How to Find the Best Colour-Safe Shampoo

If you want your colour-treated hair to look its glossiest, your choice of shampoo is everything. The right cleanser can be the difference between shades that fade fast, and rich, vibrant hues that stick around. So, here, we're breaking down exactly what you need to look for in a colour-safe shampoo – from anti-metal technology to moisture magnet ingredients. These are the shampoo benefits that really matter to your coloured hair...

First, What is a Colour-Safe Shampoo?

A colour-safe shampoo is any formula designed to respect colour-treated hair. It cleanses and cares, with a lather that's mild enough to prevent stripping, but rich enough to rinse away impurities. Anyone with coloured hair will benefit from these protective formulas. You've spent your time and money on reaching your dream shade – a colour-safe shampoo is what you need to help it last.

What Ingredients Should I Look for in a Colour-Safe Shampoo?

1. Mild Surfactants

Surfactants are the compounds that trap dirt and impurities, and help your shampoo foam. They're essential to cleansing, but they don't need to be harsh; mild surfactants are best for colour-treated hair. Look for rich yet gentle foaming agents, such as Sodium Cocoyl Methyl Isethionate or Cocamidopropyl Betaine. Despite their scientific names, they’re actually gentle on your hair and scalp, helping to cleanse without stripping natural oils

2. Moisturizing Ingredients

Colour-treated hair is at its most vibrant when it's healthy, nourished and moisturised, so aim to restore hydration with a vitamin-boosted, amino acid-rich, colour-safe shampoo. We formulated ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo with Glycine and Vitamin B5 for this very reason; to shield hair against damage due to free radicals and lock in moisture from scalp to tips.

3. Anti-Metal Technology

You can't see or feel them, but right now, there are probably metals in your hair. They come from the air you breathe and the water you wash with, with copper (from pipes) being the most common. These invisible aggressors hold the power to speed up shade fade, which is why a detoxifying formula is so essential to keep your colour true. Look for anti-metal technology, like Wella Professionals' Metal Purifier. It's built into our core hair care collections*, helping to neutralise the dulling effects of metal build-up.

How Do I Know If My Shampoo is Colour-Safe?

1. It Promises Real Results

Forget vague claims. The world of hair care and colour is strictly regulated, so if your shampoo can promise lasting wear with a real timeline, know there are studies that back it up. Case in point: ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo (and the whole ULTIMATE COLOR line) has undergone several tests, and we can proudly state that the line keeps colour vibrancy for up to 10 weeks**.

2. It's a Sulfate-Free Formula

The biggest factor behind colour fade is washing, but you need to keep hair clean. So, the best thing you can do is reach for mild formulas that maintain healthy strands, without stripping colour molecules away. Look for a shampoo that's free of sulfates – the foaming agents responsible for a rich lather. ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo is sulfate-free, yet it still foams up for a luxurious washing experience.

3. It Neutralises Common Colour Distorters

Even when you use a sulfate-free shampoo, everyday exposure can still interfere with your colour. Metals, minerals, and environmental impurities gradually build up on the hair, distorting tone, dulling shine, and making colour fade faster between salon visits.

The Metal Purifier in ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo is designed to gently cleanse away these invisible aggressors while respecting colour-treated hair. It helps to keep your hair free from shade-distorting metals, so your colour retains its glossy vibrancy for longer.

What's the Best Shampoo for Colour-Treated Hair?

For colour-treated hair, we recommend our newest innovation, ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo. Powered by science and co-created with professionals, it's formulated with a thoughtful blend of scalp-soothing, colour-protecting ingredients. You'll love it because:

It delivers on real, tangible results, revitalizing your hair from the first wash for colour vibrancy that lasts up to 10 weeks**.
Its mild, sulfate-free formula leaves your hair feeling clean and conditioned – not stripped.
It's packed with special ingredients, like Glycine and Vitamin B5, for that lustrous, healthy hair sheen.
It helps to protect your colour from dulling metals with its built-in Metal Purifier technology.
It comes hair colourist-approved. "ULTIMATE COLOR celebrates your colour," says Wella Colour & Trend Ambassador, Jordanna Corella. "It's great for vibrancy, for long-lasting results, and an amazing shine finish on the hair.

Colour-Safe Shampoo vs. Purple Shampoo vs. Blue Shampoo: How Do I Choose?

They all protect your colour – but in very different ways. So, how do you know when it's time to reach for colour-safe shampoo or when a violet tint is calling your name? Here's the verdict:

Choose colour-safe shampoo when...

You need an everyday formula that helps to shield your shade.
You want your hair colour to appear more vibrant.

Choose purple shampoo when...

