Shampoo for Colored Hair

Woman who is buying shampoo
Photo: Bigstock
Q: Does shampoo for colored hair really make a difference? Does it really work or is it just a clever way to charge extra for shampoo?
 
A: Yes, it does really make a difference. Shampoos are formulated for very specific outcomes, based on the current condition of the hair and what goal the user wants to reach.
 
An easy case in point is the fact that people with very fine, thin hair won’t use a very heavy, moisture intense shampoo or conditioner that has been formulated for “dry or damaged hair”. The reason for this is that moisture intense products weight thin or fine hair down.
 
Thin or fine hair tends to be naturally moisturized, especially at the root area, and a heavy shampoo or conditioner only makes this worse. The same principle applies to products designed for colored hair.
 
When you color your hair, you are literally adding artificial color particles to the hair shaft. The hair shaft is protected by the outer layer that’s called the cuticle. The cuticle basically looks like millions of little “shields” packed onto one another. When you color your hair, chemicals in the tint “lift” these shields up in order for the artificial color particles to enter the body of the hair and attach itself to the cortex or middle part of the hair shaft.
 
The problem is that once those “shields” of the cuticle have been lifted up, they never close properly again, and if they are left too far open, the artificial color particles break loose and are washed away when you wash your hair. This is why damaged or over processed hair’s color fades so quickly after it has been tinted.
 
Color shampoos and conditioners are specifically formulated to help the cortex “shields” close properly, and to keep the hair sealed and looking healthy.
 
©Hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
How to make hair color last longer
 
Does expensive shampoo make a difference?
 
Should I change shampoos on a regular basis?
 
Will color enhancing shampoo affect my highlights?