Balayage hair colouring is all the rage right now with the soft, swept shades that require a specialised technique by your hairstylist, but for you, they are low maintenance (cos you don’t have to run for frequent salon appointments), and they grow out leaving your hair looking like it’s your natural shade.

Now that’s a win-win situation for sure. However, like any colour treated hair, you do need special shampoos to take care of the dyes from fading too quickly. Read on to find out the best shampoos for Balayage hair:

How to pick the best shampoo for balayage hair - A buying guide

Before looking at the best shampoo for balayage hair, let's look at what to look for in a such a shampoo. Check it out:

Sulfate-Free

Most regular shampoos are packed with sulfates. While this is generally bad for your hair (balayage or not), sulfates become a bigger problem with color-treated hair.

The most common sulfates are Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. These are surfactants that cleanse your hair and leave them squeaky clean.

But in case of color-treated hair they are known to strip hair dye pigments from the strands. Which is why you should avoid sulfate-based shampoos and go for milder formulas. This will increase the life of your balayage.

UV Filters

Another enemy of your balayage (and generally all color-treated hair) is the sun. The UVA and UVB radiation do not just tan your skin. It will also discolor your tresses.

They make your balayage look dull and lifeless. So it's good to select shampoos with UV filters.

These filters will shield your hair from UV radiation, prolonging the life and vibrancy of hair color.

Hair Toning Properties

Having a shampoo that functions a toner is important for balayage hair, especially if you have blonde hair tones.

This means you should look out for purple or blue shampoos. These shampoos contain purple pigments or violet pigments. These reduce brassy tones and yellowness on blonde hair.

As purple is opposite to yellow in the color wheel, it cancels out the yellow notes in hair and leaves blonde hair brighter.

Similarly, blue shampoos cancels out reddish tones in brunette hair, leaving hair color look softer.

Repairing and Conditioning

Balayage or coloring of any kind involves putting a bunch of chemicals on your hair. Most hair dyes have ammonia.

And if you have dark hair and get blonde balayage tones, this will involve a certain amount of bleaching.

This can leave your hair dull, damaged and frizzy. So make sure the shampoo you choose helps repair this damage.

These shampoos should contain ingredients like keratin, biotin, aloe vera, jojoba oil, argan oil, and other nourishing herbs and oils that leave hair smooth and healthy.

We still love Videri Peppermint Shampoo with no sulfate the best

How I tested the best shampoos for balayage hair?

After looking at several products for balayage hair in the market, our team personally tried out these shampoos. Then, we rated them on a scale of 1-5 based on the following parameters.

• Gentleness - the best shampoos for balayage hair helps cleanse your hair without stripping the hair dye. It should be too harsh and shouldn't strip your hair color. Usually sulfate-based shampoos are notorious for stripping color.
• Color protection - In addition to NOT stripping color, it should help protect hair color from fading as well. So we gave shampoos with UV filters extra points.
• Reducing brassiness - Most balayage dyes suffer from the lighter part of the hair getting dull or yellowish-looking. So the shampoo must be a purple shampoo with color pigments that nullify the reddish, brassy tones on blonde hair and leave it bright.

Top Shampoos for Balayage Hair

Shampoos for Balayage Hair	Best For	Chief Ingredients
Matrix Total Results So Silver Color Depositing Purple Shampoo	Blonde Hair	SLS (sodium laureth sulfate), Salicylic acid, Perfume
Nexxus Deep Hydration Shampoo	Dry Hair	SLS, Caviar & Protein Complex
Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo	Platinum highlights	AquaPlex technology, Blue-Purple pigments, UV filters
SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo	African American Hair	Shea butter, sea kelp, argan oil, essential oils
John Frieda Luxurious Volume Color Care Shampoo	Oily hair	SLS, Caffeine Vitality Complex, Wheat protein
R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo	Frizzy hair	Juniper berry extract, Babassu seed oil, Glycerin
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo	Damaged hair	OFPMA complex, Citric acid
BIOLAGE Colorlast Shampoo	Sensitive scalp	SLS, Orchid extract

#1- MATRIX Total Results So Silver for balayage hair 

When I used this shampoo on my balayage hair I found that it so very amazing at neutralizing any brassy tones or redness. Now wonder this shampoo is one of the most preferred brands by top stylists across the world.

I got this product to test as it is a very familiar brand used in top salons, so Matrix tops my list for the best shampoos for Balayage hair. 

