Your colored hair will fade eventually. However, washing your hair less often and using the appropriate shampoo can help your newly-dyed hair remain vibrant for longer. Our Biolage ColorLast Shampoo reviews analyze this best-seller which claims to preserve color vibrancy for up to 9 weeks.
We are going to dig deeper into everything there is to know about the product, including its ingredients, authentic reviews, disadvantages, and many more.
Who is it for?
No matter what color you’ve opted for, newly-dyed hair that comes out great always puts you in a good mood. However, colored hair needs proper and extra treatments so the color will last longer. Pretty sure you don’t want to see all that money and time you spent coloring hair wasted, right?
Biolage offers ColorLast Shampoo that provides color protection for up to 9 weeks to maintain your hair color vibrancy Whether you’ve opted for permanent or semi-permanent dyes, using Biolage ColorLast ensures your color remains bright and fresh, especially if you got pastel shades that fade easily.
Thankfully, this vegan-certified shampoo is also suitable for all hair types (type 1-4c hair) and hair textures (fine to coarse). Whether you have thick or wavy hair, Biolage ColorLast Shampoo can be your go-to lathering product to get salon-quality hair after the first use.
If you have blonde hair, opt for Biolage ColorLast Purple Shampoo to fine-tune your tones and get the perfect blonde you’ve always wanted. For frizzy hair that requires taming, look into the benefits of the Biolage SmoothProof Shampoo. To enjoy voluminous hair that does not look thin, read our review on Biolage Full Density Shampoo.
The Texture, Smell, Packaging, and More
Biolage ColorLast Shampoo has a bit of a thick, milky white texture (a little goes a long way) and lathers up very well. It doesn’t leave residue behind (which is a good thing especially if you have oily hair and scalp). It easily washes out, too.
The smell of this shampoo is pleasantly floral. While many users love it, some might not stand for the smell. However, the scent doesn’t linger after you finish washing and drying your hair.
If you are someone that prioritizes eco-friendly packaging, you’ll be happy to hear that Biolage ColorLast uses 100% recycled bottles (excluding the caps) to support better landfills. The 400-ml bottle is pretty sleek and perfectly fits in your palm. As for the one-liter bottle, it comes with a pump for easy deposit.
As the shampoo is part of the duo, taking it together with its pair (Biolage ColorLast Conditioner) will keep your hair shiny, while also maintaining the tones of color longer. The ColorLast duo together is a great investment for those who rely on their colored hair treatment from a professional brand.
If you’re interested in investing in Biolage ColorLast, let’s check the value of the product and where to buy it.
Where Can I Get Biolage ColorLast Shampoo?
Currently, Biolage ColorLast Shampoo sits at $23.00 for 13.5 fl oz (400 ml) on Amazon. The ColorLast shampoo is also available in two sizes:
- Travel (1.7 fl oz): $6.50 Buy on Amazon
- Jumbo (33.8 fl oz): $38.00 Buy on Amazon
Overall, this shampoo is a reasonably-priced option, considering it comes in a pretty generous size. Especially when you compare it to other high-end professional shampoos out there (Kerastase or L’Oreal Professional). Moreover, take the duo together to maintain your color vibrancy for up to 9 weeks.
Get the shampoo (13.5 fl oz) here Buy on Amazon
Get the bundle (13.5 fl oz) here Buy on Amazon
In the next section, we discuss Biolage ColorLast shampoo ingredients to help you determine if this is the right professional shampoo for you.
Biolage ColorLast Shampoo Ingredient Breakdown
We all love paraben-free shampoos, and the Biolage ColorLast Shampoo is exactly that. Biolage prides itself on using 100% vegan, no animal-derived ingredients as well as a pH-balanced formula to preserve your color vibrancy.
Given below are all the ingredients in the Biolage ColorLast Shampoo.
At first glance, you may think the formula seems odd because there is Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) in it. Many people with color-treated hair stay away from it due to its ability to strip too much of the hair’s natural oil and hair color.
