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When choosing a shampoo, it’s not enough to simply go for one that cleanses your scalp and strands.
Not all shampoos are created equal, after all. So it’s vital to consider different factors to make sure the one you choose meets your specific needs and helps you achieve your specific hair goals.
Among the factors you should consider is your hair color.
Do you have gorgeous jet-black hair? Or have you dyed your hair a deep black color?
Then you should look for the best shampoo for black-colored hair.
For naturally black-colored hair, you need a shampoo that hydrates and nourishes hair.
For dyed black hair, you need a shampoo that prevents color fading, reduces unwanted undertones, and makes the color last.
Not sure which shampoo is ideal for your hair? We’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ve put together the seven best shampoos for black hair color that will keep your dark locks vibrant and healthy.
- Contains jojoba, sage, and green tea
- Designed to moisturize natural and color-treated hair
- Sulfate-free
- Plant-based formula
- Effective toning shampoo
- Cruelty-free
- Neutralizes red undertones
- Creates a deep, vibrant black
- Ensures shiny, glossy hair
Table of Contents
Common Problems People with Natural Black-Colored Hair Face
Black-colored hair is often mistakenly considered the easiest hair color to maintain simply because it’s dark.
However, like all hair colors, black-colored hair should receive proper care to preserve its deep hue and beautiful shine. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting dull tresses.
But why does dullness occur? The main culprit behind this is the loss of melanin.
Melanin is a type of pigment that determines the color of your skin and hair. There are two types of melanin in the body:
- Eumelanin — Brown to black pigments that make hair dark
- Pheomelanin — Yellowish to reddish pigments that make the hair light
Simply put, naturally black hair contains higher levels of eumelanin.
However, sun exposure, frequent styling, and other environmental elements can destroy eumelanin and curb melanin production, making black locks appear dull and less dark.
Another problem people with naturally black hair face is that gray or white hair strands are more visible on their tresses.
And graying doesn’t just affect older individuals; stress and UV exposure can also cause premature graying in younger people.
So if you have naturally black hair, you need a shampoo that nourishes your hair, strengthens it, and protects it from damage.
Common Problems People with Dyed Black Hair Face
Now if you have dyed black hair, your main priority is to make the most of your dye job.
Dyed black hair is beautiful, but its color can fade or become dull if not maintained properly. So proper maintenance is key to maintaining the vibrance of your gorgeous black locks for as long as possible.
But while all shades of black hair colors are susceptible to fading, they face unique problems. So knowing the specific shade of your hair color can help you address its specific issues properly.
Here’s a quick guide to the most popular color shades of black hair dyes and the problems they commonly face:
| Shade of Black | Description | Concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Black and Natural Black | Borders on black-brown and dark brown; lighter side of the black spectrum | Prominent red tones |
| Blue Black | A mixture of blue and black hues in either a reflective or vibrant finish | Dullness |
| Auburn Black | Similar to soft black but with reflective red tones for texture | Prominent red undertones |
| Jet Black | The blackest, deepest version of dyed black hair | Dullness |
Whichever shade of black hair dye you use, finding the best shampoo for hair that’s been dyed black is essential to prevent quick fading.
Take note that shades like auburn black may require specific color-strengthening and correcting shampoos.
How Do I Choose the Right Shampoo for Black-Colored Hair?
Whether you have naturally black hair or black-dyed hair, the key to keeping your locks healthy and your color vibrant is caring for it properly and using the right shampoo.
Below is a breakdown of the best types of shampoos for black-colored hair.
Hydrating and Nourishing Shampoos
Since hydration is one of the main goals for maintaining naturally black-colored hair, you should look for gentle shampoos that focus on moisturizing your strands and improving hair health.
They should contain high-quality hydrating and nourishing ingredients like the following:
- Jojoba oil
- Coconut oil
- Green tea
- Oleic acid
- Linoleic acid
- Argan oil
- Aloe vera
- Honey extract
Make sure as well to find a nourishing shampoo that doesn’t contain chemicals like parabens and sulfates.
These ingredients weigh down your hair with harsh chemicals, making it dry, brittle, and prone to breakage and premature graying. And when your hair is unhealthy, it may appear dull and lifeless.
Toning Shampoo
Color toning shampoos are the best shampoos for colored black hair because they are designed to keep dyed locks looking fresh.
However, they can also deepen and enrich the hue of naturally black-colored hair, making it appear shinier and lusher.
