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There is an art to preserving your hair color. Using the right shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated for color-treated hair means that you’ll get much more life and wear out of your color-treated hair. Women with naturally curly hair are already ahead of the pack when it comes to caring for color treated hair. That’s because many products in the “natural hair care” category are the most nourishing and least drying to hair in general which is important when it comes to caring for color treated hair. However, when it comes to preserving your hair color, there are a few really good brands to go above and beyond just moisturizing your hair and help to make your hair vibrant. Because if it ain’t bright, it ain’t right. We’re #JustSaying

The best shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair (of all textures and types) is the duo that you feels works best on your hair but if you need some suggestions, here some of the top products available now.

Aveda Color Conserve Shampoo and Conditioner
A no-fail go to, this line is gentle and plant-infused with a 100% organic aroma and helps your hair to maintain its luster and prevent fading.

TGIN Sulfate Free Shampoo and TGIN Sulfate Replenishing Conditioner
The shampoo is enriched with aloe vera to gently cleanse your hair without stripping your strands of their natural oils, and Pro Vitamin B5 to reduce breakage and increase moisture retention. The conditioner is formula is enriched with shea butter and sweet almond oil to hydrate, smooth and repair strands with every use. The result is healthy hair that is left feeling soft, smooth and moisturized.

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and Conditioner are both mineral-rich and color-safe. It’s thanks to a special blend of organic shea butter, nourishing argan oil and mineral-rich Sea Kelp that is perfect for caring for chemically treated natural hair.

Shea Moisture Community Commerce Zanzibar Marine Complex Age-Defy and Color Protect Shampoo and Marine Complex Age-Defy and Color Protect Conditioner
This line is formulated with Zanzibar Marine Complex which is a blend of Kelp and Carrageenan (Red Algae), rich in polysaccharides, that protects and moisturizes hair. Black Pearl Protein natural marine minerals fortifies hair and Sea Buckthorn Oil, rich in Omegas 3,6,7 and 9, quenches and conditions all which help to fortifiy, strengthen and protect your hair from color-fade and environmental stressors.

Renpure Organics Argan Oil Luxurious Shampoo And Conditioner
With no sodium chloride, salt, dyes sulfates, parabens, or gluten this line has a unique structure that penetrates the hair cuticle, reducing friction and breakage during shampooing and provides a natural micro-barrier that protects from styling heat and UV rays. The result is amazing shine with a silky-soft feel for healthy, beautiful hair and curls that are full of life.

EO Sulfate Free Coconut And Hibiscus Keratin Shampoo And Conditioner
Both are loaded with keratin and quinoa proteins that bond with each individual strand, imparting a protective coating that lasts between washes to leave hair light, bouncy and silky soft. The cleaning is still gentle enough for color-treated hair, but this formula also has hibiscus, which is rich in alpha hydroxy and amino acids which rehydrates keratin fibers adding luster and smoothness.

KMS California Color Vitality Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner
This is perfect line for box color blondes. The duo works by illuminating blonde tones and fighting the yellowing of lightened, highlighted or natural blonde. The UV-filter it contains helps to protect your hair from UV rays – meaning your blonde will stay brighter longer while the optical brighteners enhances blonde tones and the cationic dye fights yellowing.

Herbal Essences Color Me Happy Shampoo And Conditioner for Color Treated Hair
This is a good budget pick. With botanical silk and rose extract, your color-treated hair will love this replenishing shampoo and conditioner marriage, fused with Moroccan rose and passion fruit nectar. The creamy formula provides moisturizers to help protect your color-treated hair and deliver all that shimmers and shines – and for less than the cost of a fancy coffee.

John Frieda Color Preserving Shampoos And Conditioners
This line is formulated with crushed pearls and sweet almond oil, and are specially formulated to address the unique way brunette color fades on three color dimensions and contains a water-resistant technology which is designed to limit the water penetration that could wash out pigments. With consistent use it helps lock in rich, glossy color and multi-dimensional tones.

Pureology Nano Works Shampoo and Conditioner
This line does not strip hair color thanks to the brand’s exclusive AntiFadeComplex. It’s also sulfate free.

Redken Color Extend Shampoo and Color Extend Conditioner (The shampoo contains sulfates)
This shampoo and conditioner duo goes hard for protecting your color treated hair. We like that it’s made by a hair color line as well. It has built-in UV filters and is formulated with Vitamin E, cranberry oil and ceramides.

Nexxus Color Assure Replenishing Color Care Shampoo and Color Assure Conditioner (The shampoo contains sulfates)
This brand is known for their high quality color care so this shampoo and conditioner does not disappoint. It’s formulated with nutrients, antioxidants, and UV protectors as well Vitamin B5 to keep your hair feeling strong and looking vibrant.

Lush Blousey Shampoo (Contains sulfates)
This is a non-stripping shampoo for damaged, over-processed, colored, bleached and fragile hair. It’s made with mashed-up fresh bananas, cocoa and cupuacu butters. Can you say yum?

Phytomist Instant Hydrating Conditioner For Color-Treated Hair
This is a really good leave-in spray for daily use and to keep on hand when you traveling or will be away from home and still want to treat your color-treated hair with the attention it deserves.

Pureology Colour Fanatic Leave-In
Made with fennel seed extract, a natural plant extract and powerful antioxidant, Keravis, a vegetable-based protein known for its strengthening properties and camelina, coconut, and olive oil, this leave-in hair treatment is perfect for heat styling, split end protection and low porosity care.

Pravana Chroma Silk Viivds Color Protect Shampoo and Conditioner (The shampoo contains sulfates but is still very moisturizing)
This salon line is formulated to work with the cationic dyes in Pravana’s Vivids and Pastel colors.

This article was originally published on November 5, 2013 and has been updated for product recommendations (no products have been removed) and is part of our “Curls In Color” series and is in collaboration with Hair Polish Natural Hair Studio in Los Angeles, California.

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