However, to get a better understanding of sulfate and other standout ingredients, below we discuss how they work individually along with the pros and cons.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
We’re pretty sure all of us know the function of sulfate; Create a lather to deeply cleanse your hair from dirt and oil. However, sulfate may strip too much of the natural oil. Sulfate might also strip out hair color, though the scientific reviews are mixed.
Here’s the science behind it: During the coloring process, large dye polymers are formed in the hair cortex and get stuck there due to their size. When in contact with water, the hair shaft will swell which forces the cuticles to open as well. This is why the dye molecules leave the cortex, making your hair color fade.
Damaged hair also plays a major role in color fading. Everyday hairstyling activities, sun exposure, and the coloring process itself can lead to damage. When hair gets damaged, the natural lipid layer (18-MEA) cracks, leaving your hair shaft unguarded.
Eventually, water is able to sneak into the hair cortex and washes out the dye molecules. Shampoo may accelerate color fading due to the action of surfactants – not only sulfates but other surfactants also come into play.
Our point is that don’t let sulfate be an obstacle in using Biolage ColorLast Shampoo, but don’t use it often. If sulfate is indeed a big deal for you, then Biolage may not be your go-to color protection shampoo.
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
Biolage ColorLast Shampoo contains 11 fragrance ingredients. But, Butylphenyl Methylpropional is the one that caught our attention due to the controversy around it. It is also known as lilial and p-t-Butyl-alpha-methyl hydro cinnamaldehyde.
As of March 2022, lilial is banned in the EU and Northern Ireland due to its classification as a “carcinogenic” substance by the EU’s European Commission back in 2020. It can pose risks to fertility in animal studies due to its endocrine-disrupting properties.
However, more research is needed to understand the impact on human health due to insufficient data regarding evidence of exposure to lilial.
The EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety notes “When considering the use of multiple product types used at the same time the proposed concentrations of lilial cannot be considered as safe.” They also note that lilial is considered safe when used as a perfuming ingredient in leave-on or rinse-off products.
Dimethicone
It is a non-water-soluble silicone that works by coating the cuticles to add softness and lock in moisture to prevent water loss. However, it may build up on your hair over time since it can’t be washed with water only. It’ll take a few sessions with a clarifying shampoo to remove the residue from your hair.
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
A water-soluble compound that is partially derived from the guar or cluster bean plants. It is beneficial to help soften your hair and improve hair’s manageability by neutralizing the negative charges of your hair strands that can lead to tangling.
Orchis Mascula Extract
Otherwise known as “early purple orchid” or “early spring orchid”. It is believed to be rich in antioxidant properties that help fight against damaging free radicals which can cause faster color fading. Orchid also has a rejuvenating effect that is beneficial to moisturize your hair.
Benzophenone-4
Commonly found in sunscreen, benzophenone-4 is a water-soluble UVB absorber that blocks out harmful UV rays. Due to its ability to filter UVB, benzophenone-4 is beneficial to help prevent color (both natural and treatment) fading from sun exposure.
However, in Biolage ColorLast Shampoo, this ingredient seems a bit ineffective to be used as a UVB filter since it’ll be rinsed out. That said, you should set an expectation that it may not give you as much benefit in UV protection as you get in sunscreen.
After taking a closer look at the important ingredients, now let’s find out what customers are saying about the Biolage ColorLast Shampoo.
The Results: What do Customers Say?
Overall, Biolage ColorLast Shampoo received various responses from users, but most of them were positive reviews. Below is the rate for Biolage ColorLast Shampoo from different platforms:
- Amazon: 4.7 out of 5 stars from 32,709+ ratings
- Ulta: 4.5 out of 5 stars from 3,297+ ratings
- MakeupAlley: 3.1 out of 5 stars from 8+ ratings
Based on the number of reviews indicated, Amazon may be the best at giving a wide and realistic picture of the product as there are over 30K people with different backgrounds who used Biolage ColorLast Shampoo.