How do they do this? Toning shampoos neutralize or cancel out unwanted undertones in hair by depositing purple, green, and blue pigments onto the strands.
Like color-correcting makeup, they work on the principle that colors found on the opposite sides of the color wheel will cancel each other out.
For black hair, it’s typically red undertones that pose a problem. These become more pronounced when your hair gets exposed to damaging elements like UV rays from the sun or chlorine in pool water.
On the color wheel, green is the opposite of red. As such, toning shampoos for black hair typically come in green to neutralize red undertones.
That said, blue and purple shampoos can also help cancel out orange tones in lighter shades of black hair as well as in black hair with blonde or light brown highlights.
Color-Safe or Color-Protecting Shampoo
Color-safe shampoos are formulated to protect and extend the life of your black dye.
Like all-natural hydrating shampoos, these cleansers are free of harsh chemicals that cause colors to fade.
They also typically contain ingredients that nourish your strands and help them hold onto color longer. Here are examples:
- Argan oil
- Linseed oil
- Keratin
- Aloe vera extract
7 Best Shampoos for Black-Colored Hair
Now that you know more about the potential issues you face with black-colored hair and the level of care that naturally black and dyed black hair require, you are probably wondering which shampoo you should use for your dark locks.
We’re here to help you narrow down your search. Check out our top picks for good shampoos for black hair below.
This all-natural shampoo provides intense hydration and preserves the vibrance of both natural and color-treated strands.
Key benefits: Provides lasting hydration; replenishes dry hair; thick creamy texture
Features:
- Contains jojoba, sage, and green tea
- Designed to moisturize natural and color-treated hair
- Sulfate-free
With its intense thirst-quenching formulation, this is the best shampoo for dark-colored hair!
The Pureology Hydrate Shampoo is great for both naturally black-colored hair and dyed black hair.
This sulfate-free, 100% vegan hair cleanser contains jojoba oil, sage, and green tea that stimulate hair follicles to promote hair growth and scalp health. It also keeps your strands properly nourished and hydrated.
Because of its gentle formula, it also doesn’t strip the color off color-treated strands or cause dullness in natural black hair.
Plus, it has a spa-like blend of essential oils to create a relaxing, aromatherapy-inspired shower experience.
This product is best for both natural black-colored hair and color-treated black hair.
Aveda’s blue shampoo keeps black hair fresh, clean, and radiant.
Key benefits: Gently cleans the scalp; protects hair color and vibrance; has ultra-nourishing properties
Features:
- Contains eucalyptus and ylang-ylang
- Promotes scalp and hair health
- Cruelty-free
Cleanses your hair and scalp while maintaining your hair’s vivid hues!
The Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo combines the power of plants like eucalyptus and ylang-ylang to provide effective, gentle, and natural hair care.
This blue shampoo helps keep black hair vibrant and cancels out unsightly orange undertones effectively.
Whether you have dyed black or naturally black hair, you can use this product to hydrate your stands and make sure your hair color remains bright.
This product is best for both natural black-colored hair and color-treated black hair.
Get gorgeous glossy black hair with this green color-depositing shampoo.
Key benefits: Leaves hair glossy; neutralizes red undertones; helps maintain your hair’s deep, rich color
Features:
- Enriches dark hair colors
- Suitable for all hair textures
- Hydrates and nourishes
Say goodbye to those pesky red undertones with this shampoo!
This award-winning color-depositing shampoo is excellent for black and dark brown hair. It’s formulated to keep dark hair vibrant and leave each strand soft and smooth.
Like purple or blue toning shampoo, this shampoo utilizes green pigments to neutralize the red undertones in black hair and enrich its color, providing visible results after just one wash.
At the same time, this shampoo provides ample hydration to dark hair and keeps it fresh and fragrant with an intoxicating scent of jasmine, citrus, and cedarwood.
This product is best for both natural black-colored hair and color-treated black hair.
Get silky smooth, visibly healthy black tresses with this shampoo that’s chock-full of natural ingredients.
Key benefits: Nourishes and hydrates; helps prevent split ends; repairs heat damage
Features:
- Contains Moroccan argan oil
- Promotes hair growth
- Suitable for all hair types
The best natural shampoo for black-colored hair!
If you prefer all-natural shampoos, this is a great option to keep your black hair healthy and hydrated.
This shampoo contains Moroccan argan oil, a holy-grail hair care ingredient known to help restore dull hair and enhance its appearance while promoting growth.
