9 Best Color Depositing Conditioners (Tested & Reviewed in 2023)

Jan 21, 2024

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Who doesn't want soft, vibrant hair, amiright?

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: Color-depositing conditioners are low-key underrated and should absolutely be added to your haircare routine ASAP—especially if you have dyed or color-treated hair. Not only can they remove brassiness, neutralize unwanted undertones, dye your hair, and enhance your color in between salon visits, but they also keep your hair smooth and moisturized. Basically, they're the key to vibrant, healthy-looking hair, and I rounded up nine of the best for every hair type.

To help you choose the best color-depositing conditioners for your hair type and color, I personally tested and reviewed nine on my own hair and consulted celebrity hairstylists Madison Clifford, Laura Rugetti, and Venner James—as well as gathered tips from hairstylist Ro Morgan—for everything you need to know about color-depositing conditioners, below.

Keep scrolling to find the full list of color-depositing conditioners to maintain, tone, or tint your hair. Then, read on for everything you need to know about color-depositing conditioners, including how to choose the best one for you and how often to use it on your hair, according to experts and my personal testing.

Available in 11 pigmented colors and one clear gloss, the dpHUE Gloss+ is one of the best color-depositing conditioners for giving your hair a boost of color, adding moisture, and a ton of shine. Safe to use weekly to maintain all-over color, refresh highlights, or to deep condition, this pick can be used on all hair types.

THE REVIEW: "I used the dpHue Gloss+ and love it!" one tester notes. "My hair has lost its luster in between colorings. This was perfect! It made my hair soft and shiny, and it looks more vibrant instead of dull. It was super easy."

Say hello to my favorite conditioning gloss for keeping my brunette hair with highlights from turning brassy and dull. Though the formula is available in 12 pigmented colors and one clear gloss, I am absolutely obsessed with the "Lights" shade series for keeping my highlights toned and bright. Once per week, I apply this no-mix formula to my damp hair, chill for ten-ish minutes, rinse it out, and then style my hair.

THE REVIEW: "This product is so easy to use; just apply with gloved hands to your damp hair, and let sit for 10 minutes, then rinse," one reviewer notes. "This left my hair soft and silky and I liked the color—it's great to use when you are limited on time and can't do a full color job. "

Blonde and platinum hair shades know all too well that keeping a purple shampoo and/or conditioner in their arsenal is key to maintaining a bright and fresh color. Intended for all hair types, this one by Amika reduces breakage from color-treated hair thanks to its super moisturizing formula (hi, mango butter extract, borage oil, and shea butter), all while keeping brassy tones at bay and your light hair bright.

THE REVIEW: "This was so good I had to write a review because I use it every time I wash my hair," notes one tester. "I have silver and blonde highlights, and it really removes all the brass, plus it's also very conditioning—it leaves my hair so soft."

Unlike color-depositing shampoos, those with curly hair have a little more to choose from when it comes to color-depositing conditioners. This formula by Maria Nila is filled with super moisturizing argan oil, making it the perfect pick for anyone working with color-treated curly hair.

THE REVIEW: "I have red dyed hair, and the first time I dyed it, it almost faded completely after four weeks," one review reads. Now I always use the Maria Nila Color Refresh in Bright Red in my hair, only five pumps, but it is perfect. Since I always let my care products work a bit due to the curly hair method, the refresh has plenty of time to nest into my hair. Now, I actually have bright red hair again."

"My favorite brand is the Moroccanoil color-depositing mask, as it has dual benefits," says hairstylist Venner James. "While it deposits the color, it also moisturizes the hair." Formulated with a blend of amino acids (to help strengthen hair), oils (for moisture), and a semi-permanent dye, this drugstore conditioner adds a boost of color that is designed to fade out naturally over the course of a few weeks.

THE REVIEW: "Bought it in the lilac color!" one tester writes. "It kept my hair soft and hydrated while toning my purple hair and keeping it bright and colorful."

Do you have a favorite conditioner that is perfect for your hair type, yet need to boost your color and are not sure where to start? Enter: IGK'S Mixed Feelings Leave-In Toning Drops that are designed to be mixed into any regular shampoo or conditioner. Celebrity hairstylist Laura Rugetti says that she loves this formula as the pigment stays true and looks natural on your hair color.

