Are you seeking a reliable way to subtly alter your hair’s colour without resorting to harsh chemicals? Lightening shampoos offer a fantastic solution, allowing for a gradual change in hue over time. Having reviewed an array of products specifically designed for dark-haired, blonde-haired, and grey-haired individuals, I’m excited to share my findings with you.
These innovative shampoos work wonders on coloured, highlighted, or natural locks, yielding the best results when applied to dark-to-medium blonde hair or lighter brunette hues. By enhancing your existing colour palette while imparting a subtle brightening effect, they’ve become incredibly popular among those seeking to neutralise any unwanted brassy or yellow tones.
While lightening shampoos may be most renowned for their ability to illuminate blonde locks, there are also some remarkable products on the market specifically designed to lighten and tone dark and grey hair. These exceptional formulas excel at producing cooler, icier shades that leave your tresses looking radiant.
In this post, I’ll delve into the best lightening shampoo products available, providing you with a comprehensive guide to help you find the perfect match for your unique locks.
Best Hair Lightening Shampoo
Benefits of Hair Lightening Shampoos
The effects of lightening shampoos will vary depending on your hair’s current condition and colour. Typically, they’ll enhance its natural shade, neutralizing any unwanted tones like orange, yellow or brassy hues. These products excel at extending the life of highlights and discreetly concealing dark roots (a blessing for those with dark locks who’ve opted for blonde dye jobs). When it comes to maintaining a bright, sun-kissed look, lightening shampoos are the way to go.
By altering your hair’s colour without the need for harsh chemicals or bleach, these products have gained popularity among those seeking a subtle yet transformative change. As an added bonus, all the products featured in this post are hydrogen peroxide-free, providing a safer and more gentle alternative.
How Long do Hair Lightening Shampoos Take to Work?
When it comes to hair lightening shampoos, results often depend on the condition of your hair. Since these products are designed to produce gradual effects over time, you may need to wait a few weeks to notice a difference. However, if you stick with the product consistently, you can expect to see noticeable results within less than a month. To achieve even better results, consider using the shampoo in conjunction with a complementary lightening conditioner and spray.
Best Lightening Shampoo for Blondes
PRO:VOKE Illuminex Touch of Blonde
The PRO:VOKE Illuminex Touch of Blonde Lightening Shampoo is a budget-friendly option for blonde hair that comes in a convenient set with a matching conditioner. This vegan and sulfate-free formula not only gradually lightens, brightens, and illuminates the hair over time but also contains UV filters to protect it from environmental damage. The result is hair that looks fresh, radiant, and healthy, even after daily use.
As part of their Touch of Blonde range, PRO:VOKE also offers a Lightening Blonde spray for more permanent results. Available at Amazon.
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder
The John Frieda Go Blonder range is a popular choice for achieving and maintaining beautiful, sun-kissed blonde locks. For those looking to add some golden tones or simply maintain their current shade of blonde, the Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo is an excellent option. This gentle yet effective formula combines the benefits of citrus and chamomile to leave hair feeling soft and looking radiant.
Suitable for all shades of blonde, including light brown hair with blonde highlights, this shampoo is one of the best on the market for gradually lightening your locks.
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Shampoo
The John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Shampoo is a must-have for blonde hair enthusiasts. Available at major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and FeelUnique, this shampoo is specifically designed to revive and enhance faded highlights, leaving your locks with a radiant spectrum of tones. The formula combines the nourishing properties of sunflower and white tea, resulting in a golden shine that’s simply irresistible. Its citrus fragrance adds an extra layer of indulgence.
Whether you’re a lighter blonde or a darker one, this shampoo is perfect for achieving that salon-inspired look at home.
Klorane Blond Highlights Shampoo with Chamomile
This luxurious Klorane Chamomile shampoo is specifically designed to cater to the needs of delicate, damaged hair. Its unique formula is gentle enough for children aged three and above, making it an excellent choice for families. The shampoo’s brightening agents work wonders in revitalizing locks, leaving them with a radiant shine that’s simply dazzling. Furthermore, its light texture makes it incredibly easy to detangle, eliminating any knots or tangles.
Moreover, this sulfate-free formula won’t weigh your hair down, making it perfect for those with fine or blonde hair. Available at Amazon, Walmart, and Look Fantastic.
