What’s the best shampoo for ombre hair coloring? Or the best shampoo for balayage? How to use an ombre shampoo and conditioner to take of colored hair? Learn it all here!
Ombre is a French word that literally means “graduated in color”. It’s a hair coloring technique where darker shades of a color are applied to the roots it graduates into a lighter shade towards the end. Usually only two colors are used in an ombre, one darker one lighter.
This type of hair color requires a special shampoo that a) doesn’t strip hair color, b) enhances hair dye and shade by depositing pigment and c) keeps hair moisturized and shiny so that the ombre look good.
I have found the TIGI Bed Head Dumb Blonde Purple Toning Shampoo to be best ombre hair coloring, especially if you have shades of blonde ombre. It enhances the color and shine and also tones the blonde with its purple pigments, reducing yellowness. The shampoo is sulfate-free making it suitably gently for ombre-colored hair.
Shampoos For Ombre Hair Coloring | Best For | Chief Ingredients |
L’Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo | Bronde Color Ombre | Glycerin, Rosemary Leaf Oil |
TIGI Bed Head Dumb Blonde Purple Toning Shampoo | Platinum and Blonde Tones | Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Glycerin |
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Tone Restoring Shampoo | Darker Blonde Tones | Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lavender Extracts |
Redken Color Extend-Magnetics Shampoo | Brunette and Darker Ombre | Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein |
Celeb Luxury Viral Colorwash | Jewel and Pastel Ombre Tones | Citric Acid, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein |
Let’s take a quick look at the top shampoos for balayage and ombre hair colorings!
Top Shampoos For Ombre Hair | L’Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo | TIGI Bed Head Dumb Blonde Purple Toning Shampoo | John Frieda Sheer Blonde Tone Restoring Shampoo | Redken Color Extend-Magnetics Shampoo | Celeb Luxury Viral Colorwash |
Images | |||||
Price | Very Affordable | Expensive | Very Expensive | Affordable | Affordable |
Color Protect | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Tone Correcting Ability | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 |
Ability To Cleanse | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Moisturizing | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
Ingredients Quality | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
Sulfate-Free | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Suitable For Damaged Hair | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?
The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.
Top Shampoo For Ombre Hair 2023
L’Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo
The first shampoo for ombre hair coloring I tried out was the L’Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo. It had several high ratings and I could see why.
If you want a protective shampoo for your color-treated hair without spending too much, this product is a great choice.
What I liked most about this shampoo is that it’s very affordable and helped and add shine to my hair.
I also really loved how the formula contains emollients like glycerin and rosemary oil that add moisture to your tresses.
While this is a fantastic thing if you have dry, dull hair, it can leave hair limp for people with oily scalps.
I also have to commend the shampoo as there were no sulfates, parabens, or harsh salts in here. So there’s no worry of this shampoo stripping your hair dye or leaving hair dry.
It’s also gluten-free and vegan, so it claims that people with sensitivities can also use it.
But after checking the ingredients I found that it contains mineral oil and artificial fragrances and dyes. So if you have eczema or other allergies, I would recommend a natural shampoo.
No sulfates is a good thing, but because it doesn’t contain harsh surfactants, the shampoo might not lather well.
So there’s a lingering feeling of hair being greasy and oily.
Pros:
- Sulfate-free shampoo won’t strip hair color
- Vegan and gluten-free shampoo
- Hydrates hair and leaves them soft as it contains emollients
- UV filters enhance longevity of hair color
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Can leave hair straight or fine hair greasy
- Not suitable for people with oily scalps as ingredients are too rich
- Not for those with sensitive skin or eczema as it contains artificial dyes and perfume
My Ratings:
- Color Protect – 4.5/5
- Moisturizing – 4.5/5
- Tone Correcting – 4.5/5
TIGI Bed Head Dumb Blonde Purple Toning Shampoo
Ombre isn’t limited to one tone. So the right shampoo for ombre hair coloring isn’t always the same.
If you have an ombre with several shades of blonde, a good purple shampoo would do you good, especially if you’ve bleached your hair.
I had recently bleached my hair for creating a caramel ombre and that had left brassy tones on my hair. This yellowness of my newly blonde hair was taking away from the natural merging of hues in an ombre.
So I desperately needed a good purple shampoo and thankfully, this Bed Head Toning shampoo didn’t disappoint. At least in that regard.
The brassiness in my hair was considerably removed just by the first wash after using this Tigi Bed Head Dumb Blonde shampoo. It contains violet dye pigments that cancel out the yellow tones from blonde hair.
There’s also polyquaternium-10 that adds smoothness and shine to your tresses. However it can lead to some amount of product buildup on hair even though it’s not as bad forms of silicones like dimethicone. (Gao, Timothy. “Evaluation of hair humidity resistance/moisturization from hair elasticity.” Journal of cosmetic science vol. 58,4 (2007): 393-404.)
It’s a good shampoo, but I also found it a bit overpriced. There are several purple shampoos in a lower price range.
You can even check out the Blonde version of the L’Oreal Everpure! And that one is sulfate-free too unlike this Tigi shampoo.
The biggest shock to me was that this one contains sulfates. So it’s not the best choice for dry hair or sensitive scalps. Also sulfates can really strip hair color so I don’t recommend using it often as it can remove your whole hair color and not just brassiness.
Considering the sulfates and the price tag, I suggest keeping it as a once-a-week toning shampoo instead of using it daily.
