12 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Color-Treated Hair
Preserve the color and vibrancy of your hair for a long time with these gentle shampoos.
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Yvey Valcin is a celebrated master stylist based in Seattle, WA, and was one of the highest rated stylists at the flagship Gene Juarez salon in Seattle. He is known for his superior cutting technique and has styled for top editorial and fas... more
Shiboli Chakraborti Certified Skin Care Coach
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Shiboli 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 edito... more
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If you find yourself coloring your hair too often, getting your hands on the best sulfate-free shampoo for colored hair is essential in making the color and shine last longer. Hair dye contains harmful chemicals that can make your hair strands weak and prone to wear and tear. That’s why your colored tresses need to be taken extra care of. A sulfate-free shampoo not only makes the color last longer but also aids in keeping your strands strong and protected. To help you choose amongst the many available options, we have shortlisted the 12 best sulfate-free shampoos to help manage your colored tresses better.
In This Article
12 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Colored Hair
1. Best Color-Treated Hair:NEXXUSColor AssureLong Lasting Vibrancy Shampoo
Image: Nexxus If you want to protect the beauty and vibrancy of your freshly colored hair, try the NEXXUS Color Assure Long Lasting Vibrancy Shampoo. It ensures that your hair color remains vibrant for up to 40 washes and replenishes it with nutrients that are usually lost during the coloring process. This sulfate-free shampoo for color-treated hair is formulated with a PROTEINFUSION blend of quinoa and elastin protein to boost life into your colored hair. Multiple positive reviews on trusted platforms attest to its lasting ability.
Pros
- Silicone-free
- Pleasant fragrance
- No residue
Cons
- Causes tangles and knots
Pro TipPair the shampoo with Nexxus Color Assure Long Lasting Vibrancy Conditioner to achieve added volume and shiny hair.
2. Best UV Protection:LUXEORGANIX Rejuvenating Argan Oil Shampoo
Image: Luxeorganix Rejuvenate your hair and experience luxury with the LUXEORGANIX Rejuvenating Argan Oil Shampoo. This sulfate-free shampoo for color-treated hair not only protects your hair color from fading away but also helps in taming frizz and enhancing your curls.
It is ideal for keratin-treated hair and works wonders for curly, straight, fine, and coarse hair types. The shampoo is infused with Moroccan argan oil, UV absorbers, and thermal protectants to protect your hair from damage, provide hydration and strength, and make it easier to manage. It is not tested on animals and has a fresh citrus scent with notes of orange and vanilla.
Pros
- UV protection
- Mild citrus fragrance
- Sodium chloride-free
- Gluten-free
- Alcohol-free
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Petrolatum-free
- Formaldehyde-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
Cons
- Not suitable for sensitive scalp
Pro Tip3. Best Gentle:PUREOLOGY PROFESSIONAL COLOR CARE Strength Cure Shampoo
Image: Pureology The PUREOLOGY PROFESSIONAL COLOR CARE Strength Cure Shampoo is a gentle and sulfate-free shampoo that helps repair damaged and dry hair. In addition to providing color retention and adding velvety softness, it strengthens and treats the hair.
This shampoo is infused with keravis and astaxanthin and a signature aromatherapy blend of peach, raspberry, and water flowers to give your hair visible transformation. It also contains the brand’s patent Antifade Complex, which protects the long-lasting hair color’s vibrancy and ensures fade prevention.The UV filters from sunflower seeds and the antioxidant properties of vitamin E fight environmental aggressors that cause hair color to fade. This reviewer’s experience video will give you better insights about the product.
Pros
- Gentle
- Vegan
- Mineral oil-free
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Overpowering smell
4. Best Vegan:MAPLE HOLISTICS Tea Tree Shampoo
Image: Maple Holistics This shampoo revitalizes your scalp and makes your hair feel naturally bouncy and lustrous. It is infused with tea tree oil that balances the natural oils of the scalp and hair, fights dandruff, and soothes dry and itchy scalps.
The shampoo is also loaded with botanical keratin and rosemary oil that strengthen the hair and promote hair growth. Lavender essential oil soothes your scalp, stimulates the hair follicles, and reduces hair loss. Aloe vera conditions the hair and scalp to treat seborrheic dermatitis and argan oil strengthens, repairs, hydrates, and imparts shine to dull and damaged hair. No animal testing is done for this formula, which makes it an ethical choice for users. Watch this video for a thorough understanding of the product.
Pros
- Pleasant fragrance
- Silicone-free
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Natural ingredients
Cons
- Might cause flakes
5. Best Strengthening : Aveeno Blackberry Quinoa Protein Blend Shampoo
Image: Aveeno The Aveeno Blackberry Quinoa Protein Blend Shampoo has a wholesome balance of nourishing ingredients that also calm your scalp. It is formulated with oats to keep your scalp health intact and free from any irritation. Multiple reviewers have praised its soothing effects on the scalp. Also, the rich mixture of blackberry and quinoa helps prevent your chemically treated hair color from fading. The lightweight gel-based shampoo helps reduce any damage or remove any residue buildup from the color treatment and adds a healthy and natural shine to your hair.
