Balayage is known to be the most low-maintenance type of hair color. However, you will need to put in a little effort to prolong your fresh salon color. It doesn’t have to be challenging; it all starts with your shampoo.
When you choose the correct shampoo, you will notice a difference in the health of your hair, scalp, and also your color.
What is the best shampoo for balayage? The best shampoo for balayage is color-safe and free of sulfates and parabens. It will cleanse the hair gently while also keeping salon color intact. You may also want to consider getting a toning shampoo that will revive your color or take out the brassiness or touch up a faded look.
Different balayage colors require different shampoos. However, it can be intensely overwhelming to shift through thousands of options all over the internet—each one with questionable marketing claims.
Shampoo is severely underrated, and it’s the most accessible product to switch up in your hair routine. If you are spending a lot of money on your hair color, it’s essential to invest in your shampoo as well. No one wants to see their color run straight down the drain.
Best Shampoos for Blonde Balayage
Those who have blonde balayage know the struggle of trying to maintain the tone of your hair color. Blondes are very prone to turning warm or brassy. On most people, it’s not a flattering look with their skin tone.
In the summer months, there is also a possibility that blonde strands can turn green from the chlorine in pools. These situations are the reason why shampoo is so important. The good news is that there is a shampoo nowadays for every need.
Those who have a blonde balayage should look for a color-safe shampoo or a toning shampoo for blonde hair. Both will maintain the color. A toning shampoo will be great to get rid of brassiness at home in between salon appointments.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | RedKen Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo | Color enhancing, strengthening |
| 2. | ProVoke Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo | Toning shampoo, removes brassiness |
| 3. | Shea Moisture Hydrate and Repair Moisture Shampoo | Hydrating, gentle, sulfate and paraben-free |
| 4. | FEKKAI Baby Blonde Shampoo Brighten and Boost | Brightens over time, sulfate and paraben-free |
1. RedKen Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo
We’re sure you’ve heard of RedKen and for good reason! Their salon-quality products have stood the test of time and they’re here to save the day once again.
Not only is this shampoo color-safe and sulfate-free, it will also protect and enhance your hair color. You’ll be left with vibrant hair that isn’t stripped of its natural oils.
This shampoo also includes ingredients that strengthen your hair from root to tip so your locks won’t just look shiny and revitalized – they’ll be healthy inside and out!
2. ProVoke Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo
A toning shampoo is essential for anyone who has blonde hair. Most of these toning shampoos are purple because purple will always cancel out yellow. So, when you turn yellow, opt for a purple toning shampoo.
This one from ProVoke is perfect for anyone with a blonde balayage. It will saturate all the blonde strands to make sure they lift bright and cool-toned. However, this shampoo should be used as a treatment.
You will only need to use this shampoo once a week to see beautiful, bright, and toned results. You will be able to see the results as soon as you wash it out from your hair.
It will also nourish the hair by repairing damaged hair bonds. Your hair may feel dry or brittle, and it’s essential to have a shampoo that won’t damage the strands further.
Remember to follow the instructions on the bottle. Always conduct a patch test or test strand to prevent any allergic reactions. This once-a-week shampoo will keep you salon-fresh 24/7.
3. Shea Moisture Hydrate and Repair Moisture Shampoo
Bleaching your hair often comes with adverse side effects. You may notice your hair feeling dry or brittle. Your shampoo could only be making it worse. The last thing you want to do is strip your hair even further.
That is why it is crucial to opt for a moisturizing and gentle shampoo. This shampoo will help alleviate all the damage that your hair goes through, especially if you frequently touch up your balayage.
This moisturizing shampoo is formulated with gentle ingredients like Manuka Honey, Yogurt Extract, Mafura Oil, and Organic Fair Trade Shea Butter. Only the most restoring and nourishing ingredients for damaged hair.
Shea Moisture also formulated this product without potentially sensitizing ingredients. You won’t find mineral oil, petroleum, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or propylene glycol in this shampoo. They also don’t test on animals.
So if you want to revitalize your hair, this shampoo will get the job done. It will also boost and add shine to the hair for it to look and feel silky. For an unstoppable duo, pair with the hydrate and repair conditioner.