What I love about this shampoo is that even though it gives you top-notch results to highlight your coloured locks even further, it is not very expensive. It is priced in the mid-range and is very affordable. 

If you have coloured your hair lighter than your natural hair, like a blond or platinum, your hair might be prone to becoming dull or developing a brassy shade. This shampoo neutralises that colour and gives you extra gloss and shine in first wash itself.

The one drawback of this shampoo is that it contains both sodium laureth and lauryl sulfates. These are very harsh surfactants and can strip both hair color and moisture.

So I won't suggest it if you have very dry hair or a balayage in a fancy color other than blonde.

I also recommend you use this shampoo with a nourishing conditioner to protect your hair from dryness.

Pros:

• The extra tinted purple pigment neutralizes brassiness in blonde balayage styles
• Shows results for removing redness from bleached in first wash itself

Cons:

• Contains sulfates so it can dry out hair and strip hair color

My Ratings:

• Gentleness - 3.5/5
• Color Protection - 4.5/5
• Reducing Brassiness - 5/5

#2-Loreal Serie Expert Magnesium Silver Neutralising Shampoo

You didn’t think you were gonna have a list of the best shampoos without a product from L’oreal, did you?

One of the best drugstore brands, yet, used by many mid-range salons in many countries, L’oreal Serie Expert range of shampoos is something I seriously considered and tested.

And the result? I was very happy with how my blonde balayage looked. My hair came out of the shower with salon-like effects. So hurray for me!

I loved how the Magnesium Silver formula neutralises any dullness and brassiness that might show up on my balayage hair due to overexposure to the sun and brings back the shades of the highlights I had applied. 

My favorite part is how the shampoo is easy to use as you don’t have to necessarily leave it on for too long. Just use it like you would use a regular shampoo. So no long waiting times as you would with toning shampoos like Matrix or Clairol.

The price is mid-range and affordable. So while it's not as cheap as a Matrix shampoo, it's still much affordable than Aveda or Provoke shampoos.

Unfortunately, this shampoo contains sulfates. So you cannot use it on brown or other colored balayages as there's chance of hair color fading.

I'd also suggest people with curly hair or very dry hair try something like Biolage or Aveda which do not have sulfates instead of this shampoo.

Pros:

• Brightens color of hair color as it contains magnesium based formula
• Neutralizes brassy tones with the help of the purple pigments in formula
• Affordable shampoo
• Prevents grey hair from standing out as the silver covers greys

Cons:

• Contains sulfates that can strip moisture and hair color
• Not for brown or darker balayages as sulfates can fade the hair color

My Ratings:

• Gentleness - 3.5/5
• Color Protection - 3.5/5
• Reducing Brassiness - 5/5

#3- Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo for balayage hair 

I really liked this toning shampoo when I used it on my blonde balayage but it I still felt it was too expensive.

Use the Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo by Pro:Voke if your balayage coloured hair is a light blonde, silver or platinum. 

I like how it is an effective purple shampoo for balayage hair that removes the yellow and brassy pigments in my hair by neutralising them with the purple pigments contained in this product. 

I also loved how there is an immediate effect of brighter and more vibrant colour along with glossier hair. So you don't have to wait till 2-3 washes to see the effects.

I found that this shampoo also softens my hair and gives it a shine, making it look healthier. You can massage it into your hair and leave it on for about 6 to 8 minutes if your hair is very dull. This will take some time to work as it's a toning shampoo and the purple pigments need time to sink into your hair strands.

 As you keep regularly using this shampoo, you can reduce the amount of time you leave it in. 

While this product is very expensive, the purple pigments are very concentrated so I'd realised by the 2nd wash that little quantity is sufficient and so the bottle lasts a long time. 

And yes the lack of sulfates is a huge plus for me! So I'd say go for it if you don't mind splurging and especially if you have platinum or lighter balayage blonde hair.

Pros:

• Strong purple formula neutralizes reddish tones in one wash
• Doesn't strip color as there are no sulfates in the shampoo
• Doesn't dry out hair as there are no harsh sulfates
• UV filters make sure hair color lasts longer

Cons:

• Expensive shampoo compared to other toning products
• Not for darker shades of hair as the purple dye is too concentrated

My Ratings:

• Gentleness - 4.5/5
• Color Protection - 4.5/5
• Reducing Brassiness - 5/5

#4-SheaMoisture Moisture Retention Shampoo for balayage hair 

Coloured hair, in general, becomes drier than hair that is not treated. Even though a balayage looks very natural, it does use a lot of chemicals and the hair is subjected to quite a bit of stress. 

