Color Depositing Conditioner on Light Vrown Hair
- / Beauty
The Secret to Prolonging Hair Color? Color-Depositing Conditioner
- by Cecily Trowbridge Rallo
- Last Updated: Mar 30, 2021
These 14 bottles could be a game-changer for your hair care routine.
- by Cecily Trowbridge Rallo
- Last Updated: Mar 30, 2021
If you're grieving your silky, rootless pre-pandemic hair, you're far from alone. Salon appointments haven't been so accessible as of late, which has many hair care aficionados considering other options. We've become significantly more self-sufficient in other ways — why shouldn't that self-sufficiency apply to our hair? Enter color-depositing conditioner, which provides a temporary boost of color in between salon appointments.
Color-depositing conditioner can be used at home, injecting as much or as little color as you like in a matter of minutes. It's safe to use and is far less of a commitment than at-home hair color kits, which strike fear into the hearts of many. Your hair care routine could be doing more for you. You can banish that perma-bun and return your hair to its previous glory.
Hair color maintenance is crucial to every beauty routine, whether that means ridding yourself of errant gray hairs, erasing distracting roots, or changing up your color for a much-desired refresh. Keep reading for more on how color-depositing conditioners will keep your hair healthy and soft while providing the color you need. And to get the full effect, make sure to use them with a color-depositing shampoo, too.
What is Color-Depositing Conditioner?
Color-depositing conditioner deposits pure pigment (color) into hair as it moisturizes. It's a normal conditioner that also temporarily dyes hair. This product is having a moment, as it's a simple and convenient solution to color maintenance. For many people with color-treated locks, it has already cemented its place in hair care routines. It's meant to help you preserve color between salon appointments, which are fewer and farther between these days, but it can also be used by those without color-treated hair.
"These conditioners can honestly be used by anybody," says Alli Hayes, hair color expert and owner of Waylon Salon in La Jolla, CA. "They can be used by gray-haired women who want to brighten up, or by those with virgin hair who just want to counteract undesired warmth, and pretty much any client with vivid hair will be using color-depositing conditioner because you need it in order to maintain that vibrant color."
According to Hayes, color-depositing conditioner is especially popular among cool blondes, as purple conditioner is essential to avoiding brassiness.
The Pros and Cons of Color-Depositing Conditioner
Despite the moisturizing agents in color-depositing conditioner, it's known to dry hair if used too often. This is due to the sulfates — or cleansing chemicals — often found in color-depositing formulas. To avoid potential dryness, Hayes recommends using a deep conditioning or leave-in treatment after use.
Those with Brazilian blowouts and keratin treatments should avoid color-depositing conditioner completely.
"I also suggest that women don't sleep on light-colored sheets after using any of these products," Hayes notes. That's because treating hair with color-depositing conditioner can be messy business. If possible, apply the conditioner in a shower, not a bath, for maximum control. Wet the surfaces around you before applying the conditioner, as many materials are prone to staining. Color-depositing conditioner may also temporarily stain skin, so minimal contact is ideal.
It should also be noted that color-depositing conditioner is strong . In some cases, it may take only a minute or two to achieve your desired color.
Color-depositing conditioner can't actually lighten hair. Instead, it alters pigment for a lighter appearance. As Hayes mentions, however, it can darken hair, so those with deeper hair colors like brown or black can quickly enrich their shades using these products.
How to Choose the Right Conditioner for Your Color
There are hundreds of color-depositing conditioner options, and hundreds of color variations on top of them. Understanding the hair color level system is the first step to finding the right product and color for you.
All hair color falls on a scale from one to 10, where one is black (darkest) and 10 is platinum (lightest). "Vivid" color-depositing conditioners, for example, will only deposit on lighter hair colors that fall toward the top of the scale.
Hayes recommends speaking to your hairstylist to learn the best options for your hair, as stylists are experts in color theory.
If you're ready to take the plunge today, ahead, you'll find the best color-depositing conditioner for every hair color.
Oribe
Silverati Conditioner
$48.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Gray Hair: Oribe Silverati Conditioner
If you're big on scent, Oribe's silver color-depositing conditioner will satisfy with its watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extract. It works to eliminate orange and yellow tones to deliver that "silver siren" look desirable to those with gray hair.
Oribe Silverati Conditioner available at Revolve for $48.00 BUY NOW
Sachajuan
Silver Conditioner
$33.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Gray Hair: Sachajuan Silver Conditioner
Scandanavian hair care brand Sachajuan offers simple silver-depositing conditioner with no frills. The brand uses top-of-the-line ingredients and " Ocean Silk Technology " to enrich hair and neutralize brassiness. Minimalists at heart will appreciate the brand's philosophy: "To simplify haircare by reducing superfluous products, ingredients, and routines."
Sachajuan Silver Conditioner available at Net-A-Porter for $33.00 BUY NOW
Alchemic
Alchemic Conditioner Golden
$31.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Warm Blonde Hair: Alchemic Conditioner Golden
Natural and color-treated golden blondes flock to Alchemic for its rich color-depositing formula. It leaves the hair lustrous and brings out highlights for a beautiful, balanced warm blonde.
"My hair has been every color under the sun and I have used every shade in the Alchemic product line," wrote one fan of the brand . "I stopped coloring my [hair] two years ago so I was hesitant to use this on my natural hair. Not only did it bring out my natural highlights, but it warmed up my ends, which are colored. I use it at least once a week with the Alchemic Golden shampoo. Love!!"
Alchemic Alchemic Conditioner Golden available at Davines for $31.00 BUY NOW
Celeb
Gemlites Colorditioner In Sandy Opal
$35.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Warm Blonde Hair: Celeb Gemlites Colorditioner In Sandy Opal
Celeb's Gem Lites is a favorite among stylists for its moisturizing properties and rich color offerings. Try Sandy Opal for rejuvenated warm blonde color in just two to five minutes.