THE REVIEW: "I have ordered this product multiple times and it continues to be one of my holy grail items," one tester's review reads. "Brightens up my blonde fabulously, I usually mix the desired amount of this with my favorite hair conditioner and it's back to bright in no time."

Loaded with a slew of moisturizing ingredients (see: coconut oil and shea butter), this affordable color-depositing conditioner is a great option to achieve smooth, shiny hair. But the winning feature? It also gently cleanses, making it a multi-tasking and easy-to-use product for maintaining your color in between dye jobs. Oh, and over 80,000 reviewers agree that it's just that good.

THE REVIEW: "When I had gotten highlights, they were much lighter/brighter than what I anticipated," reads one review." I searched the internet to find a way to bring the warmth to my highlights that I was hoping for and found this product after a LOT of research and reading reviews. The color is exactly what I wanted and it is super easy to apply. The cleansing and conditioning aspect of this was also UNBELIEVABLE!"

Another one of Rugetti's faves is this one by Madison Reed. "I love it because it fades into the perfect toned and rich color," she says. While some color-depositing conditioners can leave unwanted tones in your hair after application due to the fading process over time, this one stays true to its color and fades in the most even, natural way.

THE REVIEW: "Finally used the Color Therapy yesterday and I am very impressed with its performance!" one tester notes. "My end results were very impressive. The lovely resistant and natural silver grey along my hairline darkened to my former natural-looking chocolate brown of my 30s, and the grey at my crown turned to pretty golden highlights."

Okay, so listen up: You may think dark hair shades don't need a color-depositing conditioner, because, well, it's already super deep and pigmented. However, adding one to your haircare routine can actually amp up the shine and create super great depth and dimension. Plus, it's not a bad idea to use it to cover up grays in between appointments as well if that's your thing.

THE REVIEW: "I’ve got naturally wavy hair that's reallllly dry and oftentimes conditioners either moisturize too much and leave my hair limp and frizz with a minimal wave, or they’re next to useless and leave my hair dry and frizzy with wonky waves," notes one tester, adding, "this? It's like I went to a salon. I leave it on for about 10 minutes and wash 90% of it out. I air-dry my hair, and it's just amazing."

"I always tell my clients to use color-depositing conditioners versus shampoos," says hairstylist Madison Clifford, adding that some "shampoo toners can make the hair feel brittle and dry, whereas conditioners soften the hair and add shine." The option is up to you, however, it may be smart to go the conditioner route if you need that extra moisture, or have curly or chemically-processed hair.

"These color-depositing conditioners are semi-permanent and can last anywhere from five to 15 washes depending on the brand and also the color pigment," says hairstylist Venner James. Other factors, such as your hair porosity, hair type, and hair color, also contribute to the outcome (more on that below).

The color pigments in a color-depositing conditioner could fade for a number of reasons hairstylist Ro Morgan has explained to Cosmo. Shampooing, salt, and chlorine water, environmental factors such as sun exposure, and/or using hot tools on your hair are all common fading components, he says.

Though most color-depositing shampoos work for all hair types, they typically work best on color-treated or chemically-processed hair to tone and maintain the pigments between salon visits. This means that if you have dark, non-color-treated, low-porosity hair—AKA your hair cuticles are close together and have trouble absorbing moisture—your hair won't hold the temporary color from the shampoos well.

Siena Gagliano is an associate editor at Cosmopolitan who writes beauty and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She's an expert at researching and writing beauty and hair stories, like the best texture sprays and the greatest purple shampoos on the market. She regularly tests and analyzes color-depositing conditioner on her own hair for efficacy, while working with the industry's top hairstylists and cosmetic chemists to assess new formulas and brands.

Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan , where she primarily covers beauty in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces, as well as some fashion and lifestyle. Wanna know how to get the best brows of your life? Gotchu. What about how to achieve ridiculously glowing skin, a super bouncy blowout, or exactly how to use that viral face mask? Check, check, and check. Before joining Cosmopolitan, Siena was a writer at Bustle and several other media outlets. As NYC's newest resident, she has vowed to find the best (extra) dirty martini this city has to offer—and yes, that means ~attempting~ to try every cute cocktail spot in the city (hit her up with some recs, pls). Follow Siena on Instagram where you'll see that her account is mostly dedicated to pics of her cute dog and that magazine life.

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