Best Shampoo for Red Hair

Caring for color-treated hair is always tricky. But there’s arguably no color as challenging to care for than red. Redheads that flaunt this fierce, fiery, eye-catching color might look like they carry their bold color effortlessly. But in reality, it takes a lot of hard work to make sure that deep burgundy or firetruck red doesn’t go spiraling down the drain with every wash day.

There are plenty of techniques for keeping your red tresses looking electrifyingly dramatic for as long as possible, from keeping hair washing to a minimum to using cold water in the shower. But the golden rule for any bottle redhead is to use the best color-safe shampoo you can find that boosts your red tone while keeping fading at bay.

Not sure where to find the right shampoo for you? Keep reading to see our recommendations for the best shampoo for red hair.

Why Does Red Hair Color Fade So Fast?

Fantasy colors are always hard to work with, from pastel pink to electric blue. But perhaps the most high-maintenance shade out there in the hair color world is red.

See, crimson pigment molecules are bigger than other colors. Sometimes, instead of seeping into the hair like a dye is meant to, these unstable red molecules simply sit on the surface of your hair. So, when you step under the showerhead and shampoo your locks, you could end up washing and stripping off a lot of that color.

Like all hair colors, red hair is also sensitive to things that can fade it fast, like a harsh shampoo with sulfates or the sun's UV rays. That’s why it’s a must to get a color-safe shampoo that won’t fade your color fast.

If you want to keep your colored hair vibrant, it’s important to look for the best shampoo for red hair according to your hair concerns and budget. To help you out, we’ve rounded up six of the most fantastic options for red locks.

1.  Overall Best Shampoo for Red Hair: COLORLOMO Red Color Safe Shampoo

If you’re looking for a red shampoo that does it all, the COLORLOMO Red Color Safe Shampoo will blow you away. This sulfate-free shampoo is powered by an advanced hair technology called Chroma Balance Tech, designed to protect your red hue for up to 50 washes. It replenishes red pigments that might have been washed away or faded, bringing life and bold color back to tired locks. But because it’s not a color-depositing shampoo, it won’t cause yucky build-up in your hair. Just clean, fresh locks with a shockingly red hue.

The formula is also infused with sweet almond oil and lotus flower extracts to add shine and hydration to the hair without weighing it down. This smoothness and gloss make your red locks look even more fabulous!

The COLORLOMO shampoo is designed for whatever kind of red you’re rocking, from cherry red to copper to reddish purple. But this line of shampoos also has variants for other fantasy colors, from blue to purple.

Pros:

• Chroma Balance Tech enhances the red hue.

• Keeps red color locked for up to 50 washes.

• Sweet almond oil and flower extracts hydrate the hair.

• Sulfate-free formula.

• Perfect for all red shades, from copper to reddish purple.

Cons:

• None at all—it’s brilliant!

2.  Best for Hydration: Kerastase Bain Riche Chroma Respect Shampoo

Coloring your hair red can lead to a lot of dryness and brittleness. To replenish your locks of the moisture they lost from the dyeing process, try a rich, creamy shampoo like the Kerastase Bain Riche Chroma Respect Shampoo.

This shampoo is sulfate-free and designed to be very rich and deeply nourishing. It’s meant for those with medium to thick color-treated hair. By intensely hydrating your locks, it can make them appear smoother, softer, and less frizzy. As a result, you get vibrantly red, vivid hair that is bouncy and health-looking.

Star ingredients in this shampoo include lactic acid to exfoliate the scalp and centella asiatica to soothe it.

Pros:

• Rich formula adds deep moisture back to red hair.

• Smoothens locks to keep frizz away.

• Has lactic acid and centella asiatica for scalp care.

• Sulfate-free formula.

Cons:

• Can make fine hair types heavy and weighed down.

• Doesn’t refresh red pigments directly.

