The 10 Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Vibrant Red Hair

Redheads, rejoice.

Dua Lipa in front of a step and repeat with red hair
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Finding the best shampoos and conditioners for your hair type is imperative to keeping your hair looking and feeling its best. Curly hair, natural hair, high porosity hair, low porosity, and colored hair all have their own needs and respond best to certain ingredients; so do specific hair colors. Blonde hair, for example, is strengthened and enhanced by purple shampoo, while brunettes benefit from the neutralizing effects of blue shampoo. But what about red hair?

The best shampoos and conditioners for red hair combine intense moisture with long-lasting color enhancement, treating the needs of natural and salon-created shades alike. "Red hair tends to be more porous than blonde or brunette, which means it may need extra moisture and hydration from haircare products," professional hairstylist Jennifer Korab tells Marie Claire. And for natural redheads, sun protection is also a critical detail to seek out in shampoos and conditioners. Korab notes that they run "a higher risk of sun damage to both hair and scalp, due to the fact that most red heads have fair skin."

Like blondes and brunettes, redheads also need hair products that prioritize the integrity of their color. "Red hair can have a tendency to turn brassy or orange tones," Korab explains, "so a color balancing shampoo can help."

Ahead, shop the 10 best shampoos and conditioners for vibrant red hair—whether it's all-natural or a fresh dye job like Dua Lipa's or Keke Palmer's. Each product was chosen based on its nourishing ingredients, expert approval, and satisfied shopper reviews.

Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Red Hair

What to Look for

Moisture and sun protection are two major qualities found in the best shampoos and conditioners for healthy red hair.

"I recommend looking for sulfate-free formulas and moisturizing agents like argan oil and coconut oil," Korab says. "You should also keep an eye out for color-safe ingredients and UV protection, like Benzophenone-r."

Purple and blue shampoos, which are made for blondes and brunettes, respectively, can also work well for redheads concerned about brassiness or uber-orange hues. Purple shampoo is best for those with light red hair, Korab explains, while blue shampoo works for dark red hair.

And what should redheads avoid? If moisture is the end goal, Korab suggests steering clear of potentially drying agents like sulfates, parabens, and silicones.

Meet the Expert

Hairstylist Jennifer Korab
Jennifer Korab

Jennifer Korab is a hairstylist specializing in color and and extensions. She owns the Renaissance Salon and Revival Barber Shop, both of which are located in New Jersey. She also serves as a haircare educator for Pureology.

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Gabrielle Ulubay
Beauty Writer

Gabrielle Ulubay is a Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. She has also written about sexual wellness, politics, culture, and fashion at Marie Claire and at publications including The New York Times, HuffPost Personal, Bustle, Alma, Muskrat Magazine, O'Bheal, and elsewhere. Her personal essay in The New York Times' Modern Love column kickstarted her professional writing career in 2018, and that piece has since been printed in the 2019 revised edition of the Modern Love book. Having studied history, international relations, and film, she has made films on politics and gender equity in addition to writing about cinema for Film Ireland, University College Cork, and on her personal blog, gabrielleulubay.medium.com. Before working with Marie Claire, Gabrielle worked in local government, higher education, and sales, and has resided in four countries and counting. She has worked extensively in the e-commerce and sales spaces since 2020, and spent two years at Drizly, where she developed an expertise in finding the best, highest quality goods and experiences money can buy.

Deeply political, she believes that skincare, haircare, and sexual wellness are central tenets to one's overall health and fights for them to be taken seriously, especially for people of color. She also loves studying makeup as a means of artistic expression, drawing on her experience as an artist in her analysis of beauty trends. She's based in New York City, where she can be found watching movies or running her art business when she isn't writing. Find her on Twitter at @GabrielleUlubay or on Instagram at @gabrielle.ulubay, or follow her art at @suburban.graffiti.art