Which Shampoo Is Good For Balayage Hair?
Balayage hair or having blonde highlights can become dull and lose color over time. If you don’t take good care of it, that is. The blonde bits can turn a dirty yellow or even orange (red if you’re a brunette) due to heat and product build-up. To combat these warm tones, shampoos with purple and blue pigments are used as part of color theory. These colors are opposite to yellow and orange on the color wheel and they neutralize the brassiness in blonde hair. Additionally, these shampoos also brighten and soften hair. Some may also contain UV filters to protect hair from UV radiation as this can also discolor blonde locks.
11 Best Shampoos For Balayage Hair That Restore Life And Color To Your Mane
1. Best Hydrating Formula: Matrix Total Results Brass Off Blue Shampoo
Matrix’s shampoo for balayage hair is a professional clarifying solution that neutralizes brassy hues and adds a cool tone to your tresses. If you’re a brunette with lightened hair, the blue-violet pigments in the Total Results Brass Off Blue Shampoo reduce unwanted yellow or orange tones. With added vitamin E oil, your colored hair is left moisturized and strengthened as though you’re fresh out the salon! The scent of nectarine, rose, and vanilla is also quite divine, we must say! Pros
Neutralizes brassy hues Moisturizes hair Gives a cool tone Ideal for dark blonde and light brunette hair of all types and textures Pleasant fragrance Can be used on natural or color-treated hair
Cons
Might stain skin
2. Best Paraben-Free: Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo
Joico’s brings to you the best purple shampoo for balayage hair as it instantly corrects warm yellow tones. With lasting results through 12 washes, this formula helps boost the smoothness and shine of your tresses while also removing static. A combination of green tea extract, UV absorbers, antioxidants, and Smart Release Technology that releases rosehip oil, keratin, and arginine, this shampoo strengthens hair root to tip and protects it from pollutants and damage caused by heat or styling. Pros
Strengthens and protects hair Lathers well Corrects brassiness Boosts shine and smoothness Controls static Paraben-free
Cons
Might leave behind a sticky residue
3. Best For Shine: Fanola No Orange Shampoo
If you’re worried about the copper tones on your hair, then you should try the Fanola No Orange Shampoo. As the name suggests, it gently cleanses your hair, eliminates orange tones, and leaves your hair healthy, shiny, and luminous! The shampoo is great for brunette balayage hair color. With its rich blue pigment, it manages to cancel out undesirable copper and red tones from the hair. In addition, it is enriched with coconut oil and hypoallergenic tiare flower to provide nourishment and shine to the hair. It also works to prevent hair breakage and split ends. Pros
Neutralizes unwanted copper/orange highlights Provides an even and shiny glow Detangles and nourishes the hair Rich blue pigment Suitable for gray, brunette, platinum, and blonde hair Sulfate-free Paraben-free
Cons
May stain hands if left on for long
4. Best For Damaged Hair: Redken Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Purple Shampoo
Redken’s shampoo for balayage helps tone highlighted and blonde hair to eliminate all signs of brassiness. Enriched with salicylic acid, this formula seeks to repair and strengthen your hair from its core while cleansing gently and adding softness. The ultraviolet pigments help preserve the tone between salon appointments and keep undertones under control. No more dull and heavy tresses! Pros
Repairs hair Removes brassiness Softens blonde hair Keeps undertones under control Gentle cleanser Adds strength to weak hair
Cons
Might have a powerful scent
5. Best For Deep Nourishment: KÉRASTASE Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo
A good shampoo for balayage hair not only contains neutralizing agents but also restores health back to your hair, just like this one by KÉRASTASE. For cool faux-blonde or grey hair that struggles with unwanted tones, this is the formula for you! A potent formulation of hyaluronic acid and edelweiss flower helps boost luminosity while also nourishing your hair fiber. Additionally, your hair is protected from daily pollution and oxidation and left with a soft finish. Watch this video for a thorough understanding of the product. Pros
Neutralizes yellow undertones Ideal for blonde or grey hair Brightens hair Strengthens hair fiber Softens hair Protects hair from pollution and oxidation
Cons
Might leave behind purple streaks
6. Best Sulfate-Free: MOROCCANOIL Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo
