11 Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Red Hair (Tested and Reviewed for 2023)
All the best recs from myself and two celebrity colorists.
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If you’ve scrolled past a celeb on Instagram who has gone red (oh hiiii Emily Ratajkowski and Sophie Turner) and felt the urge to go red yourself, you’re not alone. I personally felt moved to alter my hair color when I saw pics of Kendall Jenner with red hair at the Prada show last year. After contemplating the decision for a full year, I finally went for it a few weeks ago and had celebrity colorist Jenna Perry dye my signature platinum blonde hair a coppery red shade similar to Kendall's. And while my new red color is definitely lower maintenance than my old blonde, it still requires frequent visits to the salon for touch ups and a whole new set of at-home products, specifically shampoos and conditioners for red hair.
Both Perry and celebrity colorist Rita Hazan say that red hair fades fast, so using a good shampoo and conditioner for red hair can help preserve your hue, even if the formula isn’t color-depositing. “I always remind my clients that every time they wash their hair, their color is going to come out a little bit," says Hazan. "It’s just what happens when warmer water hits your hair, the cuticle lifts, and the color molecules seep out. So, yes, it’s definitely important to be using specific shampoo and conditioner,” Hazan explains. Which brings us too...
Our top picks for the best shampoo and conditioner for red hair of 2023:
Keep reading for the full list of best shampoos and conditioners for red hair, according to my recent testing and both Perry and Hazan's years of expertise. And because maintaining your red hair doesn't stop with just shampoo and conditioner, I've included other must-try hair products for redheads, including an at-home gloss, a color-depositing conditioner, a dry shampoo, and a hair mask for reversing damage.
Pros
- It will slightly turn your hands orange-ish if you don’t wash it off right away
- Made with natural, plant-based ingredients
Cons
- On the pricer side, but testers say a little goes a long way
In my experience, if you have cooler, more coppery-colored red hair like myself, it’s important to use a color-depositing shampoo that is a little more nuanced and not just one note of red. This one with coppery pigments from Davines is Perry’s favorite (she says she trusts it to keep the color that she does in the salon properly cared for at home), and it's now a go-to in my haircare routine as well.
Glowing customer review: "I personally love how this shampoo looks as though there are multiple hues in i—I just know it’s giving me the dimension I’m looking for in my hair."
Pros
- Contains jojoba oil to deeply moisturize and nourish strands
- Helps intensify and illuminate copper tones in the hair
Cons
- Reviewers say it can be a bit messy to use
Perry recommends using this conditioner from Davines as well if you have cool red or coppery red hair. The formula has a burnt amber color that will deposit the *perfect* dimensional color to your newly colored red hair. It's also super moisturizing and makes detangling and combing my hair post-shower so easy.
Glowing customer review: "I like this product. Works well and brings out the gold and auburn highlights from my balayage I had in January. I get compliments on my hair all the time. I use about every two weeks but you could use more often. Smells good too."
Pros
- Affordable and widely available at most mass beauty retailers
Cons
- Contains sulfates
For its value, this drugstore shampoo absolutely delivers. The tinted formula imparts a subtle red hue to hair—plus it uses vitamin E and pomegranate extract to seal in moisture and protect your hair from premature fading too. Also great? It's designed to work on all shades of red hair–whether it's dyed or natural.
Glowing customer review: "I absolutely love this shampoo. I have really long, tick, naturally curly red hair, and it takes very little of this shampoo to fully wash my hair and improve my color. Great scent too!"
Pros
- Suitable for natural or dyed red hair
- Can be left on for an extended period of time as a color-depositing mask
Cons
- Testers say the color-depositing effects only last for one or two washes, max
Just as good as John Frieda's Radiant Red shampoo? The brand's matching Radiant Red conditioner. It leaves hair feeling silky smooth and boosts the vibrancy and radiance of your red color. If wand you a hint of tint leave it on for a minute and then rinse. If you’re looking for more of a color add, apply it from roots to tips and comb it through evenly, and then leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing with cool water.
Glowing customer review: "This really keeps your color fresher for longer. I use the shampoo and conditioner. It helps the color from fading so quickly. The conditioner is the best I’ve found. The texture of my hair has improved and there isn’t any tangles. Love being a redhead!!!"
Pros
- Testers (myself included) are obsessed with the scent
- A great choice for dry, brittle hair
Cons
- Super expensive for a shampoo (but on the bright side testers say you only need a tiny bit to get a good latherr)
With a name that really says it all, this formula really does keep your color beautiful in my experience. This is largely because it contains watermelon extract from the Kalahari desert that offers natural protection against oxidative stress (AKA one of the main reasons why your red fades quickly when exposed to the sun and pollution), and baobab tree extract to help improve moisture levels and manageability.
Glowing customer review: "My red color lasted longer than normal and didn’t dull while using this shampoo—I’m sold!"
Pros
- Helps deep condition, detangle, and improve the look of split ends
- Can be used by the majority of hair types and textures
Cons
- Won't neutralize brassiness or amplify red tones like some other tinted conditioners
I've been rotating between a color-depositing conditioner (like the one below) and this ultra-moisturizing conditioner for dry, fragile hair after shampoos and my red hair is loving the effects. It uses Oribe's signature antioxidant complex to protect hair from UV damage and premature fading, glycerin to hydrate each hair strand, and jojoba oil to soften and add shine. And even though this is considered a deep conditioner by many, the formula is still light enough that it won't weigh down fine hair IMO.