Shea moisture is a great drugstore option to nourish and protect the hair without over-stripping the strands. Their brand also carries nourishing hair masks that can give your hair some extra love if you need it.
4. FEKKAI Baby Blonde Shampoo Brighten and Boost
Suppose platinum blonde isn’t the look you are going for, but you still need to tone your blonde strands slightly.
This product from Fekkai will answer your prayers. It is a brightening shampoo, but it’s important to keep in mind that this shampoo works slightly differently from other toning shampoos.
First, it will gently highlight the hair gradually over time. It’s the perfect option to maintain a natural blonde color without drastic changes. It’s fantastic for those who have a balayage and for natural blondes.
This shampoo gives the scalp a gentle cleanse, and it is not abrasive on the scalp or hair follicles. It has a fresh citrus scent that will make you feel revitalized. Your hair won’t feel stripped or dry either.
Fekkai is vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and eco-friendly. The packaging is made up of 95% of recycled plastic. It is also free of parabens, silicones, sulfates, and phthalates. No yucky ingredients here.
Provence Chamomile Extract is the superhero ingredient within this shampoo that will naturally brighten blonde hair over time. You will always be able to care for, protect, and maintain your hair for the long run.
Best Shampoo for Brown Balayage
Toning and maintaining hair is not just for blondes. Even if you have a brown balayage, you will want to make sure that color and its tone stay put.
With the right shampoo, you can extend your brown balayage’s lifespan. Yes, brown hair can also be toned. If you don’t want a warm caramel undertone and are looking for a cool-toned balayage, it may be time to switch it up.
Color-treated brown hair or brown balayage can also take some damage if not executed properly. Also, as mentioned before, your shampoo could be the reason why it’s not bouncy, healthy, or shiny.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Redken Color Extend Brownlights Blue Shampoo | Blue toning shampoo |
| 2. | Not Your Mother’s Triple Threat Brunette Shampoo | Protecting and toning blue shampoo |
| 3. | Acure Wave and Curl Color Wellness Shampoo | Nourishing and protecting |
1. Redken Color Extend Brownlights Blue Shampoo
Who knew there could be a toning shampoo for brown hair? Were you aware that brown hair can also become real brassy real quick? Shocking. Honestly, it’s not just the blondes that need to maintain their color-treated hair.
Just like purple neutralizes yellow, brassy hair in blondes, blue neutralizes orange, which is the underlying pigment of brassy brunettes. This is why brunettes should opt for a blue toning shampoo instead of purple.
This one from Redken will not only tone a brown balayage, but it can tone natural brunettes as well. Those who have brassy brunette highlights can use this Brownlights shampoo to correct and tone their hair.
You will be able to go from a warm caramel to cool chocolate instantly. It’s easy to use, just like any other shampoo. All you need to do is apply to wet hair and leave the shampoo to work its magic for 3-5 minutes.
However, it’s essential to keep in mind that this is not an everyday shampoo. Think of it as a treatment that should be done one or two times a week. You can also pair it with their Brownlights conditioner.
Redken formulated this product with ingredients like Citric Acid and Vegetable Protein. This shampoo doesn’t contain sulfates either, and it will cleanse the hair without stripping your brown balayage hair color. You will be able to prolong your next salon visit with this effective shampoo.
2. Not Your Mother’s Triple Threat Brunette Shampoo
Shampoo should protect the hair, especially a shampoo that will tone any brassiness from your brunette balayage. Thankfully, that is precisely what you will get from this Not Your Mother’s hair care line.
This shampoo and conditioner set is wonderful if you are working with a budget. You will be able to upgrade both products in your hair wash routine without even going to the store.
In this set, the shampoo and conditioner contain blue pigments to help correct and fight off orange, brassy tones in your balayage or even in your natural brown hair. You can kiss orange and red tones goodbye.
It is also formulated to work with all hair types. No matter if you have straight, fine, thick, curly, coily, coarse, or any other hair texture, this shampoo and conditioner will get the job done for you.
