Is Native good for bleached hair?

These in-shower duos from Olaplex, L'Oréal Paris, and Pureology are recommended by the hair pros for their especially gentle, moisturizing, and sulfate-free formulas.

Soleil Summer/Allure

Whether you've lost count of how many times you've dyed your hair or you're coloring it for the first time, let's take a moment to talk about maintenance with the best shampoos and conditioners for colored hair. There's nothing worse than getting that perfect shade at the salon — or at home, if you're adventurous like that — only to find that your dream hue starts to fade and look dull only a few washes later. 

The thing is, extra care is a must for your dye job and there are a number of contributing factors when it comes to your color fading. Watch out for exposure to hard water, the overuse of heat-styling tools (and hot shower temperatures), and even UV rays. "The sun bleaches color out of everything, including your hair," St. Louis-based colorist Caitlin Ford tells Allure. "If you're going outside for extended periods of time, protect your scalp and hair with a hat," she adds. We also like to spritz on a little hair sunscreen to make sure we've covered all of our bases.

While sulfates are usually given the side-eye — for example, they're a no-go, according to Allure's very own Clean Best of Beauty seal — they aren't necessarily better for preserving color as they're made out to be. Cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller previously told Allure that water is as damaging as any cleanser. "When your hair gets wet, it swells, the hair shaft opens, and some color leaches out," says Schueller, who tested sulfates against other surfactants and didn't see any notable differences in terms of fading color. This is why many experts suggest washing your hair less often and spritzing dry shampoo to buy you extra time in between.

However, the case against sulfates is still pretty valid — especially if you want to err on the side of caution. Not only are they irritating to the skin, but they are also capable of "stripping the [scalp] of its natural oils" a little too well, Aanand Geria, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Rutherford, New Jersey previously explained to Allure. In other words? Sulfates are a pretty slippery slope leading to dryness and flaking.

Among many experts, New York City-based colorist Nikki Ferrara is a fan of brands with sulfate-free offerings, as she says they will "extend the shelf life of your hair color and prevent fading." Los Angeles-based colorist and Redken brand ambassador Matt Rez previously divulged that using sulfate-free shampoo will also keep hair as hydrated as possible. Adding to the chorus is cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson, who told Allure that sulfates can dry hair out, which can be especially damaging after coloring. They'll also make your eyes burn if they accidentally slip in, which is a universally hated experience.

This is all to say that your best bet, when it comes to preserving your color, is to switch your regular shampoo and conditioner with ones that are specially formulated for color-treated hair. (Please, no clarifying shampoos.) Here, we asked the pros to help us find the best shampoos and conditioners out there to prolong your gorgeous hue.

Editor's note: All prices reflect the combined cost of the shampoo and conditioner. While most of the items listed below are sold in sets, a few are not and may link to an individual product or search page.

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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  Virtue Labs Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner

  Chicago-based hairstylist Alex Brown says Virtue Labs's Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner is one of her all-time favorite color care shampoo and conditioner duos to recommend to clients. "It works to repair dry, damaged hair by depositing keratin back into the broken pockets of the hair strands that are caused by bleach, heat, and other chemicals," she says, which leaves your hair feeling super soft and nourished.

• Unite 7Seconds Shampoo and Conditioner

  Another one of Brown's go-to color-safe shampoo and conditioner pairings is the Unite 7Seconds Shampoo and Conditioner. She says the coconut oil- and pro-vitamin B12-infused formulas are especially great for their moisturizing and shine-enhancing properties that won't weigh down fine hair types. "The shampoo and conditioner are free of sulfates and provide protection from UV rays, thermal damage, and color fading," she says. "I think they're great to have around in the summer to shield your hair from the drying effects of the sun."

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  Prose Custom Shampoo & Conditioner

  Have any special requests that none of your in-store buys have satisfied? Brown suggests switching over to Prose's Custom Shampoo and Conditioner, two formulas that are created with plant-derived ingredients (like antioxidant-rich green tea and moisturizing honey) to suit your hair's wants and needs, including pigment protection. This custom regimen for your hair is also simple to order: Fill out the questionnaire to determine exactly what your hair needs and the brand's formulators will take it from there.

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  Olaplex Shampoo and Conditioner Bundle

  Little comes close to the bond-repairing powers of Olaplex's No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner Bundle, which is why it earned an Allure Best of Beauty Award back in 2021. Both the shampoo and conditioner are spiked with Olaplex's star bond smoother, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, to repair broken disulfide bonds at the molecular level. The results: shinier, smoother hair with intense color vibrancy after each and every wash.

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  Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo and Conditioner

  Need a moisture boost that won't weigh down your hair? Allow us to introduce you to Pureology's Hydrate Sheer Shampoo and Conditioner, an in-shower combo that was made for finer hair types to enjoy. This silicone-free duo softens and moisturizes thin hair with jojoba oil while providing color protection so your hair can look and feel its best after showering.

