Those annoying, hard to get rid of brassy tones that show up after you lighten your dark hair are a real pain in the butt. But there is a way to tackle the pesky side effect of coloring your strands: blue shampoo.
The best blue shampoos come with color-correcting pigments and deposit blue tones to help tone down any visible orange tints in your weeks-old lightened locks. They basically give your strands a lift and banish patchy pops of color and contrasting ends. Plus, they have strong color-preserving properties to help your hair hold on to the right color longer.
Blue shampoos are essential for brunettes transitioning to a lighter color, but they can also be used by anyone boasting naturally brown locks looking for a slight change from a basic brown shade. But not all blue shampoos are created equal.
So we went ahead and rounded up the best of the bunch that not only help your dye job stick around, they even moisturize and condition your mane for softer, shinier strands.
What Exactly Do Best Blue Shampoos Do for Brown Hair?
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DpHUE
Cool Brunette Shampoo, $26 at DpHUE
This shampoo has deep blue pigments to cool down even the strongest brassy notes. Its foaming formula features silk proteins and hibiscus flower extract to strengthen your locks, improve luster and increase brightness.
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Joico
Color Balance Blue Shampoo, $33.99 at Ulta Beauty
One of the most hydrating shampoos available, this color-balancing product also reduces frizz and split ends. It'll help your hair preserve 89 percent of your color for six to eight weeks.
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Matrix
Total Results Brass Off Shampoo, $9.80 at Lookfantastic
Ideal for brunettes who decide to lighten their locks, Matrix's shampoo deposits blue-violet pigments to counteract any brassy tones. The formula is enriched with nourishing vitamins and essential oils for revitalized strands.
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Not Your Mother's
Triple Threat Brunette Blue Treatment Shampoo, $7.99 at Ulta Beauty
Increase shine while you gently cleanse your colored mane with this best blue shampoo. It neutralizes orange tones to cool down all shades of brown hair to keep your color looking fresher longer.
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Aveda
Blue Malva Shampoo, $54 at Aveda
A plant-based shampoo great for keeping highlighted hair in check. It also has hydrating elements, like sweet almond bark powder and aloe leaf juice, for noticeably healthy strands.
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Madison Reed
Tune Up Shampoo, $25.95 at Madison Reed
Created specifically for brunettes, this shampoo is a blend of blue and green pigments that offset any and all red and orange tones that can lead to brassy accents. It's also infused with argan oil, baobab oil, keratin and ginseng root extract to pamper your strands.
