‘I’m a Professional Colorist, and This Is the No. 1 Product To Avoid In Between Appointments To Maintain Color—And What To Use Instead’

“Head & Shoulders is a little secret by salon professionals to help keep the scalp healthy and hair silky, even if you don’t have scalp issues like dandruff,” says Cody Renegar, a celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, and Madison Watkins.

When hair is dry and dull, color can also appear faded, even if it isn’t. Using a product like Head & Shoulders shampoo, which is safe for color-treated strands and formulated without parabens can with the hair a dose of deep nourishment, which creates a silkier and softer texture that, in turn, makes color look more vibrant and rich.

Paul Mitchell is a haircare brand that dominated salons throughout the ’80s and ’90s, and, according to Renegar, is still trusted amongst colorists and hair professionals—especially as a drugstore formula—since the brand has proven to address many hair care needs and issues and typically boasts a budget-friendly price.

“The Color Protectant Daily Shampoo is good at preserving your hair color and keeping your hair hydrated and smooth,” he explains. This shampoo is specifically formulated for colored hair and is designed to protect strands from sun damage and hair color from fading over time. Its nourishing formula also helps keep the drab, faded appearance of dry stands at bay, which can make for longer-lasting color, too.

Renegar says you can also trust L’Oréal products for drugstore haircare that is the best bang for your buck. He recommends Magic Root Cover-Up because it’s “a handy way to keep whites and grays hidden between services.”

While there are other drugstore root touch-up products you can choose from, this one is the best because it comes in an excellent range of colors making it much easier to match your hair color, is washable so you don’t have to worry about messing up your hair color between salon visits, and is easy to use (it’s essentially tinted hair spray).

A color-depositing hair mask is also an excellent route to take, and Ghanima Abdullah, a cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles recommends Wella Color Fresh Mask for a drugstore formula that will hold you over between salon visits.

“This is actually a hair mask, so it conditions, softens, and gives shine and color,” she explains, noting that it comes in several different colors and fades after a week or two, making it a good temporary fix. In addition to keeping color fresh, the mask is also excellent for toning a balayage look or highlights and is also recommended as a weekly at-home hair treatment for brass prevention, too.

While the John Frieda Luminous Glaze Shine Hair Gloss only comes in clear and brunette colors, Abdullah swears by it for in between salon visits, since it “does an awesome job at adding 3D quality shine,” which can create the illusion of richer-looking color (especially if your hair tends to go dull and dry).

The best thing about this product is that, despite being a treatment, you can actually use it as part of your haircare routine every time you rinse—whether that be daily or weekly—to ensure you extend the life of your salon-quality strands until your next visit.

The Redken Shades EQ Hair Color Gloss is actually a salon product that you can use at home. “Because it’s a demi permanent, you can actually change your hair color with it, if you’re going darker,” Abdullah explains. “It’s also perfect for toning out unwanted colors,” she adds.

This drugstore color-saving product doesn’t leave behind a line of demarcation, so it’s nothing like box dye or other risky at-home color products. Plus, it lasts about a month, so it’s a great choice for someone who can’t get into the salon for a few weeks and needs a longer-lasting solution.

The IGK Color Depositing Mask is another nourishing formula that Abdullah recommends. “It’s a very hydrating mask and has the largest range of colors with 18 hues from brown to hot pink,” she notes.

This color-depositing product can help hair color stay fresh-looking, especially if your hair is dyed in fun and funky hues like purple, pink, and blue. With that said, this is not intended to cover up grays, so it’s better to use a root touch-up spray (such as the L’Oréal Magic Root Cover-Up) if that is your concern.

The dp Hue Color Boosting Gloss + Deep Conditioning Treatment is a semipermanent gloss with 11 shades of natural colors. “You can easily match your existing color and simply add more pigment with this line,” Abdullah explains, noting that this is another top pick for in between salon visits.

The product is formulated for both natural and color-treated hair and, despite its coloring properties, won’t damage hair so it can be used as often as you wash and condition your hair. On top of that, the deep conditioning treatment provides lots of luscious shine, which can breath life back into strands, especially if you haven’t been to the salon in a while and are overdue.