L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Blondifier
I’m thrilled to share my favorite go-to product for blonde hair, the L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Blondifier Shampoo. This stunning formula not only gently cleanses but also illuminates and adds a multidimensional shine to white locks. Whether you’re rocking all-over blonde hues or have subtle highlights, this shampoo works wonders on blonde, highlighted, and balayage tresses.
What’s more, the brand offers a comprehensive Blondifier haircare routine that includes a conditioner and deep nourishing mask for optimal blonde hair care. For a seamless experience, be sure to check out the full range on Amazon.
Toni & Guy Illuminate Blonde
For those seeking to elevate the vibrancy of their blonde locks, Toni & Guy’s Illuminate Blonde Shampoo is a must-have. Available at prominent online retailers such as Amazon, FeelUnique, and Ocado, this product is specifically designed for naturally blonde hair or blonde hair that has undergone color treatment. With regular use, it leaves light-haired individuals with noticeably brighter and shinier strands, making it an ideal addition to any daily beauty routine.
Urtekram Camomile Shampoo
For those seeking to enhance the look of their blonde locks, the Urtekram Camomile Shampoo is a great option. This shampoo boasts a unique blend of ingredients designed to moisturize and protect the hair’s natural oils while also gently lightening its color. Aloe vera and glycerine work together to combat frizz and dryness, leaving your tresses feeling soft and looking radiant. With its gentle formula, this shampoo can be used daily without causing any damage or irritation.
Joico Blonde Life Brightening Shampoo
For a vibrant blonde look, head to Amazon, FeelUnique or Beauty Bay to snag the Joico Blonde Life Brightening Shampoo. This sulfate-free formula boasts natural ingredients like tamanu oil and monoi oil that work together to keep your locks hydrated and silky smooth. When used in conjunction with its matching conditioner, this shampoo expertly brightens up blonde hair while refining cuticles for a glossy finish.
As an added bonus, it gently cleanses with a rich lather, restoring the hair’s optimal pH level for a truly healthy appearance.
Cameleo Silver Shampoo Anti Yellow Effect
For a radiant mane, look no further than the Cameleo Silver Shampoo, available at renowned online retailers like Amazon, Notino, or Shopee. This purple-toned treatment is specifically designed to brighten and neutralize blonde, bleached, or grey hair that’s lost its vibrancy over time. If you’ve noticed your locks warming up due to previous dye jobs, this shampoo will work wonders in removing any unwanted yellow tones, leaving your tresses silky smooth and full of life.
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Light Tones
Discover this fantastic dry lightening shampoo available at reputable online retailers such as Amazon, Moroccanoil, or FeelUnique. This exceptional product expertly balances brassiness with subtle violet pigments, enhancing the appearance of light-colored hair while protecting it from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Furthermore, it leaves no dull residue behind and is infused with a captivating exotic scent that will leave you feeling pampered.
Dessange Lightening Shampoo
The Dessange lightening shampoo stands out for its unique blend of brightening lemon extracts and soothing chamomile extract. The inclusion of real lemon juice and chamomilla recutita, also known as true chamomile, makes this formula particularly effective in naturally lightening hair. Additionally, the shampoo is designed to nourish and soften naturally blonde locks, leaving users with a healthy and radiant mane.
Kelemata Lightening Shampoo with Chamomile Flowers
This gentle, non-aggressive shampoo is suitable for frequent washing and even kids. Its unique properties help strengthen keratin structures in hair, while also performing a softening and protective action. What’s more, it enhances the golden blond reflections of light to dark blonde locks, making it an excellent choice as a regular shampoo option.
Best Lightening Shampoo for Dark Hair
John Frieda Brilliant Brunette
For those seeking to enhance their locks, John Frieda’s impressive range of shampoos is definitely worth exploring. The brand offers a variety of lightening options suitable for both blonde and brunette hair types. The Brilliant Brunette shampoo stands out in particular, as it works to infuse golden tones into the hair, ultimately illuminating the natural spectrum of one’s brunette colour.
For added convenience, John Frieda’s products can be easily sourced from popular retailers such as Amazon, FeelUnique, or Walmart.
PRO:VOKE Illuminex Touch of Brunette
For brunettes looking to enhance their natural color, PRO:VOKE’s shampoo and conditioner set is a must-have. This product doesn’t lighten hair, but rather brings out and amplifies your existing shade. The Brown pigments deposited onto the hair work to intensify and enrich your color, giving you a more vibrant and radiant look. If you’re interested in trying this product for yourself, you can find it available on Amazon.
