Use these non-toxic, natural shampoos for colored hair care!
Are you looking for a natural shampoo for your beautifully colored hair? Whether you are a vibrant red, a stunning brunette, a beautiful blonde, or a trendy pastel, you need a shampoo that preserves and enhances your new hair color without causing damage!
Luckily, there are non-toxic, natural options that are perfect for color-treated hair! And they are actually better for your color-treated hair than traditional shampoo and conditioner.
So, if you need help finding the perfect shampoo for your new shade, you are in luck!! I’ve already done the research for you.
In this post, we’ll go over what ingredients can actually harm your hair and my top recommendations for natural shampoos for colored hair. Let’s keep your hair healthy and gorgeous!
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Ingredients to Avoid in Your Shampoo and Conditioner
But first, let’s talk about why you may want to consider non-toxic shampoo and conditioner for your color-treated hair.
Many conventional shampoos and conditioners contain harsh chemicals that are not so good for your hair or body. But on top of that, these chemicals can strip away your hair’s natural oils and make your color fade so much faster, sending you right back to the salon for a touch-up.
These ingredients can leave your gorgeous new hair color dry, dull, and totally lifeless.
Here’s what you should try to avoid, and why:
- Sulfates: Sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are used in shampoos because they create a foaming action and have cleansing properties. But they can also cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. And they make your color fade. On top of that, sulfates have been found to be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, which is a carcinogen.
- Parabens: Parabens are a group of synthetic preservatives that are used in many personal care products, including shampoos. They help prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast, but they also mimic estrogen in the body and can disrupt your hormonal regulation. You can usually tell a paraben on a label by the “ben” at the end of the name, like Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, and Isobutylparaben.
- Behentrimonium Chloride: Behentriumonium Chloride is used as an emulsifier, conditioning agent, and defrizzer. But it can cause skin and eye irritation, and it’s associated with nerve damage. And it’s also been linked to cancer.
- Methylisothiazolinone: Methylisothiazolinone is a synthetic chemical used as a preservative, but it can cause allergic skin reactions. This is particularly troublesome for people with sensitive skin or eczema because it can lead to redness, itching, burning sensations, and dryness.
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone: Methylchloroisothiazolinone is also used as a preservative. It can have a very harmful effect on the lungs, cause allergies, and is a possible neurotoxin.
- Polysorbate 20: Polysorbate 20 is another emulsifier, but it can cause skin and eye irritation in some people. It’s usually treated with ethylene oxide when used in cosmetics and can be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane. Which, as we stated already, is a known carcinogen.
- DMDM Hydantoin: DMDM Hydantoin is used as an anti-microbial agent, but it releases formaldehyde! And formaldehyde is a well-known carcinogen. Since most people know to look for formaldehyde, companies will list DMDM Hydantoin instead.
- PEG’s: Propylene Glycols are used to help the shampoo penetrate the skin, which is great, but they also help the harmful ingredients penetrate the skin easier as well. And they can cause skin irritation, including redness, itching, and allergic reactions. They can also be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, which is a known carcinogen.
- Cocamide MEA: Cocamide MEA is a fatty acid made from coconut oil and diethanolamine. It is used to create a creamy shampoo formula and is also used as a foaming agent. But it can cause allergic reactions, irritating the skin, especially for those with sensitive skin. Cocamide MEA also forms nitrosamines when mixed with other ingredients, and nitrosamines are known carcinogens.
- Quaternium-15: Quaternium-15 is a preservative that keeps yeast and bacteria from growing, but it not only causes skin irritation, it also releases formaldehyde. Yikes! Formaldehyde causes skin irritation, redness, itching, and allergic reactions, particularly for those with sensitive skin. It can also irritate the eyes and lungs. But on top of that, formaldehyde is a carcinogen.
These are all super harmful ingredients that you want to watch out for when shopping for an all-natural shampoo, especially for your color-treated hair because they are hard on your color as well.
But some other ingredients you may want to avoid include:
- Alcohols: Alcohols can be very drying to the hair. Not what you want when you just colored your hair, for sure! But, there are “good” alcohols, and “bad” alcohols. Fatty alcohols are actually good for your hair, and include things like cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and lauryl alcohol. They typically come from natural sources and are used as an emollient. It’s the “bad” alcohols, like ethanol, propanol, and ethyl alcohol that can dry out your hair.
- Silicones: Silicones can dry out your hair from the inside out and can also clog the pores on your scalp.
- Diethanolamine/Triethanolamine: These can destroy the keratin in your hair, leaving your hair dry and brittle.
