Best Non-Oily Formula: Sarah K So Blonde Platinum Shampoo
Price on Amazon

10 Best Lightening Shampoos Of 2023 You Should Try

Best For Instant Results:Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo

The Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo revitalizes your platinum, silver, grey, and blonde hair. The purple pigments in the formula neutralize brassiness and yellow tones in your hair. The vitamin B5 in this formula adds a natural shine and softens your hair. This powerhouse formula repairs dry and brittle hair and also protects it from thermal and UV damage. If you need more convincing, feel free to take a look at this YouTuber’s video on the merits and demerits of the product.

Key Ingredient: Panthenol


Pros
  •  Instant results
  •  Paraben-free
  •  Sulphate-free
  •  Cruelty-free
  •  Vegan
  •  Formaldehyde-free
  •  Phthalate-free
  •  Mineral oil-free
  •  SLS-free

Cons

  •  Drying

protip_icon Caution
Do not spill this product on your clothes otherwise it can cause stains.

Why It’s Worth Buying: The product has received 47,726 positive Amazon reviews from its users, stating its numerous benefits.
Price at the time of publication: $29.95

Best Value For Money:Tio Nacho All Day Volume Natural Lightening Shampoo

The special Tio Nacho All Day Volume Natural Lightening Shampoo boosts your hair’s natural shine and makes it appear healthy. It has natural ingredients like royal jelly to hydrate and nourish your strands, while chamomile extract lightens your hair. The shampoo has ginseng, aloe vera, and jojoba extracts that soothe your scalp, moisturize your hair, and improve manageability. The rosemary extract in the formula gives your scalp and senses a revitalizing feeling.

Key Ingredients: Royal jelly and Chamomile extract


Pros
  •  Great scent
  •  Value for money
  •  Instant results

Cons

  •  Might cause irritation

Price at the time of publication: $6.39

The Pro:Voke Illuminex Touch Of Silver Strengthening Purple Shampoo is formulated with AquaPlex Technology, which provides nourishment to your colored hair. The UV filters in this shampoo protect your hair from the harmful effects of the sun. It contains blue and purple pigments that correct orangish and yellowish tones while keeping your blonde hair radiant and bright. It also strengthens your locks and prevents color fading. If you want a detailed review of the product, make sure to take a look at this video.

Pros

  •  Instant results
  •  Sulfate-free
  •  Paraben-free
  •  Silicone-free
  •  Vegan
  •  Value for money
  •  Great scent
  •  Long-lasting

Cons

  •  May dry out the hair

Price at the time of publication: $14.95

Best Non-Greasy Shampoo:Camomila Intea Blond Highlights Shampoo

4.4

If you are looking for a safe alternative to repair your yellow-hued hair, the Camomila Intea Blond Highlight Shampoo is the best choice! The formula is infused with high quantities of chamomile flower extract to highlight and add shine to your colored or natural blonde hair.

Key Ingredient: Chamomile flower extract


Pros
  •  Gentle
  •  Non-greasy
  •  Non-irritating
  •  Cruelty-free
  •  Chemical dye-free
  •  Silicone-free
  •  Paraben-free
  •  Ammonia-free
  •  Alcohol-free
  •  Great scent

Cons

  •  Might cause dryness

protip_icon Remember
Always pick a tear-free formula if you are using a lightening shampoo, especially for kids.

Price at the time of publication: $19.99

Indulge in a burst of fruity extracts with the Manzanilla Grisi Vitagloss Shampoo! It contains Nutri complex Q10 and chamomile extract that volumize your hair and works as a natural anti-dandruff agent. The formula lightens your hair color and soothes the scalp while managing flakiness. It also has fruit extracts like kiwi grapefruit, apple, and orange to nourish your hair.

Key Ingredients: Chamomile extract

Pros

  •  Value for money
  •  Long-lasting

Cons

  •  Strong fragrance

Price at the time of publication: $2.59

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo

The John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo gently cleanses your hair, giving a brighter and ‘sunlit’ shade in just three uses. This formula is ideal for color-treated, natural, and highlighted blonde hair. It is infused with chamomile and bergamot extract that lighten your hair without stripping away its natural moisture. The silk proteins in the formula repel humidity and leave your hair glossy and shiny!