MOROCCANOIL’s tone-correcting purple shampoo for balayage hair works on grey, lightened, and blonde hair. Sealing the cuticles with ArganMD technology containing argan oil, your blonde balayage strands are deeply nourished, strengthened, and less prone to breaking or brittleness. The violet pigments counteract brassiness by restoring hair to its original form. We think this sulfate-free shampoo for balayage hair is a must-have in your grooming regimen. Click here to check out this YouTuber’s unbiased review. Pros
Ideal for grey, blonde, and lightened hair Contains argan oil to seal the cuticles Nourishes, repairs, and strengthens hair Sulfate-free formula Removes brassiness and adds shine Color-safe
Cons
Might cause build-up
7. Best Non-Staining Formula: PRO:VOKE Touch Of Silver Brightening Shampoo
This toner shampoo for balayage hair can amp up the brightness in your hair after a single wash. A mix of blue and violet pigments neutralizes brassy undertones and the optical brighteners add luminosity. The Touch Of Silver Brightening Shampoo foams up generously and has a slight lavender scent that is calming and pleasing to the senses. Without leaving any stains, this formula tones down balayage hair color that might look heavy and lifeless. Pros
Adds shine Foams up well Pleasant lavender scent Neutralizes brassiness Doesn’t leave stains
Cons
Might dry hair out
8. Best Vegan: Framesi Professional Color Lover Dynamic Blonde Purple Shampoo
Framesi’s intensely rich and dark violet daily shampoo for balayage hair offers an overall powerful toning. It is enriched with quinoa, conditioning agents, proteins, and protectants that leave hair nourished and moisturized. Free from chemicals, this formula protects your color and doesn’t allow the seeped-in brassiness to stay and dull the life of your tresses. Rendering white, grey, and blonde balayage highlights brighter, Framesi’s purple shampoo is weightless and won’t cause any build-up. Pros
Vegan Gluten-free Sulfate-free Paraben-free DEA-free Formulated without sodium chloride
Cons
The consistency might be clumpy
9. Best Keratin-Infused Formula: Luseta Beauty Color Brightening Purple Shampoo
Luseta’s best shampoo for balayage eliminates brassy undertones with the help of violent pigments. Blonde, grey, and color-treated hair comes back to its initial color and cool tone while being gently cleansed with no damaging effects. The formula also repairs split ends and enhances the gloss of your hair for a healthier-looking mane. It contains coconut oil and vitamin E for nourishment, hydrolyzed keratin for conditioning, quinoa seed extract for repair, and biotin for strength. With the broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreens present, you don’t have to worry about your color fading. Revitalizing your strands, this shampoo restores your hair to a gorgeous color. Pros
pH-balanced formula Sulfate-free Paraben-free Phosphate-free Cruelty-free Gluten-free
Cons
Might have an overbearing fragrance
10. Best With Antioxidants: Surface Hair Violet Shampoo
Cleansing away your hair’s impurities, Surface’s purple shampoo for balayage hair also tones, brightens, and enhances. Maqui berry and moringa oil combine to create an antioxidant boost that strengthens and protects hair. While counteracting yellow or orange tones, the formula also adds a glorious shine to your locks, giving you vibrant hair. Additionally, the key ingredients also help protect your mane from free radical damage and aid in healthy hair growth. Pros
Sulfate-free Adds shine Protects hair from free radical damage Provides antioxidant benefits Removes brassiness
Cons
Might leave behind light stains
11. Best Pigmented Formula: Scruples Platinum Shine Toning Shampoo
Scruples’ gentle formula neutralizes all unwanted brassiness and gives your hair a cool-toned look. Its deep purple toning base works to restore brown, grey, and blonde hair back to life. Being sulfate-free, the Platinum Shine Toning Shampoo won’t strip your strands of its essential oils, nutrients, and softness. Keeping color-treated or naturally light hair fresh is a task, but Scruples’ shampoo makes it easier. Pros
Brightens hair Sulfate-free Preserves hair’s oils, nutrients, and softness Works on grey, brown, and blonde hair Dark pigment
Cons
Might leave behind purple residue
The term ‘balayage’ is wide and can refer to different styles. Let’s look at some of its main types.
Types Of Balayage
Subtle balayage
This isn’t seen as a prominent hair color and acts like the correct medium for a little exposure to light. Ideal for someone who wants to add a little flair to your hairstyle without too much commitment.