- Synthetic Fragrances: Synthetic fragrances are commonly added to personal care products, including shampoos, to enhance their scent. However, they are often made from a mix of various chemicals, and manufacturers are not required to disclose the specific ingredients used in their fragrance blends. These fragrances can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, headaches, and respiratory issues. But since you really don’t know what is in these fragrances, they could be even more harmful.
It’s time-consuming, I know, but it’s so worth it to read your labels before buying!
If you want to become an ingredient list guru, I’ve done all the hard work for you in my ebook! Essential Moves to Clean Beauty teaches you everything I wish I had known when I first started my journey, in bite-sized pieces of info. Click the button below to learn more!
Ingredients to Look for in a Natural Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
Alrighty then, what should you look for when choosing a natural shampoo for your color-treated hair?
It’s important to find something that is both nourishing and protective. So, some good ingredients to look for are:
- Plant-Based Extracts: Things like calendula, aloe vera, and chamomile are great to have in your shampoo because they help soothe and hydrate your hair.
- Natural Oils: Argan oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, etc., are all excellent for adding moisture and shine to your colored hair.
- Antioxidants: Things like green tea extract and Vitamin E protect your hair from environmental damage and they prevent your color from fading!
- Proteins: Hydrolyzed proteins, such as rice or wheat proteins, can strengthen your hair and improve color retention.
- Organic Honey: Honey locks in moisture and keeps your hair from getting so dry and brittle.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: It’s great for getting your hair clean! Without damaging your color.
- Citrus Fruits: Lemons, grapefruits, etc. are fantastic for giving your hair a nice little boost. They offer plenty of Vitamin C, even for hair.
- Castor Oil: Castor oil is often used in organic shampoos, but it’s especially important if you have damaged hair, caused by your color treatment or harsh shampoos. It’s a rather heavy-duty moisturizer for hair.
- Nettle Leaf: Nettle repairs and revives your hair, making it nice and shiny too!
- Tea Tree Oil: Tea Tree Oil is great for oily hair. It reduces moisture buildup without totally drying out your hair.
- Shea Butter: It’s not just for the skin! Find a conditioner with shea butter in it to nourish and moisturize your gorgeous locks.
Of course, you don’t have to find a shampoo with all of these ingredients in it! But just be on the lookout for a few of them.
The Best Natural Shampoos for Colored Hair
So…confession time. I’ve actually never colored my hair in my life! But don’t click away just yet!
I can still give you an honest opinion on these shampoos because my mom has been coloring her hair for as long as I can remember, and she has the exact same hair type as me.
And if you’ve read my about page, you’ll know that we’ve done the majority of our low-tox journeys together. So, she has tried all of these non-toxic shampoos over the years!
I can also vet the ingredient lists of all of these shampoos no problem, and they get a passing grade from me!
This is also why you’ll never see a non-toxic hair dye post from me, because I don’t dye my hair at all. Maybe I’ll do one strictly from an ingredient point of view if the demand is high enough. (Leave me a comment if you want me to do one!)
And without further ado, let’s take a look at my top recommended natural shampoos for your colored tresses!!
1. Best Moisturizing Option: Innersense Color Awakening Hairbath
Innersense is one of my favorite hair care brands! I use all of their styling products with really great success.
This is also the brand that my mom returns to the most. It’s not terribly expensive, plus it makes her hair feel amazing.
Her ends dry out super easily, but this breathes major life back into her hair! She’s also super pleased with how long her color lasts when she uses this shampoo.
Other reasons why we love it:
- It’s Natural, Organic Ingredients. Innersense takes pride in using natural and organic ingredients in its products. The Color Awakening Hairbath represents their commitment to clean beauty, featuring a curated blend of plant-based extracts and essential oils.
- The Moisturizing Formula. This shampoo is specifically formulated to be especially hydrating. It infuses your hair with moisture, making it an excellent choice for color-treated hair!
- The Gentle Cleansing. The sulfate-free formula ensures a gentle, yet effective cleanse that doesn’t strip away your hair’s natural oil. It provides a refreshing experience without fading your color!
- It’s Color-Preserving. Speaking of your color! Innersense Color Awakening Hairbath is designed to protect your hair color and extend its life. The natural ingredients help seal in the color, keeping it from quickly fading on you.
Innersense Color Awakening Hairbath nourishes your tresses from root to tip! It is made with coconut and pumpkin seed oils, shea butter, and other emollient plant ingredients, which enhance the color and provide deep moisture to your hair. It gives you clean, healthy, vibrant hair, without all the residue, dryness, and fading!
