SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER DUO - COLOUR
Short of perming our hair (does anyone really do that, anymore?) colouring our hair is probably the unkindest thing we can do to it. (But for those of us who DO colour our hair, the alternative is pretty unthinkable.)
Colouring/highlighting tends to sap moisture from the hair shaft and potentially leave it brittle or dry. Everyday washing and drying, additionally, can over time dull or fade hair colour – so we think it's well worth seeking out haircare which takes those challenges into account.
Here, then, are shampoo and conditioner pairs which impressed our coloured-haired testers – although the winning brands in this category specifically here’s a bit of a cross-over here with the shampoo and conditioner duos for dry hair, so you might want to check out those winners, too, here…
And for blonde and grey hair, you might want to scope out the winners here…
GOLD AWARD Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner
Salon-distributed brand Joico maintain that they ‘eat, sleep and breathe beauty!’ and are ‘healthy hair obsessed’. Always good to hear, as far as we’re concerned, especially when it results in a duo like this damage-healing duo which ‘works to preserve and maintain your hair colour’s life, fighting against fade with every use.’ A cocktail of keratin, rosehip oil and arginine, manketti and argan oils work to lock in colour intensity, ‘underneath an invisible conditioning shield.’
Shampoo/£22.70 for 300ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£23.30 for 250ml – click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘The dream duo for hair care. I didn’t need a lot; it lathered up beautifully and I could feel it getting rid of build-up from all the products I use. My hairdresser commented on what good condition my hair was in, too’ • ‘Made my hair feel great and refreshed and well-nourished and best of all, lovely and glossy’ • ‘My hair wasn't weighed down at all, which I think happens when you use too much conditioner. The smell is nice – I have been receiving compliments from my family members’ • ‘My colour has been maintained very well; usually by this time in between salon appointments I would have to use a purple shampoo a few times per month, but using the Joico shampoo and conditioner, I feel my hair colour is in good nick’ • ‘My hair colour is looking great, hair seems to be healthier and the texture is manageable’ • ‘Someone I know in the park said to me I looked different and if I’d done anything to my hair; the colour looked more vibrant and as if I had been to the hairdresser’ • ‘A lovely product especially the conditioner; slight colour-caring benefit but I was also impressed that it kept the curl in my hair much better.’
Shampoo/£22.70 for 300ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£23.30 for 250ml – click to buy
SILVER AWARD SheWolf Colour Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner
We love SheWolf’s philosophy: ‘We can have hair in any colour we want. Drab and dreary is not one of them.’ The British-based haircare brand was created by Mariano Ruiz, after years of experience ‘from the stage to the salon’, with formulations by a Paris-based chemist, then tested and approved by clients, collaborators and friends. Free from sulphates, artificial colours or parabens, the key colour-locking ingredient is sweet almond protein (to combat frizz), while the duo is most lusciously scented with pomegranate, orange, vanilla and musk.
Shampoo/£15.50 for 250ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£16.50 for 200ml – click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘My hair is coarse and thick but the tangles literally glided out of my hair effortlessly with this; I'm really impressed with how manageable it made my hair’ • ‘Definitely felt it prolonged my colour and hair felt softer, healthier and looked better’ • ‘My hair looked brighter while using this and my daughter said my hair smelled lovely – and I quote, "I could smell it all day" (she's five!)’ • ‘Beautiful smelling colour-protecting duo that actually works; the fragrance isn’t overpowering, but the whole combination feels luxurious’ • ‘Products are easy to distribute and rinse out, leaving hair feeling clean. The conditioner is particularly easy to apply; hair feels silky and manageable afterwards’ • ‘Hair looks healthy and shiny. No noticeable colour disappearing down the plughole!’ ’ • ‘Definite colour-caring benefits; hair feels soft, has a shine and a vibrancy; my hairdresser commented it was in good condition’ • ‘The SheWolf shampoo & conditioner are definitely keeping the highlights in my hair looking brighter and more prominent. There is less fading than previous products I have used. Someone asked if I just had my highlights done because my hair looks bright and has a lovely sheen.’
Shampoo/£15.50 for 250ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£16.50 for 200ml – click to buy
BRONZE AWARD eSalon Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner
eSalon specialise in made-to-order custom hair colour, also offering haircare to give coloured hair the ongoing TLC it needs – including this duo, enriched with quinoa, avocado oil and panthenol. To quote eSalon: ‘The key to vibrant colour? Hydrated hair. This nourishing combo features a sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES)-free, moisture-boosting shampoo and a super-hydrating yet lightweight conditioner. Together, they’re the answer to stressed-out, dehydrated strands.’ Not every single tester fell hook, line and sinker for this duo, however – perhaps to be expected, though, since there are so many different kinds of coloured hair.
Shampoo/£15 for 266ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£17.50 for 266ml – click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I've tried a lot of shampoo and conditioners so when I looked at these, I wondered what was so special about them. On first use I realised that this was not your normal run of the mill shampoo and conditioner – lovely scent for starters and rinsed out very easily; when my hair was dried it felt oomphy and shiny, actually had some spring to it and my ends felt softer. Still looked good the next day and had kept its springiness’ • ‘I have 90% white hair and noticed less yellowing, and my scalp – which has a tendency to itch – is not so much of an issue. Another benefit: my hairfall reduced dramatically’ • ‘Really delivers on the promise to deliver moisturisation; my hair has not felt so good in years! Without a doubt I will be recommending to friends as I have not been so seriously impressed by a shampoo and conditioner that work so well together’ • ‘First thing I noticed was how soft and manageable my hair felt – much easier to style; pleasant apple blossom scent but not overpowering or lingering.’
Shampoo/£15 for 266ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£17.50 for 266ml – click to buy