• You might find that your hair feels dry and brittle, and you might even see more hair breaking easily.
•  The first thing you need is something that can pump some good quality moisture and health back into your tresses and the SheaMoisture retention shampoo does a wonderful job of this.
•  Specifically designed to restore damaged hair, the active ingredients, sea kelp and argan oil nourish your hair with naturally occurring minerals and bring back its shine. 
• The shea butter, sourced from fair trade practices, is gentle on your hair and moisturises it without fading away the colour applied.
•  This shampoo is free of sulphates, parabens and mineral oils, so you can be sure that it is not going to harm your hair in any way.
•  This shampoo is priced affordably. 

Pros:

• Good for 4b and 4c hair (African American hair textures)
• Repairs damage
• Prevents dryness
• Sulfate-free formula
• Organic shea butter, fair trade practices

Cons:

• Expensive
• Can leave straight hair limp and greasy
• Not for oily scalps

My Ratings:

• Gentleness - 5/5
• Color Protection - 4.5/5
• Reducing Brassiness - 3/5

#5- John Frieda Luxurious Volume Colour Care Shampoo for balayage hair 

Every type of hair is different and requires a different type of care. If you have thin or fine hair, use the Luxurious Volume Colour Care Shampoo by John Frieda. 

• With a formula that spaces your hair between the strands, this shampoo gives you amazing results right from your first wash. 
• The ingredients are gentle on the hair and safe to be used on colour. 
• It retains the colour and prevents fading even if you use it twice or thrice a week. 
• The Caffeine in the shampoo gives your hair plenty of body and volume. 
• The manufacturers recommend blow-drying the hair after your wash to give your hair added bounce. 
• You can also notice better texture as your hair is softer and shinier. 

Pros:

• Adds volume to thin, dry hair
• Wheat protein helps make hair look fuller
• Makes hair color look vibrant

Cons:

• Contains sulfates
• Not moisturizing enough for dry hair
• Not gentle enough for everyday use

My Ratings:

• Gentleness - 3.5/5
• Color Protection - 4.5/5
• Reducing Brassiness - 4/5

#6-R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo for balayage hair 

A shampoo that will give you the results that you see on your favourite celeb’s hair is the R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo. 

• Not exaggerating, but this shampoo is truly an investment for your hair. It looks after balayage colour treated hair or any kind of damaged hair and works on restoring it by infusing the goodness of pure juniper berry extracts. 
• This works like a purifier for your hair by removing all the dirt and impurities and helping retain moisture. 
• The other active ingredient, babassu seed oil is like magic for your hair. It brings back the life into dull, dry and brittle hair and within just one wash, you see visible results. 
• This shampoo also has glycerin that retains all this moisture and nutrition, making sure that your hair stays healthy until the next wash. 
• This shampoo does not come cheap though. But, as we said earlier, it is worth every single penny you spend on it. 

Pros:

• Sulfate-free formula
• Moisturizes dry hair
• Prevents frizz
• Add shine and vibrancy to hair color

Cons:

• Can leave fine, straight hair greasy
• Very expensive

Rating - 4.5/5

#7-Living proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo

Imagine if every single day was a good hair day! Isn’t that the dream?! Living Proof perfect hair day shampoo makes that possible with its incredible formula. 

• Colouring your hair uses a lot of chemicals and this shampoo saves your hair from using more.
•  Priced in the mid-range, this cornstarch-free shampoo is truly revolutionary in the way your hair looks and feels after washing. 
• The patented formula repels dirt and grime and your hair does feel like its cleaner for a longer time. 
• This means you don’t have to wash your hair too often, thereby reducing the number of chemicals you put in your hair.
•  It also retains moisture and your hair feels softer to touch. 
• It looks much shinier and glossier, making the colors in your hair pop and looks diva-like!

Rating - 4.5/5

#8- Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo

A shampoo that is free of silicones and sulphates ensures that your hair is treated right.

