3 Best Colour-Depositing Shampoos in South Africa in 2025

3 Best Colour-Depositing Shampoos in South Africa in 2023

The best colour-depositing shampoos in South Africa rejuvenate and intensify hair colour, in just one wash.

They deposit high-quality pigment, adding rich, even colour to the hair.

They’re formulated with natural, nourishing ingredients, and are free of ammonia, sulphates and parabens. They should leave your colour vibrant and your tresses silky smooth.

Below, we’ve based our selection of the top three colour-depositing shampoos on the following criteria: colour palette, coverage, cost and added hair care benefits.

For more information about colour-depositing shampoos, how they work and their effects on hair, please see our Q&A.

Best all-round colour-depositing shampoo

Our top choice, Celeb Luxury Viral Extreme Colorwash adds bold, vibrant colour to hair in a single wash, at the same time as cleansing and conditioning – and it’s dead simple to use!

The Colorwash features advanced Colorposit™ technology, for vivid colour that deepens in shade with each wash. It’s also hydrating, and leaves hair clean, smooth and with high-gloss shine.

The range includes a wide palette of gorgeous, bold colours. Choose from Red, Teal, Blue, Silver, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Rose Gold or – the newest arrival – trendy Graphite.

  • Quick-acting
  • Hydrates and strengthens hair
  • Colours intensify with each wash
  • Ideal for all hair types and gentle on colour-treated hair
  • Free of ammonia, peroxide, sulphates, parabens and PPD
  • 100% vegan, plant-based formula
  • Excellent coverage

Directions: Lather a generous amount of colour-depositing shampoo into wet hair. Depending on the desired shade, let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse the hair thoroughly, pat dry and style as usual. For more depth and intensity of colour, repeat the process or use frequently.

To breathe life into dry, damaged hair, consider using Celeb Luxury BondFix Strengthening Conditioner on alternate washes, between using the colour-depositing shampoo.

For lighter, pastel shades (including Lavender, Baby Blue and Light Pink), we also recommend the Celeb Luxury Viral Colourwash range.

Best colour-depositing shampoo for vibrant, modern colours

The Punky Colour 3-in-1 formula ensures maximum penetration of colour pigment into the hair cuticles, while also cleaning, moisturising and protecting the hair.

Shea butter and vitamin- and amino acid-enriched hydrolysed vegetable proteins deep condition and add shine to hair.

The range includes a good selection of intense colours – from coral red to teal to inventive shades like silvery-grey Diamondista, Purpledacious and Mochanificent!

  • Unmatched colour intensity
  • Rapid absorption rate
  • Long-lasting
  • Bright, funky colours
  • Ammonia-free
  • Suitable for all hair types
  • Simultaneously cleans, colours and conditions hair

Directions: Add a healthy dollop of shampoo to wet hair, lathering it into the scalp. Leave it on the hair for 3 to 5 minutes, before rinsing with cold water. To achieve maximized colour, increase the absorption time to 10 minutes.

Best colour-depositing shampoo for conditioning while colouring hair

Kerachroma colour-depositing shampoos come in Vivid Color, Pastel Color and Natural Color ranges. Some colours are available in two sizes (355 ml or an economical 1 litre bottle).

All the shampoos incorporate “Clenditioner” – a formulation of deep-conditioning and smoothing agents, including keratin, shea butter and a mix of natural oils (jojoba, almond and rose hip).

This non-lathering product is designed to condition hair as it infuses it with colour. Each subsequent application heightens colour intensity, without drying out or damaging hair follicles.

The result is sleek, shiny colourful tresses that move and fall naturally. Available in 15 striking shades, from platinum, rose gold and hot punk to emerald and silver blue.

  • Intense colour and added body
  • Colours and conditions
  • Strengthens and protects
  • Shines and softens hair
  • Ideal for dull, dry or damaged hair

Q&A

Below we answer questions about colour-depositing shampoos and their effects on hair.

It’s a temporary hair colouring solution that simultaneously cleans and colours the hair. It is essentially tinted shampoo, consisting of pigments of a particular colour.

Pigments in the shampoo are absorbed by the hair cuticles. The length of time the shampoo is left in the hair determines the intensity of the colour. Over time, the colour fades, and needs to be replenished.

No. Colour-depositing shampoo is designed to refresh or boost hair colour, rather than to provide effective coverage of grey hair.

No. The shampoo doesn’t lighten, or tone, dark hair. It adds intense colour to pre-lightened hair or less vivid, jewel tones to darker hair, depending on the colour chosen.

The pigment in colour-depositing shampoo can stain your skin, clothing and porous surfaces. When handling the product, and applying it to your hair, the use of latex or plastic gloves is recommended. Any spills or stains on bathrobes, towels and countertops should immediately be rinsed with cold water.

As a general rule, colour-depositing shampoos are safe to use. That said, it is important to check the ingredients used in the formulation of each product.

The best colour-depositing shampoos are plant-based and free of ammonia, peroxide, sulphates, parabens and other potentially harmful chemicals.

Unlike semi-permanent hair colour, which typically contains ammonia, colour-depositing shampoos are ammonia-free. This makes them much safer and gentler on hair.

Most people can tolerate the small amounts of ammonia used in good-quality, modern hair dyes. However, ammonia isn’t good for health. Especially in higher concentrations (like in poor-quality dyes), it can make hair dry and brittle, cause a red, irritated scalp and lead to eye, nose and throat irritation.

The product is most effective on pre-lightened hair or light hair that is porous. Hair that has not been bleached or coloured before does not have sufficient porosity to retain the pigment. Porosity is the cuticles’ ability to absorb moisture. 

With regular use of colour-depositing shampoo, colours can last indefinitely. Once the hair treatment is stopped, the colour typically washes out in three to four weeks.

That depends on the intensity of colour you want to achieve. Colour intensifies with each subsequent wash.

For the most vibrant results, use as often as two to three times a week.

The results will also depend on the hair colour you start with. Using the shampoo on pre-lightened hair achieves the boldest results.

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