10 Best Hairstylist-Approved Lightening Shampoos Of 2024 You Should Try
Trust these products to rid your hair of unwanted hues from your hair-dye disaster.
Andrea CottinHairstylist
Andrea is a hairstylist with 15 years of experience in the salon industry. She loves working closely with her clients to help them look and feel their best. Andrea stays updated on the latest haircutting and coloring techniques by taking up... more
shiboli chakrabortiMA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach
Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor,... more
aditi naskarMA (English Literature), Diploma In Health & Wellness
Experience: 5 yearsAditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is ... more
arshiya syedaBA (Literature & Psychology), PG Diploma
Experience: 7 yearsArshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articl... more
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
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 curated after meticulous examination of formulations and reviews!
In This Article
10 Best Lightening Shampoos Of 2024 You Should Try
1. Best For Instant Results: Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo
The Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo revitalizes your platinum, silver, grey, and blonde hair. The anti-brass and toning shampoo have purple pigments in the formula to 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 helps in repairing 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 that details a tester’s experience of using 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
Caution
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has received 15,886 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.
2. 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 leaves you with healthier hair. It has natural and nourishing ingredients like royal jelly to hydrate the hair, while chamomile extract lightens your hair. This hydrating 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. No animal testing is conducted on the product to determine its efficacy. This makes it an ideal cruelty-free option for ethically conscious hair care enthusiasts.
Key Ingredients: Royal jelly and Chamomile extract
Pros
- Great scent
- Value for money
- Instant results
Cons
- Might cause irritation
3. Best Vegan Formula: Pro:Voke Illuminex Touch Of Silver Strengthening Purple Shampoo
The Pro:Voke Illuminex Touch Of Silver Strengthening Purple Shampoo is formulated with AquaPlex Technology, which provides nourishment to your colored hair. It offers a subtle lightening effect 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. This color-clarifying shampoo also strengthens your locks. 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
| Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo Best For Instant Results | Tio Nacho All Day Volume Natural Lightening Shampoo Best Value For Money | Pro Voke Illuminex Touch Of Silver Strengthening Purple Shampoo Best Vegan Formula | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Type | Color Treated,All | Thin | Oily, Dry, Normal |
| Dimensions | 2.17 x 2.17 x 6.69 inches | 1.56 x 3.25 x 8.94 inches | 2.24 x 1.38 x 6.89 inches |
| Weight | 11.5 Ounces | 1.04 Pounds | 7.05 Ounces |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 15,886 | 2,845 | 3,914 |
| Price | $29.99 | $6.39 | $9.95 |
4. Best Non-Greasy Shampoo:Camomila Intea Blond Highlights Shampoo
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 blonde shampoo is infused with high quantities of chamomile flower extract to highlight and add shine to your colored or natural blonde hair. The product is not tested on animals, which makes it the perfect cruelty-free option.
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
Remember5. Best Long-Lasting Formula:Manzanilla Grisi Vitagloss Shampoo
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 breakthrough formula lightens your hair color, brightens dull hair, 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
6. Best Non-Drying Formula: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 blonde-enhancing shampoo 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, provide restorative care, and leave your hair shiny and glossy!
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
7. Best Pleasant Scent:Manzanilla Grisi Gold Extra Lightening 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
Pro Tip8. Best Travel-Friendly Packaging:Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo
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
9. Best No-Tears Option:Manzanilla Grisi Kids Shampoo
This kids-friendly lightening shampoo helps in tone-correcting your hair be it blonde highlighted hair 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
10. Best Non-Oily Formula:Sarah K So Blonde Platinum Shampoo
The So Blonde Platinum Shampoo by Sarah K lightens your beautiful hair color without any hair damage. The neutralizing pigments in the formula remove pinkish or yellowish tones from your color-treated 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
When it comes to choosing a hair lightening shampoo, it is important to look for a professional-grade 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
- 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.
- Hair Type: Most lightening shampoos are known to be quite harsh on your hair follicles. 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 ideal ingredients like panthenol, jojoba, and aloe vera for dry, damaged hair.
- 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 are combined with advanced technology to help combat the harsh effects of lighteners in the shampoo.
- Harmful 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.
- 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-looking highlights between your salon visits.
- They eliminate orange, yellow, and brassy 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 hair 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 perfect lightening shampoo every day. Instead, switch it with your regular shampoo once or twice a week when you start to notice any brassiness.
Infographic: How To Use Lightening Shampoos While Keeping Your Hair Healthy
Lightening shampoos can be your savior if you feel stuck with the wrong hair color. They remove existing hair colors, making way for fun, new colors that suit your mood and personality better. However, they are known to cause some extent of hair damage. Worry not! This can be prevented by following some healthy practices. Check out the infographic below to learn more.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Lightening shampoos can add shine and vigor to your locks. These shampoos neutralize brassiness while correcting the yellowish tones of your hair. Lightening shampoos also protect your strands from UV damage while rejuvenating them. The Bold Uniq Purple Shampoo maintains and enhances cool-toned hair colors, while the Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo is a convenient way to refresh your hair on the go without affecting the hair color. The Pro:Voke Illuminex Touch Of Silver Strengthening Purple Shampoo maintains blonde, silver, and gray hair and enhances hair shine. 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 shampoos that can dry your locks out after frequent use.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 gray or brunette hair, a lightening shampoo for color treated 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.
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.
