Did you know Amy Adams isn’t a true redhead? That’s right! Amy Adams is actually a natural blonde and she dyes her hair to get that gorgeous rich red shade. As any blonde turned redhead knows,  red hair dye fades faster than just about any other color.

Regardless of what color you dye your hair, you’ll want to make certain you’re using a shampoo that will give you the best chance of keeping your color for a long time. Nobody wants to be in and out of the salon every month–not only is it costly, but all those chemicals will totally fry your hair! So here’s what to look for in a colored shampoo, along with our recommendations for the top colored hair shampoos.

1. Sulfate Free: Sulfates are the ingredients in most commercial shampoos that create lather. As much as we’ve been trained by clever advertising to believe a good lather means a good cleaning, all that lovely foam action is actually something you want to avoid if you have colored hair. Sulfates are surfactants, meaning they quite literally strip the surface of your scalp, making it squeaky clean. Unfortunately, they tend to strip the color right along with the oils and dirt. There are plenty of sulfate-free shampoos out there that will get your hair plenty clean , but still leave your color (and some of those nourishing natural oils) intact!

2. Silicone Free: Many commercial shampoos also contain silicone (the ingredients that end in “cone” on the label). Silicone’s are frequently added to shampoos because they create shine. That said, the shine effect is often temporary. See, silicones build up on your hair, which creates  shine and color dulling residue. Thus, to get hair shiny and color looking true again you’ll be forced to use a super harsh clarifying shampoo which will most certainly strip your color.

3. Contains Protein: Colored hair is often dry and thirsty for moisture. But what it really needs, above all, is protein.

Coloring the hair actually opens up the hair shaft and literally removes the hair’s natural protein. In truth, a shampoo that contains protein probably won’t give your hair enough protein. We also recommend a protein mask once a week. That said, a shampoo that contains protein is a great way to give your hair its daily fix.

Top Recommendations

These are our favorite color protecting shampoos:

Budget Buy: L’Oreal EverPure Smooth Shampoo $5.88 on Amazon

I loved how this shampoo never dried out my hair. My color lasted much longer than with a traditional shampoo. That said, this shampoo does still contain some sulfate derivatives (Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate), which are basically just milder versions of the mainstream sulfates. If you’re currently using a mainstream shampoo for normal hair, then switching to this will definitely be a step up. But you may not notice a difference if you already use shampoo for colored hair.

Best Value: Aubrey Organics Rosa Mosqueta Shampoo $11 on Amazon.

Those of you who prefer green or chemical free products will especially love this one. Aubrey Organics provides the most truly organic products we’ve ever found, and it just so happens their Colored Hair shampoo (the Rosa Mosqueta) is the best I’ve ever used! It’s very gentle and doesn’t lather much, so that may take some getting used to.

But my color lasts twice as long now that I use this shampoo.

OR

Best Value: DermOrganic Conditioning Shampoo $12.80 on Amazon

This is another favorite. It’s richer than the Aubrey Organic and creates more lather. It’s not quite as chemical free, but it’s very close and the chemicals it does contain are considered very non-toxic. This one would be the best option for those of you with thick hair. My fine hair can’t handle a lot of moisture so I prefer the AO. But if you’ve got thick or curly hair you’ll love this!

High-End: Don’t bother. The Best Value Shampoos listed above are the best available at any price range!