The best shampoos for colored-treated hair are a game changer for my auburn hair. Learn from my mistake: The first time I ever dyed my hair, my fresh hue got washed right down the drain because I didn’t use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner. (No exaggeration, I had to go back to the salon to get my hair redone two weeks later.) I’ve come a long way in maintaining my color since then, and now I’m able to keep my strands extra vibrant for months thanks to the correct hair care products.

“If you’re investing time, money, and care into your color, it only makes sense to preserve it,” says celebrity hairstylist Marc Ballance. “Regular shampoos can strip color molecules and fade your shade faster. Color-safe shampoos are designed to hydrate, nourish, and protect without compromising the integrity of your color. Think of it like skin care—after a facial, you’d use products that support the results, not undo them. Same goes for your hair.”

After speaking with professional stylists and testing dozens of formulas, we found the very best shampoos for colored hair. With any of these picks, your color will stay so vivid, you might just be able to skip your next salon appointment—or at least push it off by a few weeks.