• The Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo is enriched with high amounts of protein to give your treated hair plenty of strength and endurance. 
• The blend of elastin protein and quinoa not only make sure your hair is strong but also help repair the damage caused due to the chemicals used when you were getting your balayage done. 
• All that intense protein treatment makes your hair shinier, softer and gives it a lot of bounce. 
• It’s very gentle and delicate on the hair and is safe to be used regularly as part of your hair care routine.
•  As the name suggests, you can rest assured that your colour is also safe and does not fade when you use this. 
• Use it along with the conditioner to care for your hair better and give you the best results. 
• This product is priced similar to drugstore shampoos and is truly good value for money. 

Pros-

• - Cleanses and Nourishes the hair
• - Protects color vibrancy
• - Makes hair shine
• - Protein infused shampoo
• - Makes hair soft
• - Reduces hair breakage
• - Travel friendly
• - Pleasant smell
• - Suitable for all hair textures

- Prevents  hair color from fading

Cons-

• - Need to use more product
• - Not so fragrant
• - Watery consistency

Rating - 4.5/5

#9-BIOLAGE Colorlast Shampoo for balayage hair 

Biolage Colorlast shampoo is a gentle shampoo that is perfect for balayage coloured hair. It is delicate on the hair and scalp, yet removes the dirt and grime effectively, leaving you with very clean hair. 

• Concocted out of a lot of natural ingredients, this paraben-free shampoo is safe on your hair. 
• Inspired by the vibrantly beautiful orchid flower which is known to possess anti-fade properties, this shampoo is designed to ensure that your hair is cleaned well and safeguarded without fading out the colour. 
• In fact, the colour looks a lot more vibrant and glossier as this shampoo helps restore its health. 
• The main ingredient, salicylic acid pumps a lot of moisture into the strands of the hair and helps retain it, smoothing out the frizz and dryness. 
• It makes the hair feel luxuriously soft, huggable and bouncy. 
• This is a premium shampoo priced on the higher side. 

Rating - 5/5

#10-REDKEN Color Extend Shampoo for balayage hair 

Promising to give you super sexy hair like the celebs is the REDKEN Color Extend Shampoo. 

• This shampoo is less expensive than your normal drugstore or mid range shampoo and gives you the kind of results you want, quickly. 
• This shampoo is great for balayage hair as it does not fade your existing colour though, instead, it makes the colour shine through brighter. 
• As it cleanses, it also makes hair smoother and softer.
•  Hair that is dry can be difficult to manage and Redken solves this by making it easier to detangle the hair with a comb or a brush. 

Rating - 4.5/5

#11 - L'Oreal Ever pure sulphate free shampoo 

Ever pure is a true solution for women who have lush hair and want to maintain their color keeping it intact. 

• The ever pure shampoo is made to moisturize and hydrate the hair strands and keep it healthy and strong. 
• The sulfate-free shampoo is capable of breaking down the dirt and other pollutants and keep it clean and fresh all day. 
• Best of all, this shampoo does not strip off the color or make any damage to the color.It deeply nourishes the hair roots and keeps the hair strands silky smooth. 

Rating - 4/5

#12 - Pureology Hydrate Shampoo

Like the Nexxus Assure shampoo, this Pureology shampoo also helps care for your hair color and does not strip the color off. 

• The Pureology Assure shampoo cares very gently care for your hair and does not rip off the color. 
• With this shampoo, your hair color stays as vibrant and lively as always. 
• It keeps the hair shiny and healthy  and does not affect it in a harmful way but cares for it. 
• The price of the shampoo is affordable and you can find this everywhere. 

Pros-

• - Offers greater colour retention
• - Makes hair healthy and strong
• - Gives hair a radiant bounce
• - Easy to apply
• - Pleasant and floral scent
• - No skin and eye irritation
• - Affordable price
• - Long-lasting
• - 100% vegan
• - Provides greater moisture
• - Excellent color protection
• - Promotes healthy scalp
• - Supports hair follicles

Cons-

• - Can feel heavy
• - Might be greasy

Rating - 4.5/5

#13 - Clairol shampoo for balayage hair 

Shimmer lights are one of our top favorites from this list since it knows how to treat color-treated hair just right. 

• The shampoo is an excellent nourishing factor for balayage hair which cares for the strands and gives you smooth and a flowy texture. 
• Besides this, it eliminates grease as well and allows your hair to be bouncy in your true texture without demanding too much of other products to remove frizz. 
• A certain element present in the shampoo makes sure that your hair color is more present without dulling it. 