Your blonde hair is reflecting yellow tinges or unwanted warmth.
You need a quick blonde refresh, no more than once per week.

Choose blue shampoo when...

You have brunette hair that's looking brassy with orange or red undertones.

You're looking to bridge the gap between salon visits with a quick fix.

In short, that means...

Using colour-safe shampoo on regular wash days.
Switching to a purple or blue shampoo only when your colour needs cooling down.

How Do I Use Colour-Safe Shampoo Correctly?

1. Set a Wash Schedule Based on Colour Type

Next time you’re in the salon, make a mental note of the type of colour your stylist uses. Whether it’s a permanent, demi-permanent, or semi-permanent formula plays a big role in how often you should shampoo, and which formulas are best.

If it's a permanent colour:

Your shade is more resistant to fading, but that doesn't mean it's fade-proof. So, aim to wash your hair no more than two to three times per week, with ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo as your go-to. Then, when hair is craving extra care, you can swap in specialist, colour-safe shampoos. We love ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo for intense damage repair, or ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo for smoothness & shine.

If it's a demi-permanent colour:

Gentle, sulfate-free shampoos are essentials, as demi-permanent colours sit closer to the hair's surface. Make ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo your staple, and aim to lather up no more than twice per week if possible. But, don't force it – if your scalp becomes oily, uncomfortable or feels in need of a refresh, it's better to (gently) wash it than let oil build up.

If it's a semi-permanent colour:

These shades fade fastest, as they only coat the surface of your hair – they don't work internally. So, your goal is to wash your hair as infrequently as possible, while still prioritising scalp and hair health. Only use mild, sulfate-free formulas, like ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo, and avoid clarifying shampoos, which may strip away your semi-permanent hair colour.

Remember: When setting a hair wash schedule, your goal is to balance the needs of your colour-treated hair with the health of your scalp. So, think of the above as helpful guidelines – not rigid rules. If you find your scalp becomes oily quickly, adjust your schedule accordingly.

2. Tailor Your Technique to Your Hair Type

Now you've got a washing schedule that complements your colour type, it's time to talk about hair types. Your technique will differ depending on how straight, wavy or curly your texture is.

For straight hair:

Straight hair allows oil to travel quickly from the roots down to the ends, so you may find double cleansing useful for keeping your scalp clean, fresh and purified. In this case, always use a colour caring shampoo, like ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo, and massage it in gently, taking care not to overstimulate oil production at the roots.

For wavy hair:

Wavy hair tends to be oilier at the roots and drier through the ends, so focus ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo at the scalp and let the lather run through your lengths. Not only will this guarantee a gentler cleanse, but it also reduces the rough handling that can disrupt your wave pattern.

For curly hair:

To reduce rubbing and friction through your curls, emulsify your colour-safe shampoo in the palms of your hands first, then massage it into roots and let the lather run through the lengths. If your ends are especially dry, protect them with a pre-shampoo oil, like ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum. Leave the oil in while you wash, so stressed lengths get an extra dose of nourishment.

For coily hair:

Be extra gentle when washing coily, colour-treated hair, making sure you don't scrub at strands. Wash your hair like you're washing silk; massage it gently with the luxurious lather of ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo. Then, make sure you're always following with a deep treatment.

3. Consider Your Colour-Specific Concerns

Finally, refine your routine with small tweaks that make it suitable for your colour. These are some of the colour-specific concerns to keep in mind on wash day...

For blonde hair:

ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo will add moisture to your lightened hair from wash to wash, but you may want to swap in a purple shampoo if and when your shade starts to shift too warm. Only use it when needed – not routinely – so you avoid dull, overly ashy tones.

For brunette hair:

Colour fade through dark hair tends to show up as flatness rather than a shade shift, so follow colour-safe shampoo with caring steps that give your hair a healthy glow. A shine spray, like ULTIMATE COLOR Shine Spray, is the perfect post-wash pick, veiling lengths in a gloss-boosting blend of smoothing Olivate and moisturizing Vitamin B5.

For red hair:

The molecules in red hair colour tend to be larger than those found in blonde or brown formulas, which makes it harder for them to penetrate the cortex. This is why red shades tend to fade faster than other hair colours, calling for an all-round gentler hair care approach, and a less frequent washing schedule. Always, always follow shampoo with a conditioner or hair mask to help seal the hair cuticle. We love ULTIMATE COLOR Miracle Leave-In Mask, which reduces your rinsing steps to help your red colour vibrancy stay for longer.

Love Your Colour for Longer

Now you've got your routine locked down, you're set for glossy hair that lasts. Team your new wash day techniques with the ULTIMATE COLOR regimen for up to 10 weeks** of colour vibrancy.