3.  Best Multi-functional: KeraColor Color + Clenditioner in Cinnamon

Save time in the shower by cleansing, conditioning, and enhancing your red hue with the KeraColor Color + Clenditioner in Cinnamon. This is a gentle, color-safe hair shampoo that also serves as a conditioner, allowing you to wash and hydrate your hair at the same time. It has red pigments that allow you to boost your red shade, making your locks appear brighter and more fiery.

This “clenditioner” is also infused with all sorts of botanicals to boost your hair’s health. It has keratin to strengthen your hair and coconut and jojoba oils for extra softness and moisture.

Pros:

• Washes and conditions your hair simultaneously.

• Has red pigments to re-color your hair with each wash

• Gentle, sulfate-free formula.

Cons:

• Can leave a waxy coating around hair and make roots look greasy.

• Doesn’t lather up well.

• Time-consuming—you need to leave it on for a long time to see the effects.

4.  Best Drugstore: John Frieda Radiant Red Shampoo

You don’t have to break the bank to keep your hair flawlessly red. The affordable and accessible John Frieda Radiant Red Shampoo can do the trick!

This drugstore option may be cheap, but it packs a punch. It has a red tint to it that replenishes the pigments in your locks, making it look bolder and brighter with each wash. To add extra shine and hydration, it has vitamin E and pomegranate extract, too.

Pros:

• Red tint helps replenish red pigments in your hair.

• Vitamin E and pomegranate make hair shiny and hydrated.

• Affordable price.

Cons:

• Has sulfates that can dry out your hair and strip color if used regularly.

5.  Best Against UV Damage: Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color

The sun is red hair’s worst enemy. To protect your vibrant red locks from UV rays that can fade them, use the Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color.

This shampoo is formulated to preserve your hair color and protect it from environmental pollutants and UV degradation. It has bioflavonoids that minimize premature fading, while baobab tree extracts and hydrolyzed protein add softness and strength to your locks. It’s even infused with the Oribe signature complex of lychee, watermelon, and edelweiss to fight oxidative stress that can deplete your beautiful color.

Pros:

• Shields your hair from environmental damage.

• Has a blend of botanicals for softness, strength, and color protection.

Cons:

• Doesn’t lather up so well.

Keep Your Red Locks Fierce and Fiery with COLORLOMO!

Maintaining stunning red hair that wows the crowd isn’t easy. If anything, it’s one of the biggest challenges of anyone who loves using fantasy colors. But whether you’re rocking a bright cherry red or a sensual maroon, the secret to keeping your red locks as fresh and fiery as long as possible is using the best shampoo for red hair you can find.

Looking for even more products that can help you sport your colored tresses for a long time? Browse our collection of COLORLOMO products that can help keep your colored locks looking salon-fresh! Your lovely, vibrant hair will thank you for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep red hair from fading?

If you want to keep your red shade for as long as possible, use a color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo designed to enhance your color and make it more vivid. When you shower, make sure to use cold water, never scorching hot water as it’s known to fade color faster. Try wearing hats or using an umbrella on extra hot days—this helps shield your hair from the sun, which can fade your red tone quickly.

Can I wash my red hair with normal shampoo?

We highly recommend washing your red hair only with color-safe formulas. Regular shampoo that you see in the drugstore or supermarket typically contains sulfates, which fade color fast. Instead, go for one that’s gentle, sulfate-free, and has tons of nourishing benefits that can hydrate and bring life to your red tresses.

What ingredients should I look for in a shampoo for red hair?

Look for shampoos with red pigments that can enhance your color. It’s also good to have hydrating and strengthening ingredients to care for your dry, damaged, chemically treated hair. Keep an eye out for ingredients like coconut oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E, among many other nourishing hair ingredients.

How often should you wash color-treated hair?

Washing color-treated hair every day strips your color faster, leaving you with dull, faded, and dry hair. To keep your color locked in for longer, wash your locks only two or three times a week. If your scalp feels greasy between washes, use a few sprays of dry shampoo for a quick refresh.