Key Ingredients: Chamomile extract, Lemon extract, Sunflower seed extract, and Bergamot extract.

Pros

  •  Mild
  •  Ammonia-free
  •  Peroxide-free
  •  Non-drying
  •  Value for money
  •  Great scent

Cons

  •  Expensive

Price at the time of publication: $5.99

Best Pleasant Scent:Manzanilla Grisi Gold Extra Lightening Shampoo

4.3
Manzanilla Grisi Vitagloss Shampoo Image: Manzanilla Grisi

The Manzanilla Grisi Gold Extra Lightening Shampoo leaves your hair visibly lighter in just 28 days! The formula is infused with chamomile flower extract that enriches the radiance and hair color. It also soothes your scalp and gets rid of visible flakiness with ease. Turmeric extracts in the formula fight away any infections and leave your hair looking healthy!

Key Ingredients: Chamomile flower extract, Vegetable Oil, Glycerin, and Turmeric.


Pros
  •  Great scent
  •  Value for money
  •  Non-drying
  •  Instant results

Cons

  •  Might cause irritation

protip_icon Pro Tip
Always apply nourishing and hydrating hair care products after using lightening shampoos.

Price at the time of publication: $9.75

Best Travel-Friendly Packaging:Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo

4.6

The Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo cleanses and revives light-colored hair! The subtle violet pigments in the formula enhance hair color and neutralize brassiness. The formula contains superfine rice starch that absorbs oil, odor, and product buildup, leaving no residue. The argan oil in the shampoo deeply moisturizes and nourishes your hair while offering a soft and delicate scent. The shampoo also contains UV blockers, which protect the hair from UV damage.

Key Ingredients: Rice Starch and Moroccan argan oil


Pros
  •  Easy to use
  •  Travel-friendly
  •  Lightweight
  •  Value for money

Cons

  •  Leaves a white cast
Price at the time of publication: $26.0


Best No-Tears Option: Manzanilla Grisi Kids Shampoo

3.8

This kids-friendly lightening shampoo tones hair from blonde or light brown hair and make it appear brighter. The formula does not contain any toxic ingredients or irritate your kids’ skin, and is safe for regular use. It foams easily and leaves a delicious aroma, which lasts all day!

Key Ingredient: Chamomile extract

Pros

  •  No tears
  •  Hypoallergenic
  •  Gentle
  •  Non-irritating
  •  Anti-lice
  •  Non-toxic
  •  Value for money
  •  Pleasant scent

Cons

None

Price at the time of publication: $5.88


The So Blonde Platinum Shampoo by Sarah K lightens your hair color without any hair damage. The neutralizing pigments in the formula remove pinkish or yellowish tones from your hair. This formula does not dry out your hair, unlike regular lightening shampoos. Instead, the lush shea butter in the product deeply moisturizes and nourishes your hair, leaving it soft to touch. With regular use, your hair will look shiny and silky!

Key Ingredients: Shea butter and Castor oil

Pros

  •  Paraben-free
  •  Sulfate-free
  •  All-natural ingredients
  •  Lightweight
  •  Non-oily
  •  Pleasant scent

Cons

  •  May cause irritation
Price at the time of publication: $19.99

When it comes to choosing a hair lightening shampoo, it is important to look for a product that is right for your hair type and gives the desired results without causing any damage. To help you find the best lightening shampoo for your hair, we have compiled a list of certain factors to keep in mind. Check them out in the next section.

