If you have spent time and money on balayage hair, you want to make sure you’re caring for it properly. That’s why we’ve listed the best shampoos and conditioners for balayage hair below so that you’ll know which haircare products will best help your highlights.
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In A Hurry? Our Top Picks
Description | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|
Top | Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo, 6.7 oz | Buy on Amazon | |
BIOLAGE ColorLast Shampoo for Color Treated Hair, 33.8 Ounce | Buy on Amazon | ||
SheaMoisture Hydrate & Repair Moisture Shampoo for Damaged Hair Manuka Honey Moisturizing with Shea Butter, 13 Oz | Buy on Amazon | ||
Artnaturals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner Set - (2 x 16 Fl Oz / 473ml) | Buy on Amazon | ||
Loreal Serie Expert Magnesium Silver Neutralising Shampoo 16.9 oz | Buy on Amazon |
How To Best Care For Balayage Hair
One of the big appeals of balayage hair is its natural look, and that it’s relatively low maintenance. In general, you can wait around three to four months between appointments.
The dye is painted on softly, so you don’t get any harsh lines, and your roots will also grow in less aggressively.
The color is also less likely to bleed during the application, unlike when your stylist uses foils.
Because balayage hair doesn’t require soaking all of your hair strands with color or bleach, it also causes less damage to your hair.
All of that said, there will still be some damage to your hair when undergoing balayage, as with all hair treatments.
Below, we detail the best ingredients to help you combat any negative impact that balayage might have on your hair.
Can I Use Normal Shampoo And Conditioner For Balayage Hair?
The short answer is that yes, you can use normal shampoo and conditioner for balayage hair, but your hair is unlikely to look its best if you do so.
Using hair care products that are specifically designed to retain and attract moisture, preserve color, and restore the damage caused by the dye is your best bet to having your best balayage hair.
As with all hair care products, it’s best to opt out of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and other nasty chemical ingredients, which dry hair out and may have other health implications.
There’s controversy over silicone in hair products, so if you’re concerned about this, opt for all-natural products free from these ingredients.
Don’t forget, too, that using products with UV protection will extend the life of your highlights for longer, as the sun won’t be able to bleach your strands so extensively.
Also Read: How Often Should You Condition Balayage Hair? [Explained]
What Type Of Shampoo And Conditioner To Choose For Balayage Hair?
Look For Nutrient Rich Ingredients
Choosing shampoo and conditioner for balayage hair that has ingredients like keratin, collagen or biotin will help restore and support your hair’s growth.
Avoid Clarifying Shampoos
Clarifying shampoos will strip hair of its color and moisture. You want bouncy, vibrant hair that’s full of volume and shine – not lackluster, limp, dry locks!
Use Deep Conditioners
Deep conditioners will replenish your hair, penetrating deep into your hair strands to plump them up and ensure maximum hydration.
Look for products that contain plenty of water or honey – these are humectants that draw moisture to your locks.
Use Oils
Seal that moisture in with an oil that will help to prevent split ends. Olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil are all firm favorites.
Use Hair Products For Colored Hair
To maintain your highlights for as long as possible, use a shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for colored hair.
If you have darker hair, balayage can pull out warmer tones that might turn red or orange if not properly cared for.
A purple or silver shampoo will help to reduce that process and any brassiness your hair might have.
As a side note, if you regularly use heat styling tools, you absolutely must ensure you use protectants that will minimize damage and further moisture loss.
What About Protein Treatments?
No matter how you swing it, there will be some bleach and hair color used to get the balayage look – particularly if your natural hair color is darker.
Bleach and hair dye damages the hair structure, stripping it of its natural oils. The result? Brittle, frizzy hair that’s prone to both dehydration and breakage.
Typically, your stylist will use a protein treatment like Olaplex or Uberliss during your salon appointment in order to restore the bonds in your hair. You can even use Olaplex at home.
It will help to restore and protect the integrity of the hair, repairing the bonds in each strand and strengthening fibers so that your locks are as elastic and shiny as possible.
17 Best Shampoos And Conditioners For Balayage Hair
1. Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo
BEST FOR: Reducing brassiness and retaining blonde highlights
Color safe and sulfate-free, this formula is tone-correcting and designed for people who’ve highlighted their hair blonde or silver.
The violet pigments work to reduce any risk of brassiness or unsightly yellow and orange tones in your newly balayaged hair – just massage into your locks and let it do its magic.
If you can leave it to sit in your hair for around five minutes, even better. What’s more, the argan oil in this shampoo makes it smell divine, and the brand’s unique ArganID technology seals the hair cuticle and cortex for smoother, healthier hair.
2. Biolage ColorLast Shampoo
BEST FOR: Detangling and moisturizing
This shampoo promises salon-vibrant color for up to nine weeks, helping to maintain the depth and tone of your hair whilst ensuring shine and a deep cleanse.
It’s a low pH formula to help prolong your balayage for as long as possible without weighing your locks down.
There’s also a serious amount of water in this formula, which is great, as it’s a humectant, working to draw moisture into parched strands.
3. Shea Moisture Honey & Yoghurt Hydrate & Repair Moisture Shampoo
BEST FOR: Intense hydration in a natural formula
Shea Moisture is a firm favorite with fans of natural hair care that doesn’t have a whole host of nasty chemical additives.
