Updated: May 25th, 2023
Red hair fades and if you’re natural or ‘by choice’, you know we love color depositing shampoos and conditioners to “up” red without roots and dye. You can easily do it in the comfort of your shower and the results are great. Each year, we release our top recommended color depositing shampoos for redheads –– but this year, we’re going a step further and are recommending color depositing masks for redheads we love too.
Why does red hair fade?
For natural redheads, it might be because you’re aging or your red hair just isn’t as vibrant as it use to be.
For redheads ‘by choice’, the dye simply washes out over time.
Products are getting better and better to keep our red hair vibrant.
We all love keeping our red hair vibrant and beautiful, so why not try a redhead refresh every once in a while?
COLOR DEPOSITING SHAMPOOS + CONDITIONERS
1. Maria Nila Color Bomb Hair Mask in Bright Copper
Great for: natural redheads and redheads ‘by choice’
This is a newer hair brand with 100% vegan products. They have a Color Bombs line with pigmented hair masks to make hair more vibrant while nourishing and moisturizing. For copper/ginger redheads, the Colour Refresh in Bright Copper is the perfect way to amp up your red. For those with bright/dark red/burgundy hair, there’s also the color Bright Red. For those who fall somewhere in between, the products can be mixed with White Mix to get the perfect at-home custom color.
2. Davines Alchemic Red Shampoo + Conditoner
Great for: natural redheads and redheads ‘by choice’
Davines was founded in Parma, Italy in the ’80s and was one of the first color depositing shampoo and conditioners we ever tried as a company. You can use the shampoo and conditioner together, or separately. The shade is great for those with copper and warm hues. The conditioner is our favorite. It’s super hydrating and smells wonderful.
3. Joico Color Infuse Red Shampoo + Conditioner
Great for: redheads ‘by choice’ with dark tones
We recommend this set by Joico for redheads who may color their red hair or have a more natural dark tone to their natural color. If you’re a strawberry or copper redhead, stay away from this duo. The shade is pretty intense but does a great job if you have auburn or cranberry tones. It gives a great cleanse to the hair with a salon-quality feel.
4. John Frieda Radiant Red Boosting Shampoo + Conditioner
Great for: redheads ‘by choice’
This is another affordable duo we recommend for redheads who dye their hair or have dark and warm tones. We have heard from many redheads that it temporarily covers grays (if there is 20% or less gray hair) and really preserves red dye color.
HAIR MASKS
1. Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care Mask in Chic Copper
Great for: natural redheads or redheads ‘by choice’ with copper hues
This is a super nourishing and color revival mask that will enhance your copper tones and add nourishment and hydration. On clean, towel dry hair, massage throughout and leave on for 5-30 minutes, depending on the desired intensity. We recommend starting off at 5-10 minutes and building with each use. Rinse thoroughly.
2. oVertone Haircare Semi-Permanent Color Depositing Conditioner in Ginger
Great for: natural redheads or redheads ‘by choice’ with copper hues
Don’t be afraid of the intense orange-looking shade of this hair mask. It really is amazing. It’s a great choice for those with strawberry blonde, copper or orange-gold undertones. We do not recommend this product for those redheads with blonde highlights or dark auburn hues. Apply a generous amount to clean, dry hair using gloves and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse until water runs clear and use dark towels to absorb any residual color. Lasts for 2-20 washes.
We post the following disclaimers and how-to each year, and this year is no different.
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE USING A COLOR DEPOSITING SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER:
1. If you’re a redhead ‘by choice’, consult with your stylist or colorist before using it.
2. Color depositing shampoo and conditioners do not work for blonde or gray shades of hair.
Warning: If you have blonde highlights in your red hair, using these products will turn them pink.
3. Rinse your hair after conditioning with cool water. This will help close the cuticle and seal in moisture.
4. The product may stain so use a dark towel (or t-shirt) while drying your hair.
5. If you’re nervous to take the color depositing plunge, we recommend adding a few drops to your currently used shampoo and conditioner. This is a great way to ‘up’ your red a tiny bit.
If you are looking for an alternative to color-depositing shampoo, look no further:
Finally Glossy® Shine & Luminosity Shampoo for Redheads
It took many years to custom-make the Finally Glossy® formula and we’re so excited for redheads to enjoy it. We’re thrilled to release another clean redhead beauty product. It is paraben-free, cruelty-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free, mineral-oil, and vegan. It also contains no perfume, is free of gluten and is silicone-free, phthalate-free, formaldehyde-free and cocamidopropyl betaine-free. This clean formula is formulated with Vitamin B3, olive oil, coconut oil and green tea.