Below, we provide both good and bad reviews from those three platforms to give you a broader and more diverse perspective on the Biolage ColorLast Shampoo.
The Compliments
On Amazon, many users gave major positive responses about the effectiveness of the shampoo that preserves their hair color and delivers softness. Just like this user says:
One user on Ulta also reported that the shampoo did prolong her hair color vibrancy compared to other shampoos she’d used before.
Biolage ColorLast Shampoo seems to help deliver shiny, bouncy-looking hair while maintaining color vibrancy. Here’s what a MakeupAlley user says:
Here’s another excellent review from Amazon users
Now, let’s take a look at the negative reviews.
The Complaints
Despite getting tons of praise, some users are also a bit dissatisfied with the shampoo. Below is a negative review of an Amazon user:
One Ulta user showed her disappointment with Biolage which makes her hair dry.
While other people noticed dry hair after using Biolage ColorLast, other ones experienced greasy hair instead just as this MakeupAlley user reports:
Below is the worth-noting review from an Amazon user who complained about broken packaging.
Based on reviews we sampled online, Biolage ColorLast did work on maintaining hair color, plus it also helped to deliver shiny and healthy hair. However, some users complained about compromised packaging and didn’t see improved hair quality, which makes it not worth the value.
In the next section, we take a look at the disadvantages and possible side effects of Biolage ColorLast Shampoo.
Biolage ColorLast Disadvantages and Side Effects
When it comes to cosmetic products, there’s always a chance of side effects that may occur in some people who are allergic to certain ingredients. Below we cover every possible side effect and any disadvantages while using Biolage ColorLast Shampoo.
- The products contain ingredients that may pose a high risk of allergic reactions, such as Fragrance and Butylphenyl Methylpropional (scores 8 by EWG’s Skin Deep). If you are allergic to these ingredients, you may experience redness, swelling, itching, burning, or headaches. Kindly stop using the product and get medical attention immediately.
- Biolage ColorLast Shampoo is not sulfate-free, so the product may not be best suited for extremely dry, curly, or coily hair.
- The shampoo contains a non-water-soluble, silicone-based polymer (dimethicone) that can build up and weigh your hair down. It is advised to use a clarifying shampoo weekly to eliminate all residue that can’t be rinsed with water only.
- Some users reported that the product makes their hair dry and tangle after washing. It is best to use the conditioner afterward to help condition and make your hair easy to comb.
- Butylphenyl Methylpropional has been known to harm the reproductive system (infertility), though scientific studies regarding human health impacts are limited. However, if you are pregnant or trying to start a family, it is best to speak to your doctor beforehand.
Kindly cross-check all ingredients and allergies you have to steer clear of any detrimental effects while using Biolage ColorLast Shampoo. Next, let’s check alternatives.
Alternatives of Biolage ColorLast
If you feel Biolage ColorLast is not the best choice for you, you’ve got options. Here we provide 3 other alternatives to Biolage ColorLast Shampoo that can be the one to complete your hair regimen.
Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo
- Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo is a sulfate-free and paraben-free professional shampoo for color treated hair. Leaves hair feeling softer, smoother, and helps prevent hair color fade.
- Gently cleanses and nourishes color treated hair from root to tip to enhance shine and hair color vibrancy. Protects hair color from fading and enhances shine.
- Formula with soy protein, arginine, and amino-ions that helps seal color. Adds structure, helps balance the pH levels of the hair and cares for the tone and vibrancy of professional color in between salon services.
For a professional color-protection shampoo with the words ‘sulfate-free’ in the bottle, you won’t go wrong with Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo. Features acidic formula and a multi-targeted delivery system, the shampoo helps maintain your color vibrancy and tone while also gently cleansing in every use.
With a staggering 4.6 out of 5 stars from 7,526+ ratings on Amazon, Redken costs you around $25 for 10.1 fl oz (a little bit pricier than Biolage ColorLast).