This shampoo is exceptional, deeply moisturizing without weighing locks down. Sulfate, paraben and phthalate-free strengthen your strands from within thanks to the manuka honey, yogurt extract, and mature oil in this formula.
Pair with the complementary masque treatment below for a real hydration hit.
4. R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo
BEST FOR: Super glossy hair
This shampoo consistently features in lists of the best shampoo for balayage hair, and we’re converts.
Suitable for all hair types, it’ll smooth and soften strands whilst also strengthening and providing body.
Juniper berry extract helps to maintain softness and hydration, whilst glycerin bonds and babassu seed oil ensure your scalp and hair follicles are cleansed without any residue. Plus, you’ll find no parabens, sulfates, petroleum, or mineral oil in the formula, and it’s cruelty free.
5. L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Silver Shampoo
BEST FOR: Keeping yellow and orange tones at bay
It’s hard to beat L’Oreal for formulas that hit the mark every time, and this shampoo is excellent.
Counteract brassy tones whilst preserving the sheen of your hair with this professional formula.
Anti-yellowing agents and magnesium work to deliver – and it won’t leave your hair purple, unlike some competitors!
6. OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo
BEST FOR: A tropical-smelling protein boost
Fight hair breakage and dehydration with this shampoo which combines coconut milk, coconut oil, and the protein from egg whites for a natural boost of protein for fortifying hair.
Paraben and sulfate-free, it will nourish thanks to its shea butter and white peach ingredients.
7. Davines NouNou Shampoo
BEST FOR: Award-winning hydration
You may have already heard of Davines, a haircare brand devoted to sustainable, natural products – but if you haven’t, here’s your introduction.
Replenish and moisturize hair back to its natural levels of shine and sheen with this shampoo. Fianchetto Tomato nourishes, replenishes, and hydrates – it’s no wonder this is an award-winning product.
8. Pro:Voke Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo
BEST FOR: An affordable way of combatting brassiness
This purple shampoo is specially formulated for color-treated hair, making it ideal for someone who’s just had a balayage treatment.
Don’t use it every day – just once or twice a week – and you’ll be helping to keep brassy tones at bay.
9. Biolage Ultra Hydrasource Conditioner
BEST FOR: People with thick, coarse hair prone to dryness
If your hair is feeling a little dry after your treatment, this conditioner is guaranteed to restore hydration to thirsty strands.
Aloe, capuacu butter, and apricot kernel oil will inject moisture, making hair both more manageable and glossier.
10. Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yoghurt Hydrate & Repair Treatment
BEST FOR: Deep conditioning
Not technically a conditioner, this masque treatment will nonetheless deeply condition your hair, restoring hair to its soft, supple self and fortifying weak strands.
Honey and yogurt are both humectants, and shea butter smooths split ends, making hair feel silken to the touch. All ingredients are fair trade too, so you’re giving your hair nutrient-rich goodness without the guilt.
11. R+Co Dallas Biotin Thickening Conditioner
BEST FOR: Those in need of protein
A conditioner with protein to help restore hair strands to premium strength levels? Yes please, we’re sold.
If your hair type is naturally thin or fine and you also undergo a balayage treatment, you may be vulnerable to increased breakage and frizziness. Enter this cruelty free conditioner.
12. Davines NouNou Hair Mask
BEST FOR: An intense hydrating mask
This deeply hydrating conditioner will protect strands from dehydration and damage whilst intensely restoring moisturizer.
Smooth onto hair and leave for as long as you can (ten minutes is good) whilst the fianchetto tomato extract will boost moisture levels and soften strands, as well as soothing sensitive scalps.
13. Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 Repairing Treatment
BEST FOR: A treatment to restore and repair
Be aware that this isn’t a conditioner, but it’s a treatment that stylists swear by for people with balayage hair.
As described above, the bleaching in balayage will cause some damage to hair bonds. By using this, you’re helping to restore these bonds and therefore build stronger hair with more shine and elasticity.
Smooth from your roots to the ends of your hair and leave on for a short time before rinsing. Just be aware of patch testing before use to check if you have any sensitivities.
14. Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture & Shine Hydrating Hair Conditioner
BEST FOR: Moisture
Be warned: the vanilla smell of this product is addictive. Vitamins B5 and biotin boost your hair’s protein level, restoring dry, dehydrated locks to glossy, shiny softness.
A family-based company, Carol’s Daughter works hard to minimize any chemicals in their products, so you won’t find parabens or sulfates in this formula.
15. Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Mask
BEST FOR: Quenching thirsty locks through a leave-in formula
If you’re looking for a leave-in conditioner that smells great and deeply hydrates, this product is for you.
Shea butter, coconut oil, macadamia oil, and aloe vera deeply nourish in a formula that’s free from silicones, parabens, and mineral oil. Great as either a mask or a leave-in treatment.
16. Verb Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner Duo
BEST FOR: Vegans
This little set will provide UV protection in a formula that’s vegan and sulfate and paraben-free.
Leave your hair feeling smooth, soft, and tangle-free with a formula that will cleanse without stripping hair of its natural oils.
Argan oil enhances elasticity and body, as well as giving the products a delicious scent.
17. ArtNaturals Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner
BEST FOR: Affordable haircare set
It’s argan oil to the rescue again in this set which also brings ethically sourced rosemary and aloe vera to the table to ensure your hair is hydrated, glossy, and moisturized.
The restorative formula is vegan and cruelty-free, all ingredients are organic, and there are no parabens or sulfates.
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