The best part is that it is also formulated with Blue Tansy Oil. This ingredient will make sure your hair will become strengthened over time. It will increase the shine in your hair while also nourishing your strands.
Triple Threat Brunette is also formulated without silicones, sulfate surfactants, phthalates, and parabens. It is also vegan and cruelty-free, so you can rest assured no animals were harmed to create your shampoo and conditioner.
It’s also best to use this set as a treatment and not as an everyday shampoo. Sometimes too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing. However, your brassiness will disappear.
3. Acure Wave and Curl Color Wellness Shampoo
Your shampoo needs to work for you and not create further damage. That also includes maintaining the vibrancy and brilliancy of your color. This is why it’s crucial to have a shampoo that nourishes and protects.
This color wellness shampoo will be great for all your color-treated balayage needs. Acure focuses on performance-driven haircare, and you shouldn’t expect anything less with this product.
It is especially beneficial for those who have wavy or curly hair. Even those with straight hair could potentially benefit from this shampoo. You are also guaranteed a 100% Vegan formula and a cruelty-free hair care line.
This shampoo contains clarifying blue tansy oil, argan oil, and sunflower seed extract. All of these ingredients will bring a supple and soft feeling to the strands. Sunflower-seed extract is what will work to protect color.
Acure also formulated this shampoo without potentially sensitizing ingredients. You won’t find parabens, petroleum, sulfates, mineral oil, or formaldehyde within this color wellness shampoo.
Use this shampoo just like any other shampoo. All you have to do is lather the hair, massage the scalp, and rinse. Pair with the Wave and Curl Color Wellness Conditioner to prolong your beautiful brown balayage.
Best Shampoo for Dark or Black Balayage
You may be thinking that a balayage can only be for blonde or brown hair. However, no matter what color or how dark your hair is, you can get a beautiful balayage. It will add dimension and the illusion of volume and movement to your strands.
Darker or black balayage is usually the most low-maintenance type. However, that doesn’t mean your color won’t fade or that your hair couldn’t benefit from a tune-up.
Color can still fade quickly from dark hair, especially if you have a shampoo that washes your hair color down the drain. The last thing you want to see is your pigmented hair disappear with every wash.
Thankfully, there are beautiful shampoos on the market that can maintain, protect, or even deposit hair color. You will be able to keep your strands vibrant and rich without any unnecessary steps.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Verb Ghost Shampoo | Lightweight, gentle, moisturizing |
| 2. | Water Colors Intense Metallic Shampoo Steel | Steel color-depositing, toning, |
| 3. | Shea Moisture Strengthen and Restore Shampoo | Shampoo + conditioner, freshens and restores |
| 4. | DpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo Alternative | Volumizing, color-protecting |
1. Verb Ghost Shampoo
Another great choice for a color-safe and paraben/sulfate-free shampoo is this Ghost Shampoo from Verb.
Why is it called “Ghost” shampoo? Because it’s impossibly weightless and gentle on your strands.
This formula will hydrate and cleanse your hair and scalp for soft, strong, and nourished hair you can depend on to look its best after every wash.
It is even anti-tangling and anti-frizz for those of you with fussy and unmanageable locks.
Packed with UV protection all derived from vegan ingredients, this shampoo won’t disappoint and will help you maintain your balayage for months before you need a trip to the salon.
2. Water Colors Intense Metallic Shampoo Steel
If you have a black balayage with gray or silver strands, you will need a secret weapon to keep the silver tones in your hair. One of the most effective ways to do that is with a color depositing shampoo.
A color depositing shampoo will be your best friend and prolong your next visit to the hair salon. With every wash of a color depositing shampoo, you will infuse the hair with an extra pigment boost.
This one, in particular, will be the most effective on pre-lightened or bleached strands. The steel color will keep your metallic and silver for an extended period of time. You will be able to enjoy your dark and silver balayage for a lot longer.
This shampoo from watercolors also works great as a toner, so if you only need to refresh the ends, you will be able to take care of it in a flash. You can get as little or as much pigment as you want.