Pros
- Dye-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Phthalate-free
- 100% farm-based
Cons
- Some might find the fragrance an irritant.
6. Best pH Balanced:MIXED CHICKSSulfate-Free Shampoo
Image: Mixed Chicks The MIXED CHICKS Sulfate-Free Shampoo cleanses colored hair without stripping the natural oils. It helps in deep cleansing, refreshing, and revitalizing your scalp health and hair strands with its mild and gentle formula. This shampoo adds shine and softness to your hair and increases manageability without weighing your hair down or leaving any residue buildup to clog your scalp.
This sulfate-free shampoo contains avocado oil, sweet almond oil, and aloe vera promote healthy hair growth. Avocado oil helps in moisturizing and nourishing dry, brittle, and damaged hair, while sweet almond oil helps in shine-enhancing and strengthening of the hair. Aloe vera soothes dry and itchy scalps, reduces dandruff, and restores the natural pH balance of the scalp and hair. Other ingredients like panthenol, sesame seed oil, and olive oil nourish and strengthen the hair and impart shine, softness, and body.
Pros
- Mild formula
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Smells amazing
Cons
- Not suitable for sensitive scalp
- May dry out the hair
7. Best Moisturizing:Arvazallia Advanced Color Care System Moisturizing Shampoo
Image: Arvazallia The Advanced Color Care Moisturizing Shampoo by Arvazallia is infused with argan and macadamia oils to promote hair growth and impart luminous shine. It extends the life of your hair color and provides gentle care to your tresses by restoring their natural oils and bounce. The potent and advanced formula contains color-locking and restorative technologies to lock in the color for a long time and moisturize and strengthen your hair.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Smells good
- No residue
Cons
- Does not lather well
- Leaves the hair greasy
8. Best With Amino Acids:Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo
Image: Redken The Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo is a pH-balanced, gentle cleansing formula enriched with amino acids. It helps to neutralize yellow shades and maintain the tone and vibrancy of your colored hair. The shampoo is designed with an RTC Protein complex that works to protect and nourish all three layers of your hair from the roots to the tip. The absence of sulfate in this shampoo helps to maintain your long-lasting hair color for up to 6 weeks without fading.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Suitable for all hair types
- Tones blonde hair
- Neutralizes yellow shades
Cons
- May make your hair greasy
- Thin consistency
9. Best Nourishing:LOVEbeauty ANDplanet Murumuru Butter & Rose Blooming Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Image: Love Beauty And Planet This sulfate-free shampoo for color-treated hair is infused with murumuru butter that nourishes, softens, and protects the hair. It also contains ethically sourced rose petals from the Rose Valley of Bulgaria to revive your senses and coconut oil to lock in moisture and repair hair damage, dryness, and split ends. Multiple reviewers have mentioned the restorative care offered by the nourishing ingredients in this formula. This shampoo delivers healthy shine while protecting your hair color. The vibrant rose notes and juicy freshness of red berries impart a refreshing scent to the product.
Pros
- Silicone-free
- Paraben-free
- Dye-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
Cons
- Makes scalp itchy
- Leaves residue
10. Best Plant-Based:Framesi Color Lover Moisture Rich Shampoo
Image: Framesi The Framesi Color Lover Moisture Rich Shampoo is a moisturizing hair cleanser with an elegant floral smell that will leave your hair fresh and nourished all day long. The shampoo is plant-based and formulated with the goodness of quinoa, shea butter, aloe vera, meadowfoam seed oil, provitamins B5, and vitamins E, and C that can instantly revive dull and dry hair and give it a vibrant color. The no-sulfate formula of the shampoo can offer 95% longer color retention.
Pros
- Natural ingredients
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Paraben-free
- Salt-free
- Hydrating formula
Cons
- Can have an overpowering smell
11. Best Vibrant-Colored:Mai Hair Brazilian Keratin Treatment Sulfate-Free Moisturizing Shampoo
Image: Mai Hair The Mai Hair Moisturizing Shampoo helps maintain, restore, and preserve your hair color. It moisturizes and conditions hair that often tends to dry out post coloring treatments. This shampoo adds shine, boosts vitality, and reduces split ends, dryness, flaking, and breakage. It is lightweight and designed for everyday use and is sure to give you well-nourished, moisturized, healthy-looking, vibrant-colored, and manageable hair.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sodium-chloride-free
- Amazing smell
Cons
- Dries out the scalp
12. Best For Red Hair:Bold Uniq Color Saviour Shampoo
Image: Bold Uniq The Bold Uniq Color Saviour Shampoo cleanses red and brunette locks with gentle care. The blend of goji fruit, acai, and pomegranate helps to retain the color and to fight external aggressors. It works wonderfully for all colors from reds to pinks and keeps them shiny and vibrant. The formula is enriched with sunflower, licorice, and coffee seed that keep your hair strands smooth and healthy. It has a neutral pH base. The shampoo also has a pleasant smell of berries and is packaged in consumer-recycled plastic.