Click here to learn more about Redken.
Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo
- VIBRANT HAIR COLOR: Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate Free Shampoo cleanses color-treated hair and long-lasting vibrancy
- LASTING COLOR HAIR PROTECTION: This color safe shampoo extends color vibrancy for up to 40 washes and is a great shampoo for colored treated hair
- REAWAKEN COLORED HAIR: This sulfate free shampoo for color treated hair is also a silicone free shampoo and replenishes colored hair with nutrients lost during the coloration process
If you’re looking for a sulfate-free professional shampoo but are on a budget, then look no further than Nexxus Color Assure. The product has an exclusive ProteinFusion blend with elastin protein and quinoa that protects and extends your hair color vibrancy up to 40 washes.
You can get a pack of Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo for around $14.74 (13.5 fl oz), which is more affordable than Biolage and Redken. Currently, it sits at 4.3 out of 5 stars from 1,928+ ratings on Amazon.
We cover the best shampoos by the Nexxus brand, go check the review here.
L’Oreal Professionnel Vitamino Color Shampoo
- Color Preserving Shampoo: Protect and preserve your haircolor with this color extending shampoo formulated to add shine and prevent damage to provide salon fresh hair between visits
- Benefits: Enriched with an anti-oxidant resveratrol, this shampoo both gently cleanses and maintains shine on color-treated hair while enhancing vibrancy, hydrating and preventing breakage
- Additional Benefits: Protects hair color from fading over time and gives life back to hair that looks dull and lacks shine while preventing damage and removing impurities for strength and softness
Formulated with resveratrol which is abundant in antioxidants, the Vitamino Color Shampoo helps protect your hair color for up to 8 weeks. The shampoo is also enriched with panthenol to help moisturize and strengthen, especially dry and damaged hair. However, this one is not sulfate-free.
You can get the Vitamino Color Shampoo for around $39 (16.9 fl oz), which is the least expensive among others. Currently, the shampoo has 4.6 out of 5 stars from 447+ ratings on Amazon.
Bottom Line: A Professional Shampoo that Comes with Pros and Cons
The biggest issue about Biolage ColorLast Shampoo is the fact that the product isn’t sulfate-free. Many people with color-treated hair try to stay clear from sulfates due to their actions that can strip the vibrancy. However, this con is not entirely accurate since water and hair damage play a major role in color fading.
Despite this issue, many users are satisfied with the performance of the product in helping maintain their hair color tone. Given the shampoo may dry out your hair, it is best to use the conditioner to moisturize and detangle after the washing session.
Hope our Biolage ColorLast Shampoo reviews finally helped you decide on whether this one is the right fit for you. Click here to buy the product if you are interested in bringing Biolage ColorLast into your daily routine.
If you want to know about the best Biolage shampoos, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Biolage shampoo good for colored hair?
Yes, all of the Biolage shampoos are color-safe. However, if you focus on finding a shampoo for your color-treated hair, Biolage ColorLast Shampoo is the right pick for you. For helping remove brassy tones on blonde hair, you can opt for Biolage ColorLast Purple Shampoo.
How long does Biolage ColorLast Shampoo last?
According to the company, Biolage ColorLast Shampoo can protect and maintain your hair color for up to 9 weeks when used together with the conditioner. Color fading will happen eventually, but the Biolage formula won’t give brassy or green tones. Instead, the color will just gradually be lighter.
Karmelia is a writer at Reactive hair with a background in International Relations. She is usually glued to her laptop exploring the skincare & haircare world. She loves writing quality content that help people get a better understanding of the safety of the products they are using for better hair health.
Driven by her enthusiasm, Karmelia strives to empower ordinary individuals in making informed choices about their haircare routines. Recognizing the overwhelming number of products available in the market, she understands the importance of reliable guidance to navigate through the options. Through her articles, she aims to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and everyday haircare, ensuring that her readers can easily grasp the benefits and suitability of various products.
