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A foolproof way to undergo a beauty transformation is to dye your hair—but changing your color requires more work than just traipsing into the salon. Upkeep is necessary to keep it vibrant, and professional colorists say color-safe conditioners are just as important as shampoo. “They typically have UV and antioxidant protection which helps keep color in its best state,” says NYC colorist Tiffanie Richards. “They also have a bit more hydration to lock in the color and seal the hair cuticle.”

With this in mind, we tapped three hair experts to learn what options they recommend to their clients, and tested other top-rated ones. Milbon Moisture Replenishing Treatment Conditioner earned our best overall pick for its high praise from colorists—a few of them even use it themselves because of how soft and silky it makes their strands feel. Though we found formulas for every price range and hue. Keep reading for the most vibrant, healthy hair.

Best Overall: Milbon Moisture Replenishing Conditioner

Unless you have some hairstylist friends, you’ve probably never heard of Milbon, but it’s a brand that should 100% be on your radar if you regularly color your hair. This restorative conditioner is comparable to a deep-conditioning hair mask thanks to the way it revitalizes strands. Sarah Nicole, a colorist at IGK Salons in NYC, uses this on her own colored mane and says that her hair has “never felt so soft or smooth” in her life. Ian McCabe, master colorist and founder of Navy, a hair studio in Washington, DC, shares similar sentiments. “This product is great for repairing damaged hair,” he says. “Its ability to strengthen and repair helps preserve color because healthier hair fades less.”

Best Drugstore: Herbal Essences Color Me Happy Conditioner

When you spend so much money dying your hair, you might think you need to use expensive products to maintain it. Full stop: That isn’t the case when you have this Herbal Essences conditioner in your shower. The botanical-powered formula calls upon rose and passion fruit to deeply replenish dry strands while also expertly detangling, boosting shine, and enhancing color vibrancy. This drugstore pick is just under $7 for 29 ounces, you also get the best deal—not to mention this will last in your shower for nearly a year, depending how often you wash your hair (if you’re regularly dying it, you should only shampoo once or twice a week!).

Best Sulfate-Free: L’Oréal Professionnel Vitamino Color Conditioner

Along with choosing a sulfate-free shampoo, it’s also imperative to use a sulfate-free conditioner so your color doesn’t strip away during each wash. Richards swears by this one because beyond the refreshing scent, it includes a special ingredient that keeps your hue electrifying. “It’s packed with resveratrol, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent your hair color from fading,” she says. “It’s also very hydrating, resulting in a shiny, vibrant color.”

Best for Red Hair: Keracolor Color Clenditioner

Any professional colorist will tell you that red is the most challenging color to maintain because it’s extremely prone to fading. Those that choose the redhead life—like me—go through the painstaking process of cultivating a longevity-enhancing routine. In the 10 years that I’ve been dying my hair, this three-in-one product has been the most reliable item in my shower caddy. It gently cleanses away grime and buildup without sulfates, moisturizes hair, and also deposits long-lasting semipermanent pigment that revives dulling strands. The Copper hue is ideal for anyone who wants to pull off the natural ginger look. I also prefer this to other color-depositing formulas because it never stains my hands or shower

Best for Blonde Hair: DP Hue Cool Blonde Conditioner

Blonde is one of the most difficult colors to maintain, because as time passes, blonde strands have the tendency to become brassy. To keep your color icy and cool, Nicole suggests using DP Hue’s color-depositing conditioner. It contains violet pigments that neutralize orange and yellow tones to keep hair looking salon-fresh. Plus, the silk proteins penetrate the cuticles to soften and boost shine so hair becomes more manageable and glistens in the light.

Best for Damaged Hair: Pureology Strength Cure Conditioner

If bleach has ever touched your hair, you know just how dry and brittle it leaves it. Your mane is probably in need of some major rehab. This conditioner can help restore strands to near virgin health with the help of arginine (a keratin building block that promotes growth) and astaxanthin (an antioxidant that defends against stress and damage). It acts similarly to a deep-conditioning mask without weighing your hair down. Plus, there’s the added bonus with the built-in color protection. Pair it with its sister shampoo, and your hair will be healthier than ever before.

Best for Shine: Kevin Murphy Color Me Everlasting Color Rinse

When your hair is glossy, your color appears more vibrant because the light bounces off strands more easily. McCabe says this conditioner can help you achieve a high-shine effect after just one use. “It creates a protective layer against environmental stressors.” The pH-balanced formula is specially designed to shield hair from external aggressors—including pollution, sun damage, and heat tools. This, along with hydrolyzed rice protein and chicory root extract, amps up the shine and, according to McCabe, “won’t leave hair feeling heavy,” even when you use it on fine strands.

Best for Dryness: Biolage Color Last Conditioner

Hair dye dries out hair more than anything else, so to prevent breakage and thirsty strands, this conditioner comes to the rescue. Two powerhouse hydrators—soybean oil and glycerin—nourish, smooth, tame frizz, and seal ends for a soft, silky feel. Stearic acid in the formula also coats hair in a light protective veil to prevent your color from fading. With consistent use, this can help extend the lifespan of your dye job by up to four weeks, and, you know, prevent tangles and split ends in the process.

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