This shampoo does not replace your everyday shampoo. It will work best as a treatment to use once every week or so. Water Color’s shampoo has a 5.3-5.8 pH level that allows the color to deposit without the hair becoming brittle.
Even though this is a shampoo, you will feel that your strands are incredibly conditioned. This is due to the cationic conditioners that allow the color to be deposited into your hair.
Now you don’t have to stress maintaining a fashionable color like silver along with your dark balayage. The contrast and dimension of your balayage will be just as fresh as the day you left the salon.
3. Shea Moisture Strengthen and Restore Shampoo
Keep your balayage fresh and healthy at the same time. Shea Moisture is known for keeping the health of your hair intact.
Now you’ll be able to maintain coloring your hair with this restorative shampoo and conditioner set.
You will also be able to promote healthy hair growth with every use. This shampoo contains a wide variety of beneficial ingredients like peppermint oil. This will stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth.
You’ll also find Jamaican Black Castor Oil within this shampoo. Castor oil is excellent to nourish chemically treated hair or hair that goes through heat styling.
Apple cider vinegar works to balance the pH levels of your hair, which is also beneficial to promote healthy hair growth. It can also increase shine to your hair.
Nourishing natural oils and organic raw shea butter will provide soft, shiny hair and reduce the appearance of split ends. Your strands will be hydrated and luscious. Your cuticles will be sealed and happy.
However, one thing to keep in mind with this shampoo is that it will be the most beneficial for those who have curly hair types.
4. DpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo Alternative
Suppose you are still a little wary of most shampoos on the market, especially if you have color-treated hair or a dark balayage. Maybe a hair rinse will work better for you every once in a while rather than a regular shampoo.
This is also an incredible option for those who are sensitive or have unwanted effects from color-treated hair. If your goal is to use shampoo less at home but you still need a way to cleanse the hair, this product from dpHUE will be your best bet.
There isn’t anything this shampoo alternative does not do. It soothes the scalp with apple cider vinegar. You can say goodbye to a dry, inflamed, and irritated scalp. Lavender extract and Aloe Vera help soften the follicles.
This apple cider vinegar shampoo alternative will lock in your hair color so that it won’t go anywhere. This product will seal the cuticle, so your beautiful balayage doesn’t wash down the drain and you can maintain your vibrancy.
Also, this rinse will be able to add shine and strengthen the hair after use. You’ll be protected from external environmental factors, while Vitamin E and Argan Oil improve the shine and strength of your ends.
This shampoo alternative will be great if you are struggling in between washes without using a regular shampoo. The product is even more impressive if you are still unsure about what everyday shampoo you want to switch in your routine.
Summary
The moral of the story is to invest, research, and choose your next shampoo wisely. It will save you from a lot of heartbreak in the future. If you spend a lot of money on your balayage, it only makes sense to invest in a shampoo or shampoo treatment.
This will not only keep the health of your locks intact but will also prolong your color. Once you extend the life of your balayage, you will be able to spend less time at the salon and stretch your next color appointment.
So I guess you can say it will save you money in the long term. The less you need a color touch up the better. Who wouldn’t want that? With the right shampoo for your balayage, you’ll be able to see how well your hair keeps its vibrancy.
For blondes, it’s beneficial to opt for a purple shampoo that will neutralize any brassy or yellow tones that are present. These purple shampoos will keep you bright and light without stripping the rest of your hair. It’s significant to maintain hair health intact too.
For brunettes, opt for a blue toning shampoo. Brunettes will also need to tone their hair, especially those who have a brown balayage. Blue cancels out any orange or red tones in brown hair. You will want to get rid of any underlying warm tones.
Lastly, those who have a dark brown or even black balayage will also want to maintain their locks. A silver color depositing shampoo works for black and gray balayage, while a strengthening color-safe shampoo will prolong the overall color.
Now that you know what lies out there, you can rest assured that you will not only be able to protect your balayage but also your wallet. You’ll be able to restore the health of your strands without compromising the brilliancy of your hair color.
Investing in your shampoo is the most underrated concept in your hair care routine. Once you see the difference, you won’t be going back to just any old regular shampoo.
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