Best Color-Depositing Conditioner

No matter how fresh and vibrant your hair color is on the first day, it’s inevitable for it to fade sooner or later. But you don’t have to keep going back to the salon to get a touch-up. With a trusty color-depositing conditioner, you can always refresh and retouch your hair color at home, making it look just as bold and intense as the day you had it done.

But with so many color-depositing products out there, how can you tell which one will work best? We can help! We’ve done our homework and looked for the best color-depositing conditioner options in the market today. Read on to learn the basics of color-depositing products and our top conditioner recommendations that can bring those dull-colored locks back to life!

What Is a Color-Depositing Conditioner?

A color-depositing conditioner is exactly what it sounds like—a conditioner that deposits pigment into your hair to brighten up your hair color.

Unlike chemical color treatments where the dye enters your hair strands, the pigments in color-depositing conditioners simply coat your strands, so it doesn’t damage your hair. However, that also means the color is semi-permanent and will fade after a few washes. If you don’t want your refreshed color to fade fast, it’s important to use a high-quality shampoo for color-treated hair.

These conditioners come in many different colors and shades, from natural colors like black and brown to deep, vivid tones to light, airy pastels.

How to Use Color-Depositing Conditioner

There are two main reasons why people use a color-depositing conditioner. The first is that they’ve had their hair dyed before and want to give that color a refresh because it has faded. The second is that they have natural hair but want to experiment with fantasy colors without committing to permanent dye.

Regardless of your reason for using a color-depositing conditioner, the process is pretty much the same. Here’s how it goes:

1. Wash your hair as you normally would, preferably with a color-safe shampoo. Pigments in color-depositing conditioners cling better to clean hair.
2. While your hair is damp, section it into 4-6 even sections, depending on its thickness.
3. Apply the color-depositing conditioner to each section, ideally with a brush. Make sure to fully saturate each section with the conditioner from root to tip for an even color.
4. When all your hair is saturated with conditioner, massage the product into your hair with your fingers.
5. Leave the conditioner on for 10-15 minutes.
6. Rinse with cold or lukewarm water until the product is completely washed out.

And that’s it! When you get out of the shower, you’ll see a noticeable difference in your hair color. It’s brighter, bolder, and way more brilliant than before!

Now that you know how color-depositing conditioner works, it’s time to choose the most effective one for you. Here are the contenders for the best color-depositing conditioners in the market today.

1.  Overall Best Color Depositing Conditioner: COLORLOMO

When it comes to making your hair color rich and vibrant again, the COLORLOMO Color-Depositing Conditioner is second to none. This dermatologist-approved, ammonia-free conditioner revives your hair color in minutes, taking it from dull and lifeless to intense and striking again.

The conditioner is powered by COLOR COATECH, our exclusive hair coloring technology that delivers smooth, flawless color quickly. With our conditioner, you don’t have to worry about uneven or patchy color in your hair, even if your application isn’t perfect. It works super fast, too; three minutes is all it takes for your hair to look salon-fresh again/

It’s also packed with tons of nourishing ingredients that moisturize and soften your hair as you color it. Shea butter and sweet almond oil work hard to give dry hair a boost of hydration. After you wash it off, you’ll notice a healthy shine and bounce in your locks that make your fresh hair color look even more glamorous.

Pros:

• COLOR COATECH ensures an even and flawless color.

• It takes just three minutes to refresh your color.

• Shea butter and sweet almond oil moisturize the hair.

• Free of harsh chemicals like ammonia, sulfates, parabens, and more.

• Effective on light and medium hair shades.

• Comes in a wide range of colors.

Cons:

• None—it’s the best of the best!

2.  Best for Hydration: Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask

If you have dry hair, check out the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask. As with all Moroccanoil products, this mask is rich in argan oil to moisturize and add shine to the hair, instantly making it look healthier and smoother.

So, while you sit and wait for the product to do its magic and enhance your color, the mask nourishes your hair deeply. Once you wash it out, you have soft, tangle-free hair with a brilliant shade.

Pros:

• Argan oil moisturizes the hair.

• Has amino acids to strengthen damaged strands.

• Has plenty of fashion shades to choose from.

Cons:

• Its thick consistency makes the application uneven, resulting in a patchy color.

• The smell can be too strong for some.

3.  Best Multifunctional Product: KeraColor Color + Clenditioner

Wash your hair and refresh its color at the same time with the multifunctional KeraColor Color + Clenditioner. It does three things simultaneously—cleans your hair, moisturizes it, and enriches its color for extra vibrance and vividness. It’s the perfect coloring solution for those on a time crunch!

This sulfate-free cleanser and conditioner has tons of moisturizing oils, like coconut, jojoba, rosehip, and almond oils. It also has keratin to make your mane smooth to the touch. As you color your hair, these magical oils add softness and shine to your strands.