Pros:
- Cancels brassy tones and yellowness as it contains strong purple pigments
- Brightens blonde ombre color by adding shine to it
- Smoothens frizz and adds shine thanks to the polyquat-enriched formula
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other purple shampoos
- Contains sulfates so it can strip moisture and hair color
- Can dry out hair if used regularly
My Ratings:
- Color Protect – 4/5
- Moisturizing – 3.5/5
- Tone Correcting – 5/5
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Color Renew Tone Restoring Shampoo
Another good purple shampoo for ombre hair coloring I tried was the John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo.
A lot of purple shampoos contain ammonia and peroxide to help lighten the hair and make the violet pigments penetrate your hair, but not this one.
So it doesn’t leave stains on your hands or shower when you use it.
What I didn’t like about this shampoo is that it contains sulfates. Yes, there’s both SLS and SLES in here.
So it may give oily scalps a good cleansing, it can leave dry scalps even drier. And not to mention sulfates can actually strip color from hair.
I think you’ll be better off with another sulfate-free purple shampoo if you want to use it daily.
But if your main purpose is to tone your blonde ombre once a week, this shampoo shouldn’t be a problem.
There’s a Color Correcting Formula and lavender extracts that remove yellow and brassy tones from blonde, platinum, and grey hair. So that’s a huge plus too!
If your blonde ombre doesn’t show a proper color gradient or if greys are causing a problem, this John Frieda shampoo can help.
However, I did have an issue with it’s price. It’s almost twice that of the Bed Head Tigi shampoo and it contains the same purple pigments and sulfate-formula. So I really think you should just go with the former if you are on a budget.
Pros:
- Corrects brassy notes as it contains red-cancelling purple pigments
- Reduces yellowness of greys thanks to the same purple color formula
- Ammonia and peroxide-free so it won’t lighten your ombre dye further
Cons:
- Contains SLS and SLES so it can strip hair color
- Leaves hair dry due to the harsh surfactant-based formula
My Ratings:
- Color Protect – 3.5/5
- Moisturizing – 3.5/5
- Tone Correcting – 4.5/5
Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo
As someone with blonde hair, finding the perfect shampoo to maintain vibrancy and banish brassiness is essential. The Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo has become a cherished part of my hair care routine.
From the moment I first used it, I was struck by its luxurious scent and the rich, purple hue of the shampoo. This purple pigment is the secret weapon against brassiness in blonde hair.
What truly sets this shampoo apart is its ability to neutralize yellow and brassy tones, leaving my blonde hair looking cooler and more vibrant. It’s gentle enough for daily use, and I’ve noticed a significant improvement in the overall quality of my hair. It lathers beautifully, and a little goes a long way.
One minor drawback is the higher price point, but considering the impressive results and the fact that it’s formulated without sulfates, parabens, or sodium chloride, I believe it’s worth the investment.
In conclusion, the Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo is a blonde hair savior that I highly recommend to anyone looking to maintain their blonde brilliance.
Pros:
- Luxurious scent and purple hue.
- Effectively neutralizes brassiness.
- Suitable for daily use.
- Improves overall hair quality.
- Sulfate, paraben, and sodium chloride-free.
Cons:
- Higher price point.
My Ratings:
- Color Protect – 4.5/5
- Moisturizing – 3.5/5
- Tone Correcting – 4.5/5
Redken Color Extend-Magnetics Shampoo
If you’re looking for a color-enhancing product without the dreaded sulfates, here it is.
The Redken Color Extend Magnetics shampoo helped keep my ombre coloring from fading away easily.
There are no SLS and SLES to strip hair dye from strands. The shampoo contains milder surfactants in the form of Sulfosuccinates that cleanse hair without overdoing it.
However, some users felt their hair not being cleaned enough. But that’s just because the shampoo is mild and gentle.
It does contain dimethicone (a form of silicone) so it can cause product build-up over time.
If you want something for frizz control then this shampoo, with polyquaternium-10 in the formula helps smooth flyaways and reduce static.
There’s also soy protein, vegetable protein, and arginine to protect your ombre colored hair and repair any damage caused by the coloring process.
I should warn you, there are a lot of fakes of this product online. So look for a reputed vendor as some users have received watered-down versions of this shampoo.
Pros:
- Protects color from fading
- Repairs color-treated and processed hair
- Controls frizz
Cons:
- Leaves hair feeling greasy
- Expensive
- Contains silicones
My Ratings:
- Color Protect – 4.5/5
- Moisturizing – 5/5
- Tone Correcting – 3/5
Celeb Luxury Viral Colorwash
Okay, ombre isn’t limited to blonde, brown, or even “bronde” tones anymore. You can get an ombre in any color – even pink or green!
So a purple shampoo or regular color-protect shampoo isn’t going to cut it. I suggest looking for a color depositing shampoo in this case.
After looking around, I decided to try this Celeb Luxury Viral Cowash. I was drawn by the vegan, cruelty-free, and sulfate-free formula.
You can find this Celeb Cowash in several shades. There’s purple ( which comes handy for blonde ombre colors too!), hot pink, blue, teal, yellow, magenta, red, and this is only counting the Viral range.
This is a shampoo for ombre hair coloring in pastel or gem tones. It helps add pigments to the strands and prevents your hair color from looking faded or dull.
And the best part? This Colorwash moisturized my hair too. It contains emollients like glycerine and hydrolyzed pea protein that nourish hair.
Just a heads up, there’s also silicones in the formula that may leave hair smooth but can also cause build-up.
Pros:
- Good for jewel and pastel ombre