Hopefully, your color will stay vibrant and fresh, just like my mom’s! Much longer than with other shampoos. The natural ingredients seemed to lock in the color pigments, ensuring that her hair looks salon-fresh even between color touch-ups.
2. Best Color Protectant Option: Briogeo Color Me Brilliant Mushroom and Bamboo Color Protectant Shampoo
Whenever my mom tries a different tone of hair color and she wants it to last, this is the shampoo she’ll go for! It’s made her color last so long that I’ve commented on it even months after she gets it done.
Other reasons why we love it:
- The Mushroom and Bamboo Extracts. This shampoo has a powerful little combo of mushroom and bamboo extracts (hence the name!) that work together to enhance color retention, protect against UV damage, and prevent color fading. It leaves your hair vibrant and healthy!
- It’s Plant-Based Nourishment. It’s enriched with a blend of nourishing plant extracts and oils, including aloe leaf juice, rosehip fruit oil, and green tea extract. This shampoo provides essential nutrients to your hair! It leaves your hair feeling silky-smooth and super soft. Your hair will love you!
If you want to make your color last as long as possible in between salon visits, this shampoo is for you! Its nourishing formula is designed to keep your color-treated hair looking and feeling its best!
Your lovely locks will feel so silky soft and incredibly healthy! Even on days that you don’t style your hair, you’ll still see that natural shine! My mom’s hair always looks radiant when she uses this shampoo!
3. Best Luxury Option: Evolvh Smartcolor Color Protecting Shampoo
I love buying this option for my mom as an occasional gift! It leaves her hair feeling moisturized and full of body. And she’s never complained about how it treats her color!
In fact, I’d say this one is second best (by just a hair!) at preserving her color.
Other reasons why we love it:
- Its Smartcolor Technology. Evolvh’s Smartcolor technology is the heart of this shampoo’s brilliance. It intelligently targets and addresses specific color concerns, including fading, dullness, and brassiness. The result is a vibrant, long-lasting color that turns heads wherever you go!
- The Color-Preserving Formula. This shampoo is formulated to maintain the integrity of your hair color. It gently cleanses without stripping away essential oils or pigments, ensuring your color remains fresh and true to its original shade.
- The Nourishing Botanicals. Infused with a blend of nourishing botanicals, such as flaxseed oil and hibiscus extract, this shampoo promotes optimal hair health. The plant-based ingredients provide essential nutrients, leaving your hair looking healthy, strong, and shiny.
This color-protecting shampoo is designed to help with shine, bounce, and softness! While still lessening the impact color has on your strands. It also offers protection against breakage, splitting, and frizz.
But its Smartcolor Technology is truly amazing. If you are someone who enjoys experimenting with different hair colors, then you’ve probably noticed it’s hard to maintain color vibrancy.
However, Evolvh’s intelligent formula is up to the task, working diligently to preserve and enhance your color while banishing any traces of brassiness. The result is a radiant and captivating hue that surpasses expectations.
4. Best Option that Gives Back: Rahua Color Full Shampoo
Rahua is one of my favorite luxury hair care brands! I did a full review of them and they made my hair feel amazing.
When my mom gave this shampoo a try, she said that it smelled amazing and made her hair feel like it wasn’t dyed at all. Plus, her color stayed strong and true!
Other reasons why we love it:
- Sustainably Sourced Ingredients. Rahua takes pride in sourcing its ingredients sustainably from the Amazon rainforest. The main ingredient is Morete oil, which is known for its color-enhancing properties and its ability to protect against UV damage.
- The Color-Preserving Formula. Rahua Color Full Shampoo is specifically formulated to maintain the vibrancy and longevity of your hair color. The unique blend of natural ingredients helps seal in the color pigments, preventing premature fading and keeping your hair looking salon-fresh!
- It’s Gentle and Effective. This shampoo is so gentle on your hair and scalp! It cleans and removes impurities and product buildup without stripping away your natural oils.
This shampoo is good for all shades of color-treated hair and highlighted hair. The shampoo’s color-locking properties keep color-treated strands looking fresh and glossy as if you just stepped out of the salon!
Plus, the Morete oil makes your hair feel softer and more manageable with each use. And if you like the exotic fragrance of gardenia flowers, you’ll love this shampoo!
5. Best Budget Option: Acure Unicorn Shimmer Shampoo
Whenever my mom is in a pinch (which happens a lot, amiright?!), this is the default shampoo she’ll always go for because it can usually be found in just about any grocery store.