Glowing customer review: "This is one of the best luxury conditioners I’ve ever tried and well worth your money. It makes my hair so, so soft and I've noticed a difference in my color too."
Pros
- Works in just three minutes
- Testers love the soft, subtle scent
Cons
- Will stain your towels if you're not careful during application
This is Perry’s pick for her clients with super bright and bold red hair. Remember when Rihanna went red? That's kind of red we're talking about here. The formula is packed with purple-ish red pigments to intensify your color and neutralize any unwanted brassiness or orange tones. Plus, it's super conditioning and gives hair a soft, glossy finish.
Glowing customer review: "I was hesitant to buy this because of the price, but after trying it I was hooked. It helped breathe back color into my fading red hair, and it’ll definitely help extend the color between dyeing. Highly recommend!!"
Pros
- Lightweight foam formula is easy to apply and generally mess-free
- Makes hair softer and shinier after one use
Cons
- Some reviewers say they wish you got more product for the price
In addition to using a shampoo and conditioner for your red hair, Hazan also highly recommends using an at-home gloss or glaze to maintain your red hair color as well. “I created one with a hint of color and a lot of conditioner, that way it just keeps your hair vibrant and won’t majorly alter the color," says Hazan, who tells her clients to use the formula two or three times a week in between shampooing and conditioning in the shower.
Glowing customer review: "My hair went from frizz to smooth and shiny with just one application. My red color is more vibrant too. It’s soft and manageable. I was skeptical. I’m not now. What a difference! I did leave it on for a few minutes."
Pros
- Gentle, hydrating formula won't strip away your color
Cons
- Some testers with super oily hair said they needed to wash with this twice to make their hair feel fully clean
The minute you flip open the cap of this shampoo you, you know you're in for a treat. The scent is insanely yummy, but even better is that the formula seriously delivers (prob because it's created by celeb hair stylist Wendy Iles). It's sulfate-free, super thick and lathers really well (so trust me when I say a little goes a long way), contains hydrating ingredients (including vitamin B5 and active vegetal extracts), and is color and extension-safe too. Washing with this bb will help extend the life of your color—whether you're a redhead, brunette, or a shade of blonde.
Glowing customer review: "I love this brand, especially the shampoo. It makes my fine, thin hair look so much better and I love how it's safe for my color too! Truly a noticeable improvement."
Pros
- Has an invisible finish that won't make your hair look dull, flat, or ashy
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons
- Some testers say it gave their hair a textured, gritty finish
To keep from over washing your freshly-colored red hair (remember, the more you wash, the fast your color will fade), you’ll want to use a dry shampoo to extend time between wash days. This one from IGK absorbs excess oil with volcanic ash and helps soften strands and amp up their shine with ginger root extract. In my testing experience, it's the best dry shampoo for redheads since it leaves behind zero white or ashy residue on your roots.
Glowing customer review: "I love this dry shampoo for my red hair since it's totally clear. It also smells amazing! A regular in my rotation."
Pros
- One of the easiest repairing masks to use since you don't need to let it sit in the shower or rinse it out
Cons
- Cannot be used after conditioner (ingredients in most conditioners block the mask from penetrating the hair shaft)
- Can make hair dry and brittle if overused
Not only does this leave-in treatment mask help repair damage and mend split ends, it helps extend the life of your color too. As you smooth the creamy formula over clean, towel-dried hair, peptides and amino acids fill in the porous parts of your hair shaft and create a bond with the already existing keratin proteins in your hair to repair breakage and make your hair stronger. Colorists especially love this product since healthy hair better absorbs and holds onto hair dye, so by using this mask you're not just improving the health of your hair but the color of it too.
Glowing customer review: "This is pricey, but it's so amazing that I don't mind spending the money. After bleaching my hair, it was so dry and brittle. I used this product twice and it revived my hair back to life. It is soft, hydrated and shiny again."
How do you keep red hair from fading?
The easiest way to keep red hair from fading is using a gentle, hydrating shampoo and conditioner that's formulated specifically for color-treated or red hair. To keep up color maintenance, you can also opt for color-depositing formulas. It’s also highly suggested to rinse with cool water after shampooing and conditioning, since warmer water can cause the outer cuticle layer of your hair to open up and the color molecules to slip out faster.
What should you not do with red hair?
If you have red hair, you should not use any shampoos that are labeled "clarifying" or "detoxifying", warns Perry. "These shampoos are often made with harsh surfactants that will strip your color so fast." Instead, both Perry and Hazan recommend opting for formulas that are labeled "hydrating,” “moisturizing,” “sulfate-free,” and “color-safe/color-treated."
Meet the experts:
- Jenny Perry is a celebrity hair colorist and founder of Jenny Perry Hair Studio in New York, NY. Perry’s devoted A-list clientele includes Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, Dua Lipa, and more.
- Rita Hazan is a hair colorist and founder of Rita Hazan hair products. Hazan is one of the most sought-after hair colorists in the world and an expert at coloring every hair type and texture. Her celeb clients include stars like Beyonce, Aubrey Plaza, Jessica Simpson, Sydney Sweeney, and more.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Carly Cardellino is a beauty writer, consultant, content creator. She is the former beauty director at Cosmopolitan and has worked with numerous publications, including Byrdie, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Into the Gloss, and Coveteur. Carly is an expert in all things red hair, including how to maintain red hair color at home.
Carly Cardellino is a seasoned beauty expert and the former beauty director at Cosmopolitan.
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