Supermarket Hair Products: What You Need To Know
What You Need To Know
You’ve just invested in beautiful new hair colour. Whether it’s a fresh blonde, rich brunette, copper, balayage, or highlights, there’s one thing we always tell our clients at Travis Hairdressing:
What you use at home can make just as much difference as what we do in the salon.
It’s easy to think shampoo and conditioner are all much the same, especially when supermarket shelves are full of products claiming to repair damage, protect colour, or provide “salon-quality” results. Unfortunately, many of these claims don’t tell the whole story.
If you’ve ever wondered why your colour fades quickly, your blonde turns brassy, or your hair feels dry only a few weeks after your appointment, your home haircare routine could be the biggest reason why.
Let’s explain why.
Your Colour Doesn’t Stop Changing When You Leave The Salon
A professional colour service isn’t just about applying colour and sending you on your way. Every formula is carefully customised to suit your hair, skin tone, lifestyle and long-term hair goals.
Once you leave the salon, however, your colour is exposed to everything from UV rays and heat styling to hard water, chlorine and the products you wash your hair with.
That’s why maintaining your colour at home is so important.
Think of your salon visit as having a professional detail done on your car. It looks incredible when you pick it up, but if you wash it with harsh detergents every week, that finish won’t last very long.
Your hair colour works exactly the same way.
Why Supermarket Hair Products Can Cause Problems
Not every supermarket shampoo is bad, but many are designed to suit the widest possible audience while being produced at a price point that keeps them affordable.
To achieve that, manufacturers often use lower-cost ingredients that can affect both your hair’s condition and your colour longevity.
Some common issues include:
Strong cleansing agents that strip away colour molecules faster.
Heavy silicones that coat the hair rather than genuinely improving its condition.
Low-quality conditioning ingredients that make hair feel soft temporarily but don’t improve its health.
Ingredients that can contribute to dullness, dryness and colour fade over time.
This doesn’t usually happen after one wash.
It’s the effect of using these products week after week that often becomes noticeable.
Why Does My Blonde Turn Yellow So Quickly?
This is one of the questions we hear most often.
Many clients think their toner has “washed out” too quickly.
Sometimes it has—but often the shampoo they’re using is speeding up the process.
Professional toners are designed to create your ideal shade, whether that’s icy, creamy, beige or champagne blonde.
Harsh shampoos can gradually remove those carefully placed pigments, leaving the natural warm undertones underneath more visible.
That’s why clients using supermarket products often notice their blonde becoming yellow, gold or brassy much sooner than expected.
The same applies to brunettes, reds and coppers, which can also lose richness and vibrancy more quickly.
Healthy Hair Holds Colour Better
One of the biggest myths in hairdressing is that colour simply “fades.”
In reality, the condition of your hair plays a huge role in how well it retains colour.
Think of healthy hair like a smooth sponge.
It holds moisture—and colour—far more effectively than hair that is dry, damaged or porous.
If the hair becomes rough and dehydrated, colour pigments escape much more easily during washing.
That’s why investing in your hair’s health is one of the best ways to make your colour last longer between appointments.
Why We Recommend EVO & ELEVEN Australia
At Travis Hairdressing, we’ve carefully chosen to stock EVO and ELEVEN Australia because we’ve seen the difference they make—not only immediately after your appointment, but over the months and years that clients continue using them.
Both brands are trusted by professional salons throughout Australia and are specifically developed for coloured hair.
EVO
EVO combines high-performance ingredients with honest, straightforward haircare.
Their products are formulated to gently cleanse the hair without aggressively stripping away colour, while also helping maintain moisture, shine and manageability.
Many EVO products are sulphate-free, vegan friendly and designed to improve the overall condition of your hair rather than simply coating it.
For clients with coloured hair, this means:
Better colour longevity.
Less fading between appointments.
Healthier, shinier hair.
Improved softness and manageability.
ELEVEN Australia
ELEVEN Australia has become one of Australia’s most recognised professional haircare brands—and for good reason.
Their range is simple, effective and designed to target specific hair concerns without unnecessary complexity.
Whether your priority is protecting colour, adding hydration, repairing damage or controlling frizz, there’s a product specifically formulated for your hair type.
Their colour-safe shampoos and conditioners cleanse gently while helping preserve the work your stylist has created.
For many of our clients, simply switching to ELEVEN Australia significantly improves how long their colour stays looking fresh.
Is Professional Haircare More Expensive?
Initially, yes.
But it’s important to look at the value rather than just the purchase price.
Professional shampoos and conditioners are usually far more concentrated than supermarket products, meaning you need much less each time you wash your hair.
Because your colour lasts longer, you may also find yourself needing fewer toners or colour refresh appointments throughout the year.
When you look at the bigger picture, professional haircare often provides better long-term value while keeping your hair healthier.
The Best Product Is The One That’s Right For You
One shampoo doesn’t suit everyone.
Hair that’s blonde needs different care from curly hair. Fine hair has different needs to thick hair. Someone with extensions requires different products again.
That’s why we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all recommendations.
At Travis Hairdressing, we’ll always recommend products based on your individual hair type, your colour service, your styling routine and your goals—not simply what’s popular.
Sometimes a small change to your home haircare routine can make a bigger difference than another colour appointment.
The Bottom Line
Professional hair colour is an investment, and looking after it properly helps you enjoy beautiful results for much longer.
Using salon-quality products like EVO and ELEVEN Australia helps protect your colour, improve your hair’s condition and keep it looking healthier between appointments.
If you’re unsure whether your current shampoo and conditioner are helping or hurting your colour, simply ask us at your next visit.
We’ll happily recommend the right products for your hair, your lifestyle and your budget—so your colour continues looking just as beautiful weeks after you leave the salon as it did on the day you walked out.