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  Kérastase Chroma Absolu Shampoo and Conditioner

  The Kérastase Chroma Absolu Shampoo and Conditioner is a must for anyone who dyes their hair. This duo utilizes a trifecta of acids — amino, lactic, and tartaric — to target and smooth hair damage while retaining color and keeping brassy tones at bay. The shampoo shown above is formulated for fine-to-medium hair types, but it's also worth mentioning that the French hair-care brand also released a formulation meant for medium-to-thick hair types, too.

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  Hask Rose Oil & Peach Color Protection Shampoo and Conditioner

  Sealing in and maintaining your color is as easy (and peachy) as lathering your hair in the ultra-moisturizing Hask Rose Oil & Peach Color Protection Shampoo and Conditioner, which is infused with hydrolyzed quinoa to slow down any instances of fading. After all, there's no need to send your hard-earned money down the drain so darn fast. Did we mention the set itself is affordable, too? No wonder this pair won a Best of Beauty Award in 2019. It checks all of the boxes.

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  Briogeo Superfoods Banana + Coconut Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner

  Breathe life back into dry, dull hair with Briogeo's Superfoods Banana + Coconut Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner, a fruity duo powered by a boatload of nutrients, vitamins, and hydration. Your hair will look softer, shinier, and healthier all-around thanks to a smoothie-like blend of fortifying banana, vitamin E-rich coconut, and antioxidant-rich açai. In other words, no matter how many coloring sessions you've been through, these three-time Readers' Choice Award winners will help reverse the damage and give your hair back the luster it once had.

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  Head & Shoulders Supreme Color Protect Shampoo and Conditioner

  Head & Shoulders is here to remind you that your scalp needs the same amount of attention and moisture as the rest of your thirsty head of hair. The Best of Beauty-winning Supreme formula has found its way into the Color Protect Shampoo and Conditioner, which is infused with manuka honey and argan oil to deeply hydrate, wash away oil and flakes, and banish flaking and itchiness associated with pesky dandruff. This under-$20 duo really stretches your dollar, and we're so here for it.

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  Joico Colorful Anti-Fade Shampoo and Conditioner

  We generally aren't "anti" much, but when it comes to our beautiful color fading, we're ready to put up a fight. Thankfully, Joico's Colorful Anti-Fade Shampoo and Conditioner will do most of the work for us. Nourishing ingredients like camellia oil, rosehip oil, pomegranate, and hydrolyzed keratin repair each hair strand from the inside out and maintain the brilliance of your new hue for up to eight weeks, the brand claims. 

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  DpHUE Color Fresh Shampoo and Conditioner

  Ferrara always tells clients to reach for DpHUE's Color Fresh Shampoo and conditioner to keep their color job looking healthy in between salon visits. This dynamic duo is formulated with shine-inducing kumquat extract and UV damage-shielding sunflower seed extract to keep fading to a minimum. If your hair goals involve kicking brassiness to the curb, then the brand's Brightening Collection, brought to life in collaboration with Kristin Cavallari, was designed for you.

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  L'Oréal Paris EverPure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner

  When it comes to drugstore darlings for color-treated hair, we can't fail to mention L'Oréal Paris's EverPure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner — and Ferrera agrees with us. This gentle set lathers beautifully and is infused with rosemary, juniper berry, and jasmine for an uplifting shower experience that gives higher-end formulas a run for their money. For especially damaged hair post-coloring, try the EverPure Bond Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner to strengthen weakened bonds. 

• Monday Haircare Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner

  Think of Monday Haircare Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner as a warm hug for your scalp and hair. The New Zealand-based brand's prices are not only totally reasonable (regular-size bottles only cost $8 a pop and jumbo sizes, like the ones pictured above, run you $17 each), but the dreamy, petal-pink bottles add a minimalistic but elevated feel to your bathroom shelves.

  A nourishing blend of softening shea butter, hydrating coconut oil, barrier-supporting vitamin E, and split-end-healing panthenol ensures hair feels extra pampered and loved. The brand also says that this sulfate-free set also contains a lower percentage of fragrance than its other lines (Smooth, Moisture, and Volume) if you're not the biggest fan of strong scents.

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  Oribe Shampoo & Conditioner for Beautiful Color

  Oribe bottles don't simply sit pretty in your shower. Danita Hampton, a North Carolina-based hairstylist and Covet & Mane Lead Educator, calls out the heavy-lifting, UV-damage-shielding Shampoo & Conditioner for Beautiful Color, which lives up to its name and maintains the vibrancy of your color. "They end up saving you money at the salon because you don't have to go back for color as much," she explains. Hard to argue with that. The restorative conditioner contains glycerin to push moisture back into fried hair and protects hair against premature fading, Hampton adds.