Pros
- Pleasant smelling
- Mineral oil-free
- Paraben-free
- Neutral pH base
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons
- Can make hair feel dry
We all love getting an eye-catching and vibrant color, whether mermaid hues or elegant streaks. However, the real challenge is protecting the hair and the color from all kinds of damage. To preserve your vibrant hair and maintain the lush color, it is crucial to use high-quality shampoo, preferably sulfate-free. Before choosing the best sulfate-free shampoo for colored hair, here is a list of things to consider.
How To Choose The Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos For Color-Treated Hair
- Choose a Shampoo Designed For Color Treated Hair Only
Always check the shampoo’s label to see if it is specially formulated for color-treated hair. Color-treated hair needs extra care, and color-safe ingredients in the formulas ensure your hair and the color stay flawless even after months. Additionally, pick a damage repair shampoo if you find your hair heavily damaged due to coloring.
- Look For Color Preserving Ingredients
Soy extracts, sunflower extracts, amino acids, and ceramides are some of the best-known ingredients to preserve hair color and minimize the risk of fading. They also help retain your hair color for extended periods.
- Look For Nourishing Ingredients
The process of coloring your hair makes your hair go through various chemical treatments. This leaves your strands dry, brittle, and lifeless. Therefore, look for a hydrating shampoo formulated with plant oils and other ingredients that delivers intense nourishment and moisture.
- Stay Away From Harsh Ingredients
Apart from sulfates, other harsh ingredients can also cause your hair color to fade quickly and further damage your hair. Drying alcohol, petroleum, and mineral oil are a few ingredients you should steer clear from. They can dry out your hair and make it brittle, resulting in dull hair which affects the hair styling. Look for a dermatologist-approved or specialist-approved formula for a sensitive scalp.
Infographic: How To Choose The Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo For Colored Hair
Sulfate-free shampoos are must-have hair products if you want your tresses to look silkier and healthier. Different brands offer various shampoos for every hair type. Since so many options can put you in a dilemma about selecting one, check out our infographic below. Here are a few tips you can watch out for before investing in the right sulfate-free product. Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
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The Bottom Line
The term ‘sulfate-free’ has become a buzzword because it carries a lot of expectations and is preferred by most of us now. Irrespective of your hair type, sulfate-free shampoos offer color protection without stripping off your scalp’s natural oils. To infuse life into colored hair, opt for the NEXXUS Color Assure Long Lasting Vibrancy Shampoo. The PUREOLOGY PROFESSIONAL COLOR CARE Strength Cure Shampoo, a vegan formula, strengthens hair strands. The LOVEbeauty AND planet Murumuru Butter & Rose Blooming Color Sulfate-Free Shampoo protects and softens hair. Those with color-treated hair also rely on these products to prevent the hair color from fading away while maintaining its vibrancy and reducing hair loss. In addition, they are free from synthetic chemicals and keep your hair color preserved for a longer time than shampoos infused with foaming agents.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author Shiboli Chakraborti is a certified skin care coach and has a keen interest in hair care. She has done thorough research and read many reviews to compile the list of best sulfate-free shampoos for colored hair. These shampoos lock the color and do not strip the hair’s natural oils. She says that sulfate-free shampoos are a must-have in a hair care routine for colored hair to maintain lustrous and flawless hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is any sulfate-free shampoo good for colored hair?
Yes, sulfate-free shampoos are the best pick for colored hair. They help retain moisture in your hair and do not let the dye color fade quickly.
What is the safest sulfate-free shampoo for color-treated hair?
The NEXXUSColor AssureLong Lasting Vibrancy Shampoo is the best in the market and safe for colored hair. It will help you maintain your hair color for an extended period and replenish your hair health.
What happens if you wash dyed hair with sulfate shampoo?
A sulfate shampoo easily breaks down the dyed colors and your natural hair color. Therefore, try to use sulfate-free hair care products for color-treated hair.
Do I need special shampoo for colored hair?
Yes, you must use sulfate-free or sulfate alternatives shampoos to maintain the longevity of your colored hair.
What should you not use on colored hair?
If you have colored hair, watch out for hair care products with sulfate, alcohol, parabens, and sodium chloride, as these ingredients damage your hair and wash out the dye.
How do you moisturize color-treated hair?
Use deep conditioners and hydrating hair masks to nourish your hair and retain its natural moisture. Also, avoid hot showers, as they can make your colored hair dry and result in frizzy hair.
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- Drugstore Sulfate-Free Shampoos Make Your Hair Dry Or Brittles