Celeb Gemlites Colorditioner In Sandy Opal available at Celeb Luxury for $35.00 BUY NOW
Redken
Color Extend Blondage Conditioner
$40.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Cool Blonde Hair: Redken Color Extend Blondage Conditioner
A go-to for cool blondes, Redken's Blondage Conditioner effectively removes brassiness from icy blonde hair and leaves it feeling silky smooth. It uses citric acid to repair hair from the inside out, softening and eliminating dryness. This product is strong enough to keep dyed platinum blondes looking fresh out of the salon—that also means it will dye light hair blue or purple if left on too long. Trust us, we've learned from experience: Follow the directions on the bottle and don't keep this conditioner on for longer than five minutes.
Redken Color Extend Blondage Conditioner available at Ulta Beauty for $40.00 BUY NOW
Oribe
Bright Blonde Conditioner
$168.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Cool Blonde Hair: Oribe Bright Blonde Conditioner
Oribe's conditioner is a gentle color-depositing option for cool blondes. It can be used on both natural and color-treated hair to tone and eradicate unwanted yellow and orange undertones.
Oribe Bright Blonde Conditioner available at Net-A-Porter for $168.00 BUY NOW
Rita Hazan
True Color Conditioner
$26.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Vibrant Colors: Rita Hazan True Color Conditioner
For a solution that will keep all colors bright and vivid, look to the True Color Conditioner from Rita Hazan. It's a mainstay for those who frequently switch up their hair color as it helps preserve every color, from platinum blonde to deep black.
Rita Hazan True Color Conditioner available at Net-A-Porter for $26.00 BUY NOW
Oribe
Conditioner For Beautiful Color
$48.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Vibrant Colors: Oribe Conditioner For Beautiful Color
Here's a conditioner that undoes the damage inflicted on hair during color treatments. It's an all-around hair protectant that guards against UV damage and brittleness while enhancing color. To seal the deal, Oribe products are known for their scrumptious scents.
Oribe Conditioner For Beautiful Color available at Net-A-Porter for $48.00 BUY NOW
John Frieda
Brilliant Brunette Color Deepening Conditioner
$11.99 BUY NOW
9 /14
Best For Brown Hair: John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Color Deepening Conditioner
Brilliant Brunette brings up all the best parts of brown hair for a rich, luxe appearance. It's ideal for those whose hair is prone to unwanted lightening or wash-out. If you've had one too many run-ins with lightening products like Sun-In, this product is a great option for blending and rejuvenation.
John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Color Deepening Conditioner available at Ulta Beauty for $11.99 BUY NOW
Overtone
Espresso Brown Coloring Conditioner
$32.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Brown Hair: Overtone Espresso Brown Coloring Conditioner
Overtone is a cult favorite brand among color lovers thanks to its vivid hue offerings and effective formulas. The Coloring Conditioner is 100-percent vegan, free from ammonia, parabens, and sulfates, and cruelty-free. Hayes counts it as one of her go-tos.
Overtone Espresso Brown Coloring Conditioner available at Overtone for $32.00 BUY NOW
Christophe Robin
Shade Variation Care In Chic Copper
$53.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Red Hair: Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care In Chic Copper
Another brand color lovers flock to for solid and staying color is Christophe Robin. The Shade Variation Care treatment is unusually nourishing, filled with ingredients like almond butter and carrot oil. According to the brand, color lasts for three to five washes per treatment, which means you only need to use it once a week to maintain.
Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care In Chic Copper available at Net-A-Porter for $53.00 BUY NOW
Chi
Ionic Illuminate Mahogany Red Color Conditioner
$11.98 BUY NOW
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Best For Red Hair: Chi Ionic Illuminate Mahogany Red Color Conditioner
Chi's Ionic Illuminate promises to rejuvenate hair color and quality with silk amino acids that moisturize and gloss. It's best for those with dark red hair who desire intense color. Those with lighter hair should use it with caution.
Chi Ionic Illuminate Mahogany Red Color Conditioner available at Amazon for $11.98 BUY NOW
dpHUE
Gloss + Semi-Permanent Hair Color And Deep Conditioner In Dark Brown
$35.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Black Hair: dpHUE Gloss + Semi-Permanent Hair Color And Deep Conditioner In Dark Brown
Another product free of sulfates, parabens, and most other harsh ingredients, Gloss+ is meant to help maintain hair color, not to create new color. It leaves hair illuminated and increases shine. Use with caution, as some reviewers have claimed it temporarily dyed their hands.
"I have light brown hair with a full head of highlights since I started going grey," one reviewer shared . "With lockdown though, I haven't been to the salon for six months and my grow-out is quite noticeable. I got the dark blonde shade to darken my highlights a bit so that there wasn't a harsh line where the highlights started. I applied the gloss in the shower and left it on for three to four minutes. There was a slight darkening, which was exactly what I was looking for."
dpHUE Gloss + Semi-Permanent Hair Color And Deep Conditioner In Dark Brown available at Sephora for $35.00 BUY NOW
Keracolor
Color + Conditioner In Onyx
$22.00 BUY NOW
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Best For Black Hair: Keracolor Color + Conditioner In Onyx
This color-depositing conditioner is no muss, no fuss. It's lather-free and works quickly to deposit dark color. If you're short on time and in need of a color fix, it's a solid option that delivers results.
Keracolor Color + Conditioner In Onyx available at Ulta Beauty for $22.00 BUY NOW
Color Depositing Conditioner on Light Vrown Hair
Source: https://editorialist.com/beauty/best-color-depositing-conditioners/