Plus, the organic ingredients in this shampoo cleanse hair, repair damaged locks, and protect them against the negative impact of heat styling and environmental stressors.
It also contains essential oils that hydrate the strands and scalp.
With regular use, this shampoo for black hair color will help give you shinier locks with no product buildup and residue.
This product is best for natural black-colored hair.
This Japanese shampoo uses essential plant extract oils to maintain color and strengthen hair.
Key benefits: Moisturizes and nourishes; revitalizes lifeless locks; lightweight formulation
Features:
- Contains tsubaki flowers rich in oleic and linoleic acid
- Strengthens brittle hair
- Protects color by ensuring hair is healthy and strong
Keep your black hair healthy and happy with this all-natural nourishing shampoo.
Many Asian shampoos are specifically formulated to keep black hair shiny, strong, and beautiful.
MyKirei by Kao shampoo utilizes tsubaki flower extracts that help restore balanced moisture in your hair and breathe new life into dull strands at the same time.
By giving your hair deep hydration and nourishment, it also helps prevent tangles and hair loss.
This product is best for both natural black-colored hair.
This gentle purple toning shampoo is perfect for black hair with highlights.
Key benefits: Neutralizes brassy undertones; hydrates hair; salon-level treatment at home
Features:
- Infused with hibiscus and purple dye
- Color care powered by science
- Sulfate-free
Keep the brassiness of your highlights at bay with L’Oreal’s EverPure Purple Shampoo.
Toning shampoo has many benefits, and it’s been proven that purple shampoo is the best option for blonde, light color-treated, and silver locks to keep brassy undertones at bay.
L’Oreal EverPure Toning Shampoo is an excellent shampoo for black-dyed hair with light brown to blonde highlights.
Its vegan and sulfate-free formulation is infused with hibiscus and purple dye to combat unflattering orange and yellow undertones and ensure both your highlights and black base color stay moisturized.
And since you only need to use it approximately two times a week, each bottle can last for months.
This product is best for color-treated black hair with light brown to blonde highlights.
This color-safe shampoo gives you dazzling black locks.
Key benefits: Creamy texture; extends the life of your hair dye; revitalizes hair
Features:
- Sulfate-free
- Infused with protein and quinoa
- Enhances color
Now you can enjoy longer-lasting color with this incredible product!
If you have auburn black or soft black color-treated hair, this color-protecting shampoo is perfect for you. Not only does it enhance your hair color, but it also helps you retain it longer!
This sulfate-free and silicone-free cleanser is formulated to extend the life and vibrance of your color for up to 40 washes.
Plus, it comes with a blend of protein and quinoa to revitalize your hair and repair the damage caused by hair dye.
Want a two-in-one product package? Get the Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo and Conditioner for dyed black hair!
This product is best for color-treated black hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I use a toning shampoo for color-treated hair?
For the most part, color-toning shampoos are used twice a week as a supplement to a gentle hydrating shampoo. Many users avoid using them daily because they dry out their hair.
To be safe, always check the label of your toning shampoo to make sure you are using it properly.
How can I maintain my black hair?
Aside from using gentle, hydrating, and color-safe shampoos, you can also follow these care tips for maintaining black-dyed hair and naturally black tresses:
- Avoid using heat-styling tools — Heat can damage your hair and fade its color. Try to avoid using heat-styling tools as much as possible. When you absolutely need to use them, apply a heat protectant like the Chi Iron Guard Thermal Protecting Spray onto your locks before styling.
- Limit exposure to the sun — Too much sun exposure can bring out unwanted undertones in your hair. So avoid being out in the sun for too long and always wear a hat or visor when you spend time outdoors.
- Use a wide-tooth comb — Dyed black hair is prone to damage, so using brushes that pull at the strands too vigorously can cause your strands to break. Instead, use a gentle wide-tooth comb to tame your mane.
- Use hair masks and treatments — Give your locks some pampering regularly with hair masks or treatments that help maintain volume and achieve optimal hair health.
Finding the Best Shampoo for Black-Colored Hair
Finding the best shampoo for your hair’s unique needs is the best way to ensure your hair is healthy, happy, and hydrated.
Black-colored hair — whether natural or color-treated — will benefit significantly from high-quality shampoos formulated to make your dark locks vibrant and smooth.
While all our recommendations will help keep your hair healthy, you may need to try a couple of them to find the one that works best for you.
Once you do, you’ll definitely notice an improvement and enjoy rich, alluringly glossy black locks.
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