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  Sienna Naturals H.A.P.I. Shampoo and Untangled Conditioner

  With a hair icon like Issa Rae at its helm, it's no surprise that Sienna Naturals is shaking up the hair-care game with its relatively affordable, Afro-textured-hair-focused lineup of products. H.A.P.I. Shampoo and Untangled Conditioner is a moisture-rich team that gently removes buildup, softens, and detangles without stripping hair of its natural oils. As such, they're fabulous options for low porosity hair, which is "resistant to absorbing and losing water due to its tighter structure," board-certified dermatologist Shani Francis previously explained to Allure. Keep that curl pattern moisturized, healthy, and never frizzy.

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  Pantene Illuminating Color Care Sulfate Free Shampoo and Conditioner

  The star component of Pantene's Illuminating Color Care Sulfate Free Shampoo and Conditioner is provitamin B5 (also known as panthenol), which has had promising clinical results in terms of increasing hydration and fortifying weak strands. What's left is smooth, shiny hair mixed in with faint remnants of white florals and juicy citrus. Channel your inner Rihanna and let the compliments about your heaven-like scent roll in.

  (As an added bonus, you get an individual, 15-milliliter tube of the Best of Beauty-winning Intense Rescue Shots if you buy the set on Amazon.)

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  Matrix Unbreak My Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner

  Despite its name, Matrix Unbreak My Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner isn't just for blondes. Any hair that has been damaged by lightening or over-processing can benefit from this sulfate-free system that employs citric acid to strengthen weakened bonds, preserve your new color, and prevent future breakage. Seal the deal (and your cuticles) with the last step of the system, the Unbreak My Blonde Reviving Leave-In Treatment for additional moisture and shine.

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  Hair Food White Nectarine & Pear Color Protect Shampoo and Conditioner

  Stay well within your allocated beauty budget by adding the Best of Beauty-winning Hair Food White Nectarine & Pear Color Protect Shampoo and Conditioner to your virtual cart. This affordable yet hard-working formula features tea tree oil to give damaged hair a gentle cleanse and smells amazing doing it. The fresh and luscious white nectarine and pear scents will soothe your senses after a long day — guaranteed.

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  Davines Love Shampoo and Conditioner

  For curly hair, in particular, Beverly Hills-based colorist Cherin Choi is obsessed with the Davines Love Shampoo and Conditioner, a creamy duo that indulges dry, frizzy hair in intense hydration without weighing it down. The resulting smooth and shiny texture you'll see is courtesy of olive extract (derived from a small Silician farm), which is abundant in moisturizing fatty acids and vitamin E to bulldoze through frizz and keep your color intact for weeks on end.

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  Loma Hair Care Moisturizing Shampoo and Treatment Duo

  If Loma isn't already on your radar, it should be. Hampton recommends the brand's Hair Care Moisturizing Shampoo and Treatment Duo, which she describes as a "lightweight and moisture-rich" duo that "hydrates your hair and scalp and leaves hair super soft and silky." 

  The color-safe formula is boosted with soothing aloe vera (great for an irritated scalp affected by dandruff), moisturizing jojoba and avocado seed oils, and amino-acid-rich quinoa protein to quench brittle hair and repair damaged cuticle layers. The relaxing combination of vanilla bean and orange scents alone is enough to get you hooked.

• Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo and Conditioner

  These Best of Beauty winners from Redken are ideal for those with already healthy, color-treated hair — and are looking to keep it that way. Aptly named, the amino ions present in the Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo and Conditioner cling onto strands like magnets to lock in color while strengthening hair at the same time.

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  Sachajuan Colour Save Shampoo and Conditioner

  If you want to keep your color, but you're all about that bounce, Sachajuan's "ocean silk" technology is where it's at. With Scandinavian marine extracts, Colour Save Shampoo and Conditioner won't strip your hair color, buying you time between salon visits. This stuff even has UV protection to boot. 

  Speaking of which, Wynter DePriest, hairstylist and owner of Monarch Hair Co. in Virginia Beach, advises on another way to keep your color in tip-top shape. "It is always a good idea for your hair (and skin) to use cool or lukewarm water when showering instead of piping hot," she says. "When you use hot water, it opens the cuticle and creates an easy exit strategy for the color you paid good money for."

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  Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo and Conditioner

  Imagine washing your hair (and conditioning it, of course) 40 times after coloring it and still seeing the same vibrancy and richness after stepping out of the shower that 40th time. It seems far-fetched, but it's exactly what the Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo and Conditioner promises. Both formulas are centered around elastin protein and quinoa, a combo that helps hold on to your color's vividness.

Marci Robin is a contributing editor at Allure. She previously served as senior beauty editor at GoodHousekeeping.com, executive editor of xoVain, and senior online editor at NewBeauty; her writing has also appeared in publications such as InStyle, MarthaStewart.com, and Refinery29. She graduated from Florida State University with a degree... Read more

Sarah Han is the commerce editor at Allure. Previously, she served as an associate editor and staff writer at BuzzFeed, where she spearheaded coverage on K-pop and beauty. A native Illinoisan, upon graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in International Studies and minor in Creative Writing,... Read more