Partial balayage
With a scattered look, partial balayage looks well-blended with the rest of the hair. If you don’t like something that looks too visible, this is a great option.
American balayage
A combination of open air and foil, this type of balayage suits wavy and dark hair the best. However, the process to achieve this might be time-consuming. Now that we’ve looked at the best shampoos for balayage hair and its types, let’s learn how you can pick the right one for yourself.
How To Choose A Shampoo For Balayage Hair
When choosing a shampoo for balayage hair, keep in mind the following features:
Sulfate-free
Regular shampoos for color-treated hair normally contain sulfates, which generally aren’t generally good due to their drying properties. Look out for sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate (sometimes listed as SLS), surfactants that completely cleanse hair. Apart from being drying, sulfates can remove dye pigments from color-treated hair. To enhance the longevity of your balayage, opt for a sulfate-free or a milder formula as it won’t cause allergic reactions.
UV filters
Color-treated hair can get easily damaged by the sun and exposure to heat from styling tools. The UVA and UVB radiation is just as harmful for your hair as it is for your skin as it can discolor it. Selecting shampoos that contain UV filters can protect your hair from drying out or losing color.
Hair toning
A shampoo that doubles as a toner is necessary for balayage hair that has blonde tones. Blue and purple shampoos contain pigments that can neutralize the brassiness, which result in yellow or orange tones. As purple is opposite to yellow in the color wheel, it cancels it out and will make blonde hair brighter. Reddish hues can be neutralized with blue shampoos in brunette hair and restore life.
Repair and condition
As hair dyes have ammonia, they can dry hair out and make it brittle. Bleaching hair is also the same as it can render hair weak. Shampoos with built-in conditioners, essential oils, antioxidants, and nutrients can reduce frizz, repair split ends, and soften your mane. Some ingredients to look out for are keratin, jojoba oil, aloe vera, biotin, and argan oil.
How To Maintain Balayage Hair
If you’ve been wondering how to care for balayage hair, take a look at some of our tips below:
To keep hair color vibrant, you can treat your mane to a nourishing DIY hair treatment. A hot oil treatment with sweet almond oil works like a charm to moisturize strands and add some shine. You could also use a store-bought repair or deep condition mask for a much-needed boost.
Washing your hair every day might not be the best idea as it can dry hair out and dull the color of your balayage highlights. If necessary, wash no more than 2 to 3 times a week and use a color-safe, sulfate-free, and purple or blue shampoo to protect your color.
A frequent salon visit isn’t really necessary for a balayage (which is why so many people love it!), but you must still maintain its freshness. As mentioned earlier, use a purple or blue shampoo to remove brassiness, and follow it up with a purple conditioner and mask to keep hair in tip-top shape. If you’re styling hair, use a heat protectant as this could also lead to yellow hues. If you’re going out in the sun, use something like a scarf to cover your head as UV rays can dull the brightness of your highlights.
If you’re a swimmer or going to be sporting a balayage out on vacation, try to avoid salt or chlorine water as much as possible. These elements can discolor hair, so wear a tight cap or rinse hair as soon as possible.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Vaishnavi Kothuri, is passionate about hair care and finds her passion in reviewing different products and recommending the best ones to people. She has compiled this list of the best shampoos for balayage hair after thoroughly researching tens of products and evaluating feedback posted by users on different online platforms. These shampoos neutralize brassy hues and help your hair color stay longer. Moreover, they prevent the hair from looking dry and boost shine and smoothness. Does balayage look good on straight hair? The balayage technique looks great regardless of your hair type, length, or texture. If you prefer something not-so-prominent, you could opt for a subtle or partial balayage. Can I use a purple shampoo for balayage hair? If you’re a brunette that has had balayage done, purple shampoo can help remove brassy hues from the blonde highlights. Does balayage damage your hair? Balayage is a relatively less damaging technique than the traditional foil method. Using a dye without ammonia can help preserve the health of your hair as well. How do I maintain my balayage? Reduce washing hair to 2 to 3 times per week and use a purple or blue shampoo when you do. Ensure that you’re using a sulfate-free shampoo that also contains UV filters. How long does a balayage last? On average, a balayage will last you about 3 to 4 months without any touch-ups.
