Why do I need a special conditioner for color-treated hair?

If you've colored your hair, a regular conditioner might not cut it. Color-treated hair often needs more hydration and protection to maintain its vibrancy and health. A special conditioner helps lock in your color and keep your hair from getting dry and damaged.

Are sulfate-free conditioners better for colored hair?

Absolutely! Sulfates can strip away your hair's natural oils and the color too. So, a sulfate-free conditioner is a gentler choice that helps maintain both the health and color of your hair.

What’s the difference between conditioners for colored hair and regular conditioners?

Conditioners for colored hair usually have ingredients that help preserve and protect the color. They’re also formulated to add extra moisture and repair the damage caused by chemical processing. Regular conditioners might not have those extra benefits.

Can drugstore conditioners be effective for color-treated hair?

Yes, there are plenty of drugstore conditioners that work wonders for color-treated hair. You don't have to spend a fortune to keep your color looking fresh and your hair feeling soft!

How often should I condition my color-treated hair?

It depends on your hair type, but generally, it's a good idea to condition every time you wash your hair. If your hair is particularly dry or damaged from coloring, you might even want to use a deep conditioner once a week.

13 Best Conditioners for Color Treated Hair ...

The best conditioners for color treated hair will not only keep your hair color truer, but it will help your color last longer and feeling just as good as when you walked out of the salon. Often times, color treated hair can be difficult to care for because our hair might be dry, damaged or porous. But not to worry, there are plenty of great hair care products on the market that help us achieve beautifully colored and conditioned hair. If you need a new conditioner, take a look at our picks for the best conditioners for color treated hair.

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1. Oribe Conditioner for Beautiful Color

Oribe Conditioner for Beautiful Color Hair extraordinaire and stylist to the stars, Oribe has created one of the best conditioners for color treated hair. His restorative conditioning treatment will extend the life of your hair color while protecting tresses against heat styling and environmental irritants. This product is free of parabens and sodium chloride and is also safe for hair with keratin treatments.

Price: $39 at net-a-porter.com

2. ALTERNA Caviar Repair RX Instant Recovery Conditioner

ALTERNA Caviar Repair RX Instant Recovery Conditioner If your strands are severely damaged and in dire need of a hair intervention, Alterna can help. The Instant Recovery Conditioner conditions, rebuilds and revives dry, damaged hair that lacks strength and nourishment. Use this conditioner if your color treated strands need some heavy duty repair and rejuvenation, you won’t be disappointed.

Price: $32 at beautybar.com

Frequently asked questions

: If you've colored your hair, a regular conditioner might not cut it. Color-treated hair often needs more hydration and protection to maintain its vibrancy and health. A special conditioner helps lock in your color and keep your hair from getting dry and damaged.
: Absolutely! Sulfates can strip away your hair's natural oils and the color too. So, a sulfate-free conditioner is a gentler choice that helps maintain both the health and color of your hair.
: Conditioners for colored hair usually have ingredients that help preserve and protect the color. They’re also formulated to add extra moisture and repair the damage caused by chemical processing. Regular conditioners might not have those extra benefits.
: Yes, there are plenty of drugstore conditioners that work wonders for color-treated hair. You don't have to spend a fortune to keep your color looking fresh and your hair feeling soft!
: It depends on your hair type, but generally, it's a good idea to condition every time you wash your hair. If your hair is particularly dry or damaged from coloring, you might even want to use a deep conditioner once a week.

3. Bumble and Bumble Color Minded Conditioner

Bumble and Bumble Color Minded Conditioner Bumble and Bumble’s Color Minded Conditioner specializes in color treated hair that’s thirsty for moisture, nutrients and shine. Made with polymer technology, this conditioner resurfaces damaged cuticles and seals strands so your hair color stays strong and true.

Price: $32 at sephora.com

4. Aveda Color Conserve Conditioner

Aveda Color Conserve Conditioner Aveda is known for creating hair care products with a conscience that beautifies hair with pure, natural ingredients. Their plant-based conditioner helps preserve your hair color while protecting it from environmental irritants and detangling your tresses.

Price: $19.50 at aveda.com

5. AG HAIR COSMETICS Colour Savour Colour Protection Conditioner

AG HAIR COSMETICS Colour Savour Colour Protection Conditioner AG Hair Cosmetics’ Colour Savour Colour Protection Conditioner protects color against fading and shields strands from UV rays and free radicals. Formulated with amino acids, protein and moisturizers to restore your hair, this gentle conditioner will leave your hair feeling soft and silky in just minutes a day.

Price: $18 at drugstore.com

6. Keratin Complex Color Care Conditioner

Keratin Complex Color Care Conditioner I think the name of this product says it all, if your hair is both keratin and color treated, you’ve got to pick up a bottle of this conditioner. Use this conditioner daily to detangle hair, add shine and shield hair from heat tools all while keeping your hair color beautiful and vivacious.