What To Look For In A Lightening Shampoo

  1. Lightening Power: consider the level of lightening power that you require depending on your existing and desired hair color. If you wish to lighten your hair by just a few shades, choose a less powerful lightening shampoo and on the other hand if you wish to lighten several shades, go for a more powerful lightening shampoo.
  2. Hair Type: most lightening shampoos are known to be quite harsh on your hair. So, it is important to consider your hair type before selecting the right lightening shampoo. For instance, if you have fine, brittle or dry hair, it may do well without bleach-based products as they may be harsh.Also, look for nourishing ingredients like panthenol, jojoba, and aloe vera for dry, damaged hair.
  3. Ingredient To Use: since lightening shampoos can often be harsh on your hair, look for ingredients that promote hair health. Some common nourishing ingredients include shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil, rosemary oil, grapeseed oil. These ingredients help combat the harsh effects of lighteners in the shampoo.
  4. Ingredients To Avoid: most lightening shampoos will contain bleach as their active ingredient in order to lighten several shades and get dramatic effects. However, if you have weak or brittle hair, avoid strong bleaching agents like ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and resorcinol. In addition, look for formulas without parabens, silicones, and sulfates as well.
  5. Existing Hair Color: consider your natural hair color before choosing a lightening shampoo. Not every lightening shampoo is meant for natural or dark hair colors. This is because many shampoos are meant to only take off pre-existing color or brighten the existing color or those that work on processing virgin or dark hair. Thus, it is advised to check if the lightening shampoo is specifically designed to lighten your hair color.

If you are excited about using lightening shampoo, here are the top seven benefits of using these wonderful products.

Benefits Of Hair Lightening Shampoos

  • They enrich and boost the natural shade of your hair, be it light brown or blonde.
  • They leave your hair looking healthy and shiny.
  • They maintain your natural highlights between your salon visits.
  • They eliminate brassy, yellow, and orange tones from exposure to hot water, chlorine, and sun.
  • They make hair color transition (from dyed hair to blonde) easy.

Note: These benefits depend on the condition and color of your hair.

If you are still skeptical about using lightening shampoos, these easy-to-do steps will change your mind. Read the next section for more details.

How To Use Lightening Shampoos

  •  Massage your wet hair with an adequate amount of lightening shampoo.
  • Wash it off with normal water, and follow up with a gentle conditioner.

You don’t need to use the lightening shampoo every day. Instead, switch it with your regular shampoo once or twice a week when you start to notice any brassiness.

Lightening shampoos can add shine and vigor to your locks. These shampoos neutralize brassiness while correcting the yellowish tones from your hair. Lightening shampoos also protect your strands from UV damage while rejuvenating them. These shampoos hydrate and nourish your locks while making sure that your hair texture remains radiant and manageable. Moreover, you should purchase lightening shampoos that can effectively prevent color fading, and strengthen the locks. However, it is better to avoid the shampoos that can dry your locks out after frequent use.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

The author of this article, Shiboli Chakraborti, is well-versed in hair care. She curated this list of the best lightening shampoos after extensive research. She checked user reviews on trusted platforms and the brand website to evaluate the products. The shampoos can strip away the hair color faster than regular shampoos, making the color transition process smoother. In addition, they leave your hair looking healthy and shiny.

How long does hair-lightening shampoo take to work?

The time taken for the shampoos to work depends on your hair color. For hair colors, it may take up 6-7 months for the full transformation.

Does Go Blonder shampoo work on brown hair?

Yes. The Go Blonder Shampoo can lighten your brown hair.

Does lightening shampoo work on dark hair?

Yes, a few lighting shampoos can also work on dark-colored hair, but you have to make sure that it is specifically made for your hair color. For example, if you have brunette or gray hair, a lightening shampoo for blonde hair will not be effective for you.

Does hair lightening shampoo damage hair?

Yes. Hair lightening shampoos contain hydrogen peroxide which tends to damage the hair in the process of lightening it. So, it is advisable to use these shampoos scarcely, only when essential.

Can you use a lightening shampoo on brown hair?

Yes. For brown hair, you can use purple shampoo to brighten up any lighter highlights. However, using a lightening shampoo on natural brown hair will not yield any results.

Is there a shampoo that makes your hair lighter?

Yes. There are shampoos that can effectively make your hair color lighter. One such shampoo that works like magic is the John Frieda Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo.


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