Pros:

• Cleans, conditions, and colors your hair at the same time.

• Natural oils hydrate the hair deeply for extra softness.

• Keratin smoothens your hair.

• Has 23 different shades to choose from.

Cons:

• The pump doesn’t dispense the product well.

• Stains everything, from your fingers to the shower floor.

• There are too many overlapping shades, so it’s hard to find the one that matches your exact color.

4.  Best for Shine: dpHUE Gloss+ Conditioning Color

If it’s a glossy shine you’re after, go for the dpHUE Gloss+ Conditioning Color. Choose one of their 13 beautiful shades and apply it to your hair to get that boost of color made even more vibrant with a dazzling shine. The ammonia-free formula is also great for adding dimension and depth to the color you have now, ensuring your shade doesn’t fall flat. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a healthy sheen to make their colored hair look alive again.

Pros:

• Adds shine and dimension to your original hair color.

• No harsh chemicals, like ammonia or peroxide.
  Softens the hair, making it easier to manage.

Cons:

• Doesn’t have any powerful moisturizing ingredients.

5.  Best Vegan Formula: Maria Nila Colour Refresh Mask

Vegans will absolutely adore the Maria Nila Colour Refresh Mask, a nourishing color-depositing mask with an intense color payoff. It’s fantastic for those who want the boldest, brightest color, not pale and subtle.

The formula contains argan oil, sunflower seed oil, and panthenol to soften and moisturize the hair as you color it. It also has wheat proteins for strength and bounciness, making your vibrant shade look even better.

One huge advantage of this color-depositing mask is that it works very well on medium and dark hair. They even advise those with light hair to dilute the mask with the White Mix variant so that the final color is not too intense on their locks.

Pros:

• Intense color payoff that looks very rich and bold.

• Argan oil and sunflower seed oil moisturize the hair.

• Wheat protein strengthens damaged hair.

• Works well for light, medium, and dark hair.

• Vegan formula.

Cons:

• Fades quite fast.

• Stains hands and shower floor.

• The shades are much brighter than advertised.

6.  Best for Damage Repair: Celeb Luxury Viral Colorditioner

The Celeb Luxury Viral Colorditioner doesn’t just refresh your hair color and make it bolder. It also works to repair hair damage—a problem anyone with color-treated hair probably struggles with. It’s powered by their BondFix Technology, which rebuilds damaged bonds in your hair to make them strong, bouncy, and healthy again.

Not happy with the intensity of your hair color? You can use this conditioner to build it up. Apply it on consecutive days to make your shade as rich and vivid as you want.

Pros:

• BondFix Technology restores damaged strands to make them strong again.

• Changes your hair color in just 2-5 minutes.

• The color is buildable, according to the intensity you want.

• Vegan and cruelty-free.

Cons:

• You need to use so much of the product to see an effect on your hair.

Refresh Your Color at Home with COLORLOMO

You don’t have to spend money on an expensive coloring retouch at the salon just to give your color a refresh. With the best color-depositing conditioner, you can transform your hair from dull and patchy to bold, brilliant, and intense again.

Keeping your colored hair rich and vibrant is easier with COLORLOMO. Our professional-grade products are designed to protect and enhance fun hair colors so that you can keep flaunting your dream shade with confidence. Check out our range of color-loving products today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do color-depositing conditioners work?

Yes! As long as you use a high-quality color-depositing conditioner, it should work to coat your strands with semi-permanent pigments to give your color a boost of vibrance and boldness. It’s perfect for those looking to refresh their original color or want to try a new shade without committing to dyeing their hair yet. They typically work well with lighter hair but can be buildable on medium and dark hair.

Is depositing color damaging?

Not at all. Color-depositing products don’t use harsh chemicals like ammonia or peroxide to pry open your hair cuticles like permanent dye does. Instead, it deposits pigment on top of the strands, leaving them healthy and intact. It’s a gentle option for those who want to try coloring their hair but don’t want to deal with damaged locks later.

What is better for color-depositing, shampoo or conditioner?

In general, color-depositing conditioners are healthier for the hair than shampoos. Shampoo can strip color from your strands, especially if you use them for more than a few minutes. But conditioners are formulated with nourishing ingredients that are good for your hair, adding moisture and strength as you color your locks.

Can you use a color-depositing conditioner every day?

Technically, yes, you can because it won’t damage your hair. If you want to build up your color and make it more intense, you can opt to use it on consecutive days. However, after you attain the shade you want, we don’t recommend using a color-depositing conditioner daily. If it has a good formula, it will keep your color bold and vibrant with a few uses. After that, you shouldn’t have to reach for it again until a few weeks later.