Rating - 4/5

#14 - Catwalk shampoo for balayage hair 

The Catwalk TIGI is a purple shampoo that works into preserving the hair color and keeping it intact and allowing the strands to be smooth and flowy. 

• Those who have long blonde and balayage hair can confidently use this balayage shampoo as it is sure to protect the color and give your hair a much stronger feel. 
• Another major aspect of this shampoo is that it works for damaged hair strands by retrieving the original texture. 
• This works really well for older people where the greying just starts. 

Rating - 4/5

#15 - Nexxus Deep Hydration Shampoo For Balayage Hair

Nexxus is a well known brand which has a great reputation among hair stylists and those who tend to the texture of their hair strands. 

• The protein present in the shampoo nourishes the hair strands and gives it strength to withstand dust and other pollutants. 
• It makes sure that your hair doesn’t dry up and has the moisture levels intact so that it seems silky at all times. 
• The conditioner of Nexxus is a great combination with the shampoo. 
• One thing that you can be sure of is that your balayage will not be ripped off from your hair. 

Rating - 4.5/5

Which is the best shampoo for balayage hair?

After looking at several shampoos in the market, I've found the Loreal Everpure Shampoo to be the best shampoo for balayage hair. It is sulfate-free so it strips color or moisture from your hair. This Loreal shampoo also comes with UV filters that help extend the life of your balayage color.

Types of balayage hair 

Balayage is a general term under which there are so many ways of getting the styles done. Here are some of the primary types of balayage hair that you need to know. 

Partial Balayage 

The partial balayage is known for its scattered look and has a way of looking well blended with the hair. This works perfectly if you don’t want anything strong looking. Works really well as a subtle look. 

Subtle balayage 

Subtle balayage is not visible as a strong hair color but works well under light and acts as the right medium for slight exposure to light. 

American balayage 

American balayage is a mixture of foil and open air. The process might be more complicated than the rest but it looks absolutely stunning especially if you have wavy hair. The hair color looks the best with is dark or black hair. 

Different types of shampoos and their use for balayage hair 

Now that we have provided you with the best brands of shampoos suited for balayage hair, here are some of the types of shampoos that you can try out. 

Clarifying shampoos 

Clarifying shampoos work their way into clearing out oil build-ups in the hair follicles and gives your hair the space to grow in a healthy and lush way. 

Daily shampoo 

Daily shampoos are the ones that you would normally use. For those who cannot deal with the strength of clarifying shampoos, then this one is perfect for you. 

Volumizing shampoo 

As the name suggests, volumizing shampoos work into providing more volume to the hair. So if you are someone with thinning hair and have balayage your hair, this one might be perfect for you. 

This works really ell for those who have colored their hair and need special care especially for that to keep it intact. 

FAQs - Best Shampoo For Balayage Hair

How to care for your balayage hair - Tips and hacks!

Getting a balayage is fun. But it can look dull and unruly if you don't maintain it properly. Here are a few tips to maintain your balayage.

• Do weekly treatments - Use a hair mask every week to nourish hair. Choose hair masks with ingredients like argan oil, keratin protein, jojoba oil, biotin, and other such components. If you don't have a hair mask at hand you can try a DIY mask with hair oils like coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter and aloe vera gel.
• Protect your hair from sun - UV radiation can fade hair color. It can leave your balayage dull. So protect your tresses using a color-protect shampoo with UV filters. Even better, wear a cap or scarf when you're out in harsh sunlight.
• Keep away from chlorinated pools - The lightened part of your hair in a balayage is susceptible to fading and yellowness. Chlorine in pools can make things worse. So make sure you're wearing a hair oil or a protective cap when out swimming.
• Don't shampoo everyday - Embrace the no-poo movement! Regular shampoos contain harsh surfactants that can strip strands of hair color. So wash hair every alternative day or 2 times a week at most. If you have oily scalp then use a dry shampoo in between washes.
• Feed the color - Balayage hair colours can fade away if not treated well. So its best to use a color despoting shampoo or conditioner to keep adding color pigments to hair. This will enhance the color of your hair.

Take care of your balayage hair with the right products and you will have hair that looks and feels gorgeous, every single day. The right products can make a huge difference and it starts at the very beginning, from the cleansing. Choose one of these tried and tested shampoos for balayage hair and give your hair the royal treatment.  

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