Choosing the right shampoo for coloured hair is quite important, to maintain the colour, and keep your hair healthy. Various types of chemicals are used in different hair dyes, but they all tend to make your hair brittle. The colour too will start fading with time, especially when your hair is exposed to the sun, and washed regularly. However, using the right kind of shampoo and conditioner will maintain the vibrancy of your hair colour, and will keep it healthy as well.
When you are out shopping to get the right shampoo for your coloured hair, your choice is not limited to only salon-grade shampoos. Although these shampoos are great, they can work out to be quite costly, and it is not necessary to opt for them, as there are shampoos available at a much lower cost that produce the same results. You need to look for shampoos that advertise colour protection on the label, or are specially formulated for coloured hair.
Such shampoos are mainly of two types. One category of shampoos has silicones in them, which will give your hair a protective coating. This coat will retain the moisture in your strands, and prevent you hair from becoming brittle and dry. The coating will also protect the colouring, and give the effect of a deeper sheen, making it look healthier. These types of shampoos provide good conditioning to your hair, without letting the colour fade.
Another type of shampoo for coloured hair uses a formulation that adds pigments to your hair. These shampoos have to be chosen according to the colour you have used for your hair. However, the major disadvantage of these shampoos is that they give your strands a temporary coating of colour that tends to fade through the day. Secondly, it will also leave your towels stained with the colour.
A shampoo is meant to cleanse your hair of oils and dirt, and leave them moisturized after a wash. However, certain shampoos use quite harsh chemicals, which can not only fade the colouring, but also remove the essential oils that are required to keep your hair soft and shiny. Always check the list of ingredients, and avoid shampoos having ammonium lauryl sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate. These substances are actually harsh detergents that have a powerful cleansing action, but irritate and dry out the skin. The ingredient to look for is sodium laureth sulfate, which is quite mild, and will not irritate a sensitive scalp.
Red hair dyes have a tendency to fade quicker than other colours, and hence this type of coloured hair might need special attention. You might need to go for professional-grade hair care products with this colour, and might need a colour booster as well to maintain the vibrancy. However, many good brands of shampoo for coloured hair produce very good results for red hair as well. Whatever colour you have dyed your hair, make sure to shop for shampoos that are mild on your skin, and provide a good moisturizing effect.