I always recommend Acure to those who are new to clean beauty for just this reason! The last thing you need is to get overwhelmed with all the options online.
My mom has had zero complaints about this shampoo! She says it gets the job done just fine and preserves her color, but it does have a pretty strong smell. I’ve smelled it too, and I agree.
Reasons why we love this one:
- A Vibrant Shimmer. Just as the name suggests, Acure’s Unicorn Shimmer Shampoo is all about infusing your hair with a playful and eye-catching shimmer! The shimmer particles add a touch of iridescence, creating a fun and captivating effect, especially when light dances across your hair.
- The Superfruit Blend. This shampoo is enriched with a blend of superfruits, such as marula oil and blackberry extract. These nourishing ingredients provide essential vitamins, antioxidants, and moisture to your hair, promoting shine and overall hair health.
If you are someone who often deals with dry ends, you’ll love the Acure Unicorn Shimmer Shampoo! The superfruit blend works wonders, keeping hair moisturized without weighing it down.
Shine like a true unicorn with this fun, shimmering shampoo!! (No unicorns were harmed in the making of this product…LOL)
6. The Best Option for Blondes: Acure Ionic Blonde Color Wellness Shampoo
In case you were wondering, my mom is a blonde, so she uses this shampoo quite a bit as well! It doesn’t mess with the color of blonde (a more natural shade) that she goes for, and it leaves her hair feeling clean and moisturized.
I do wonder if the color-treated line from Acure has strong scents because we both agree that this has a strong scent as well. It’s not a chemical smell by any means, but more of a strong floral scent.
Here’s more reasons why we love this one:
- It’s Purple Carrot Extract. The secret behind this shampoo’s brilliance lies in the purple carrot extract! This natural pigment helps neutralize brassy and yellow tones that can plague blonde hair over time.
- The Blue Tansy Oil. To enhance the color-correcting power, Acure includes blue tansy oil in its formula. This oil works wonders in maintaining your blonde’s cool undertones while ensuring a consistent and salon-fresh look, even between color treatments.
- Nourishing Superfruits. Acure loves its superfruits! This one is enriched with a blend of marula oil, blackberry extract, and essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
If you want to tone your blonde hair down a bit and get rid of the sass and brass, then this shampoo is just right for you! It’ll neutralize any unwanted brassiness and restore your blonde to a cooler, more refreshed hue.
Frequently Asked Questions About Natural Shampoos for Colored Hair
Here are the most common questions people ask about natural shampoo for colored hair. And as always, if you have any more questions, just pop them in the comments below! I’m happy to help.
Can I Use Natural Shampoo on Colored Hair?
Absolutely! Natural shampoos made for color-treated hair are not only safe, but super good for your hair, because they lack the harmful chemicals that can strip away your color.
How Do You Take Care of Dyed Hair Naturally?
To care for dyed hair naturally, use sulfate-free, color safe shampoos and conditioners. It helps if you can limit heat styling, protect your hair from the sun, and indulge in deep conditioning treatments from time to time.
Which Chemical-Free Shampoo is Best for Hair?
It all depends on your hair type and hair care needs. Look for a shampoo with natural and organic ingredients. I’ve got all kinds of hair recommendations for you to check out!
There’s no such thing as a one size fits all shampoo, unfortunately.
Which Shampoo is Best for Color-Treated Hair?
The best shampoo for color-treated hair depends on your hair care needs as well. Any from this list will be very good, but my favorite is Innersense Color Awakening Hair Bath.
Do I Need Special Shampoo for Colored Hair?
You don’t necessarily need a special shampoo, but using one designed for color-treated hair helps you preserve your color and maintain your over-all hair health.
You want to get your money’s worth on that hair color! That’s why you want to pick from the list above.
Is Sulfate-Free Shampoo Good for Colored Hair?
Yes, sulfate-free shampoo is good for your colored hair. Sulfates can strip away hair color and your hair’s natural oils, making your color fade and your hair nice and dry. No one wants that!
Before You Go!!
Studies have shown that you can reduce the buildup of toxins in your body simply by changing a few of the products you normally buy. Shampoo is just the beginning!
Let me help you say goodbye to harmful chemicals and embrace a more natural, wholesome approach to beauty and wellness! Clean beauty is not just a trend, it’s a lifestyle choice that prioritizes your well-being.
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- Which toxic ingredients to avoid, and why
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If you are ready to transform your beauty routine and embrace a more natural approach to personal care, grab your copy of Essential Moves to Clean Beauty today!
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