Best Brightening Shampoo For Grey Hair
PRO:VOKE Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo
PRO:VOKE’s lightening shampoo for grey, white or platinum blonde hair is available at renowned retailers such as Amazon, Boots, and Superdrug. This product is particularly effective in neutralising brassiness and brightening white and grey locks, making it a top choice among individuals with very blonde hair. Furthermore, it leaves the hair feeling silky and radiant.
For those seeking a comprehensive solution, consider pairing this shampoo with PRO:VOKE’s Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo & Intensive Conditioner (150ml), which features an optical brightening formula enriched with violet pigment to actively neutralise any lingering brassiness.
L’ANZA Healing ColorCare Silver Brightening Shampoo
This shampoo can be purchased at popular online retailers such as Amazon, Look Fantastic, and AllBeauty. Its sulphate-free formula makes it gentle on the hair, while its hydrating and detangling properties help to bring out a healthy shine in silver, grey, white, blonde, or highlighted locks. Additionally, the lavender toning agents work to eliminate any unwanted brassiness, leaving your hair looking vibrant and natural.
The rich, creamy lather is thanks to the inclusion of natural Gugo Bark, providing a luxurious cleansing experience. Overall, this shampoo has received positive reviews for its good quality, ease of use, and great value for money.
White Hot Cleanse Duo
For those seeking to enhance their white and grey locks, this exceptional shampoo and conditioner set is available at reputable online retailers such as Amazon, Ubuy, or Allbeauty. The set’s impressive benefits include the elimination of any yellowy tones or dullness, resulting in a more vibrant and radiant appearance. The story behind this product is just as compelling, as its creator developed it after embracing her natural grey locks.
The Brilliant Shampoo, in particular, has been designed to brighten up grey and white hair, making it look incredibly stylish. Those seeking a comprehensive cleansing routine can opt for the White Hot Cleanse Duo, which offers a regular cleanse with Glorious Shampoo and a weekly boost with Brilliant Shampoo. With its emphasis on daily hydration and weekly brightening, this set is sure to meet the needs of anyone looking to elevate their hair care game.
How to Use a Lightening Shampoo
Work shampoo into wet locks from roots to tips for an even application. Allow it to sit for 1-3 minutes before rinsing thoroughly until the water runs clear. Next, apply a lightening conditioner in the same manner, leaving it on for 3 minutes before washing away. For a speedier outcome, consider combining your shampoo with a lightening spray. You can either purchase one or create your own by mixing lemon juice, chamomile tea, and apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle.
To maintain healthy hair, incorporate regular treatments using nourishing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, or royal jelly into your routine.
FAQs on Lightening Shampoo
Does Go Blonder shampoo work on brown hair?
While my hair is a deep, rich brown, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that using this shampoo has subtly enhanced my natural highlights. The subtle nuances in color are noticeable, yet still blend seamlessly with the overall darker tone of my locks.
Does John Frieda Go Blonder shampoo damage your hair?
When utilized as a standalone treatment, this product may potentially strip your locks of their natural moisture, leading to dryness and brittleness. To mitigate this effect, it’s highly advisable to pair the product with a nourishing conditioner, thereby ensuring a healthy and vibrant finish.
Can you lighten your hair with shampoo?
Crafted to deliver a radiant appearance, lightening shampoos subtly enhance the natural tone of your locks over time, resulting in a brighter, more luminous look.
Does purple shampoo lighten hair?
Purple shampoo doesn’t aim to add a lighter hue to your locks, but instead focuses on correcting unwanted warm undertones. It specifically targets and neutralises those pesky orange, brassy, or yellow tones that can appear in the hair, restoring a more natural balance of color.
OTHER RELEVANT ARTICLES
Lightening dark brown hair can be a bit of a challenge, but there are several natural ways to achieve lighter locks without resorting to harsh chemicals or damaging your tresses. Whether you’re looking for a subtle brightness or a full-on makeover, these 7 expert-approved tips will guide you through the process with ease. From DIY treatments to clever color combinations, we’ve got everything you need to know about lightening hair naturally at home.
This post was all about the best hair lightening shampoo products
As I conclude our discussion on hair-lightening shampoos, I’d like to express my gratitude for your engagement throughout. If you’ve had the opportunity to try out any of the featured products, I invite you to share your experiences in the comments section below. Your feedback is invaluable in helping others make informed decisions.