Price: $18.99 at target.com

7. L’Anza Healing ColorCare Color-Preserving Conditioner

L’Anza Healing ColorCare Color-Preserving Conditioner If your color treated hair lacks shine and body, L’Anza’s Color-Preserving Conditioner can help bring your hair back to life. The Keratin Healing System in conjunction with UVA/UVB/UVC protectors can extend the life of your hair color up to 107%. If that wasn’t enough, this nutritious conditioner will leave hair soft and silky to the touch.

Price: $18.39 at walgreens.com

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This luxurious conditioner not just preserves the hue but also infuses your locks with essential moisture and nutrients. Thanks to the exclusive blend of healing actives, it also serves as a protective shield against environmental aggressors that often dull and degrade your hair color. As a result, your tresses become more manageable, tangle-free, and emanate a healthy vibrancy that's visible after every wash. Whether it's the deep reds or the sun-kissed blondes, your color remains vivid and as alluring as day one. This is your go-to for maintaining that freshly-colored look without frequent salon visits.

8. Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Conditioner

Harness the power of sunflowers with Kiehl’s Sunflower Color Preserving Conditioner. This lightweight hair care product contains sunflower oil, apricot, vitamins and essential fatty acids for hydrated, strengthened and silky strands you won’t be able to get enough of!

Price: $19 at shop.nordstrom.com

9. Fekkai Technician Color Care Conditioner

Fekkai Technician Color Care Conditioner Fekkai’s Color Care Conditioner is gentle enough to condition dry, color-treated hair, but strong enough to protect it against UV rays and prevent color from fading. With continued use, you’ll notice softer, stronger and shinier hair that you’ve always wanted!

Price: $23 at fekkai.com

10. Redken Color Extend Conditioner

Redken Color Extend Conditioner Keep hair color vibrant, sexy and soft with Redken’s Color Extend Conditioner. Formulated with cranberry oil for maximum color vibrancy and ceramide for strong hair, this conditioner will leave your hair detangled, more manageable and shielded from the four common causes of hair color fading: hard water, minerals, damaged cuticle and the environment.

Price: $28.99 at walgreens.com

11. WEN by Chaz Dean Fig Cleansing Conditioner

WEN by Chaz Dean Fig Cleansing Conditioner You probably weren’t expecting a conditioning cleanser to help preserve your hair color, but it does that and so much more! In addition to keeping color true, the Fig Cleansing conditioner helps reduces frizz, fortifies hair and de-stresses all hair types while protecting against future damage.

Price: $32 at sephora.com

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The WEN by Chaz Dean Fig Cleansing Conditioner is a standout choice for those with color-treated hair looking to simplify their hair care routine. This two-in-one product eliminates the need for a separate shampoo and conditioner. Its sulfate-free formula is gentle on color, maintaining vibrancy wash after wash. Enriched with natural botanicals and nourishing oils, it leaves your hair looking lustrous and feeling silky smooth. It's not just a conditioner, but a spa-like treatment that helps maintain the health and beauty of your tresses with every use.

12. Goldwell Dual Senses Color Extra Rich Detangling Conditioner

Goldwell Dual Senses Color Extra Rich Detangling Conditioner If you have thick, unmanageable hair that’s also color-treated, whip it into shape with Goldwell’s Color Extra Rich Conditioner. This bad boy detangles hair, nourishes hair and boosts hair color so it’s smooth, more manageable and full of shine. You’ll be able to see and feel the difference.

Price: $13.59 at walgreens.com

13. Infusium 23 Color Defender Conditioner

Infusium 23 Color Defender Conditioner Infusium 23 is a drugstore favorite for many and their Color Defender Conditioner just makes me love them more! Their conditioner for color treated hair protects your hair from product build-up and fading while keeping it moisturized and nourished. It’s also free of parabens and made with hypoallergenic ingredients!

Price: $6.99 at drugstore.com

We spend a lot of money getting hair colored so we’ve got to do what we can to preserve the color and keep it looking luminous. These conditioners will all baby your tresses so you can enjoy your hair color and keep it vibrant without sacrificing the health of your hair. Do you have a favorite conditioner for color-treated hair?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Wooow these look expensive! Lol, I use the argan oil conditioner by Pro Naturals. No silicones or anything, very moisturizing too!

My hair is currently dyed a deep red... I use One n Only Argan Oil Color Oasis Shampoo and Conditioner...Sally Beauty Supply and Ulta sell it for about $12 each...it's fantastic. Smells great, truly seals and maintains my color and keeps my hair soft and healthy!

<3 lovin the blue hair look wonder if I could pull that off

i use the redken one

Clear also works amazingly!

Hands down, the best conditioner I have used and still use and swear by is Organics Aragon conditioner. I use the shampoo as well. Amazing. Any hair type won't be disappointed. Amazing stuff. In a blue bottle.

Makes my hair silky soft, even after taking color out of it four times in a row within four weeks. That and all natural coconut oil treatments (unrefined, and pure) made my hair so silky again. The follicle just sucks this stuff up.

Where's the Paul Mitchell?!!!

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