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What Is Color Depositing Shampoo? | Detailed Guide

When you first leave the salon after getting your hair colored, your hair looks fantastic. Everyone you see tells you that you look great. However, over time, the color fades and your hair loses its bounce.

This happens to everyone for a number of different reasons. You may have heard people say, “What is color depositing shampoo,” and wondered if it can help. If this is you, you’re in the right place.

What Is Color Depositing Shampoo?

Woman using a color-depositing shampoo in a salon

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Color depositing shampoo is a shampoo that contains color pigments inside. It isn’t as strong as hair coloring products, but it can replenish color that you lose over time from washing, styling, and heat products.

Depending on your hair color and the tones you have, you can use different color depositing shampoos to restore your hair to the color you want. 

You may have a lot of questions about this shampoo, as it sounds like something that can restore your hair and save money. People often ask the following questions:

  • How does color depositing shampoo work?
  • What colors is it good for?
  • What are the benefits and drawbacks?
  • How long does it last?

We wanted to find the answers, so we did the research. Continue reading to learn all about color depositing shampoos and what they can do for you.

How Color Depositing Shampoo Works

You can use a color depositing shampoo to brighten your hair, alter your hair color, or enhance your hair at home. There are two different kinds. Toning shampoos remove brassiness, while color depositing shampoos temporarily dye your hair to change or enhance your hair color. 

These shampoos contain color pigments that permeate your hair strands. They can either enhance or negate your current hair color. They are temporary, and how long they last depends on how often you wash your hair.

Most people use this shampoo once a week to maintain a consistent color. The shampoo you choose will usually have instructions on the label, but with most of them, you will lather it into your hair and let it sit for three to five minutes.

If you want to dilute the tone, you can mix the shampoo with your normal shampoo. Once the time has passed, rinse your hair. It is easy to use, and most people use it weekly to keep a consistent hair tone. 

What Hair Color Can Use Color Depositing Shampoo?

You can use color depositing shampoo for any color hair. It is important to read the label and understand what the shampoo is designed to do. There are some color depositing shampoos that are specifically designed for blonds, brunettes, or people with black hair.

However, there are other colors as well. To start, you need to know your hair type. If you have fine or dry hair, look for a color depositing shampoo that moisturizes.

People with thick hair need to look for longer lasting color depositing shampoo. Most products will work on blond hair because it is light enough to pick up the colors. Most of the time, color depositing shampoos wash out over the course of a month.

And it will wash out sooner if you wash your hair more frequently. People often use this shampoo to touch up their color or to change their color. You can try out a new color with this shampoo before you go to the salon and make it more permanent. 

Read Next: 5 Question Hair Type Quiz

Pros and Cons of Color Depositing Shampoo

Woman with fine hair who should not use a color-depositing shampoo

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There are both benefits and drawbacks to using color depositing shampoo. This type of shampoo extends the life of your hair color, and it allows you to go to the salon less frequently. 

Another benefit is that color depositing shampoo can keep your hair glossy and enhance brightly colored hair, so you can avoid using hair dyes as frequently. It isn’t permanent, so you can use it frequently without damaging your hair the way dye would. 

It refreshes your hair color after the first use, so you can see a difference right away. It won’t strip your color, and it works great for colors that are difficult to maintain. 

However, you have to be careful when you are using the shampoo because it can stain your hands, your fingernails, and your towels. You should make sure that you use gloves to prevent this from happening.

The pigments can also stain your shower wall, so you need to rinse it right away. Another con is that these shampoos often contain sulfates that can dry your hair out. You need to use a conditioner to keep your hair hydrated.

If your hair doesn’t have any porosity, meaning it hasn’t been bleached or dyed before, it won’t be able to deposit color. You need to bleach your hair first. This shampoo is a great option for people who have colored their hair and want to touch it up or try a new color.

Read Next: Determine Your Hair’s Porosity With Our Quiz

How Long Color Depositing Shampoo Lasts

Color depositing shampoo lasts as long as you use it regularly. If you stop using it, the shampoo washes out over time. It will disappear in between three weeks and a month. Some people use the shampoo each time they wash their hair, while others alternate it with their regular shampoo. 

If your hair is dirty, you can wash it with your normal shampoo first and then use the color depositing shampoo. You can make the color flat by continuing to use the shampoo regularly.

Read Next: How Often Should You Shampoo Your Hair?

Frequently Asked Questions

Before after dark hair for a piece on what is color-depositing shampoo

Yuliya Alekseeva/Shutterstock

What color is color depositing shampoo?

Color depositing shampoos come in every color you can imagine. They come in shades of natural hair colors, but you can also get bold colors, including red, blue, green, and more. The shampoo will wash out over time, so you can try any color you like.

How often should you use color depositing shampoo?

You should use the color depositing shampoo two or three times a week. They don’t contain permanent dye, so the color will fade if you don’t continue using it. However, there are some formulas that last as long as four weeks, so you can wait to use it again.

So, What Is Color Depositing Shampoo?

Color depositing shampoo is shampoo that deposits color on your hair. You can use this shampoo to touch up your hair between trips to the salon, or you can try out a bold, new color. It will wash out over time, so you can experiment with it.