Color-treated hair requires a different routine than normal hair. In this guide, I have covered almost everything you need to know about caring for your hair. Why does it become frizzy, and what can you do about it? Which shampoos are best for color-treated frizzy hair, and which ones should be avoided?
What happens after color treatment?
After you color-treat your hair, it alters the hair structure through oxidation. In these treatments, the cuticles are lifted to incorporate pigment which also makes the hair 2.5 times more porous and susceptible to moisture loss.
Why you need a sulfate free shampoo?
If your shampoo contains sulfate, you need to give it a break. Sulfates are basically harsh surfactants that create that rich lather we have come to associate with clean hair. But here is the thing, they are not good for color-treated hair.
They pull water and oil both, meaning they not only strip away the buildup and dirt but also your hair’s natural oil and pigment. That’s a huge cost for anyone who is investing in professional color treatment, costing between $150–300 per session. It makes your hair lose color and makes it frizzy with time.
Why many gentle drugstore shampoos don’t work?
The hair scalp has a pH of 5.5, and the hair shaft itself has a pH of 3.67. When we use alkaline commercial shampoos, most of them have a pH level above 5.5, which disrupts this balance.
This alkaline pH increases the charge on your hair fiber, which in turn increases the friction between the fibers and ultimately causes cuticle damage.
This explains a lot about why many drugstore shampoos, even those claiming to be gentle, can actually worsen frizz over time.
What to expect after switching to a sulfate free shampoo?
When you are using traditional shampoos, chances are that your hair already has accumulated waxes, silicones, and plasticizers that coat the hair shaft to give your hair artificial smoothness.
Sulfate-free shampoos don’t aggressively get rid of that waxy layer at once but gradually. That’s why when you first switch to sulfate-free shampoo, your hair might feel worse before it feels better.
This period usually lasts for about 2–8 weeks. So before abandoning sulfate-free shampoo prior to this time period, I’d suggest trying it for a few weeks and seeing how things work out
If you want to speed up this transition period, use a clarifying chelating treatment once before your first sulfate-free wash. Here is a DIY trick for it.
Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of warm water. Pour this over dry hair and massage for 2 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. This will help break the harsh silicone buildup. Follow with your sulfate-free cleanse.
Do not use baking soda. It has a pH of 9.0, and it will damage your hair cuticle.
Best Sulfate Free Shampoo for Color-treated Hair
I have been using Pureology Hydrate Shampoo for more than 3 months now. I have had more than 20 washes with it, and the results are great. I would say it lathers more like a heavy cream rather than a typical shampoo-type lather.
After application, you may notice that it doesn’t sud up immediately. It is because the gentle surfactants are working on emulsifying the oil first.
Whether you need one wash or two depends on how greasy your hair is. If you wash your hair daily or every second day, a single wash is enough. For those who wash every 3–4 days, you will need a double wash.
The number of washes also depends on the volume of the hair. The more volume, the more product you will need. It contains menthol and mint, so when you apply it on the scalp, you might feel a tingling sensation.
Besides that, it leaves your hair soft. Jojoba oil in it mimics your hair’s natural oil, so trust me when I say it does leave your hair smooth, it really does.
Over time, the chemical frizz did fade away for me. The flyaways as well, which was a major achievement for me. As far as color vibrancy is concerned, I didn’t feel like my color-treated hair was losing its gloss as it did with sulfate shampoos.
