Paul Mitchell Colour Depositing Treatments

Paul Mitchell Colour Depositing Treatments: Refresh Your Colour at Home

If you've been Googling colour depositing shampoo, you're in the right neighbourhood but the Paul Mitchell version is even better. These are conditioning masks rather than shampoos, which means more pigment, more deposit, more conditioning, and a noticeably more vivid refresh between salon visits. One tube, 5 to 30 minutes in the shower, fresher hair colour. That's the whole pitch.

The full range sits inside Paul Mitchell's Clean Beauty line, so every shade is vegan, sulphate-free, paraben-free and packaged in bio-plastic bottles. We stock all 10 shades at Revive in Codsall, sourced through authorised UK distribution, so what you order is the real thing.

The 10 Shades, and What Each One Actually Does

• Vanilla: Soft pastel blonde refresh and brass-killer for highlighted, balayage or platinum hair. Think of it as a much gentler, much more conditioning alternative to a strong purple shampoo.
• Amethyst: A proper purple. Cancels yellow tones on pale blondes, or layers up to deepen lilac and lavender hair.
• Rose Quartz: Pastel pink, designed for blonde to light brunette bases. Beautiful for soft pink balayage refreshes without committing to a full dye job.
• Cayenne: Vivid red. Best on pre-lightened or natural red hair, and a brilliant top-up between professional copper colours.
• Cinnamon: Warm copper-brown, ideal for refreshing autumnal brunettes and natural redheads who don't want the full Cayenne intensity.
• Cocoa: Cool, ashy brunette. Knocks unwanted warmth out of brown hair and keeps colour looking expensive between appointments.
• Truffle: Warm mid-brown for brunettes who want a glossy, lived-in warmth rather than ashiness.
• Sapphire: Deep blue. Works for vivid blue hair on a light base, or as a tone-killer for stubborn orange tones on darker bases.
• Jade: Green-teal, for vivid green hair or for cancelling red tones on brunettes who've over-toned warm.
• Gloss: The clear one. Adds shine and conditions without depositing colour, and can be mixed with any of the other shades to dial the intensity down for a softer result.

How to Use a Colour Depositing Treatment

Wash hair as normal, towel-dry until damp, then apply the treatment evenly through mid-lengths and ends (or roots-to-ends for an all-over refresh). Wear gloves. The pigment will stain skin and nails if you don't, and yes, we're speaking from experience. Leave on for 5 minutes for a subtle hint of colour, up to 30 minutes for maximum deposit, then rinse until the water runs clear. Style as usual.

Two things worth knowing. First, your starting colour matters. Pastels (Vanilla, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Jade) need a light blonde base to show up at full intensity, while the browns, reds and Sapphire will work on a wider range of bases. Second, if you're not sure how vivid you want to go, mix your chosen shade with Gloss in your palm before applying. It's the cleanest way to dilute pigment without losing the conditioning benefit.

For more colour-care options, browse our wider colour depositing shampoo collection or the full Paul Mitchell range. If you're using these to tone rather than to add fashion colour, our hair toners and purple shampoo collections sit alongside this one nicely.

Paul Mitchell Colour Depositing Treatment FAQs

What's the difference between a colour depositing treatment and a colour depositing shampoo?

A colour depositing shampoo deposits a small amount of pigment every time you wash, which is great for maintenance but limited in how much it can shift your tone. A colour depositing treatment (like these masks) leaves a higher concentration of pigment on the hair for longer, so the colour refresh is far more visible after a single use. Most people use both: shampoo between washes, treatment once a week or before a night out.

How long does the colour last?

Typically 4 to 12 washes, depending on the shade, your hair's porosity, how long you left the treatment on, and the strength of your shampoo. Pastels fade fastest, deeper shades like Sapphire and Amethyst hold longest. Using a sulphate-free shampoo will extend the life significantly.

Will it stain my shower, skin or towels?

Skin and nails will stain temporarily if you don't wear gloves, but it washes off within a day or two. Most modern showers and bathtubs rinse clean if you wipe them down straight after use. Use a dark towel for the first dry, just in case any residual pigment transfers.

Can I use these on dark hair?

Truffle, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Cayenne and Sapphire will show on darker bases, with Sapphire being the most pigmented of the bunch. Pastels (Vanilla, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Jade) need a pre-lightened or naturally blonde base for the colour to read properly. On dark hair, they'll mostly just condition.

Are colour depositing treatments damaging?

No. They're conditioning treatments first and colour depositors second. Unlike permanent dye, there's no peroxide, no ammonia, and no lifting of your natural colour. The mask formula actually leaves hair softer and shinier than it started.

Are Paul Mitchell colour depositing treatments vegan?

Yes. The entire Clean Beauty range is vegan, cruelty-free, sulphate-free and paraben-free, packaged in bio-plastic bottles made from sugarcane.

Can I mix shades together?

Absolutely. Mixing with Gloss is the most common way to soften an intense shade for a more subtle finish, but you can also mix tones (a touch of Cocoa into Cinnamon for a cooler copper, for example). Just mix in your palm before applying.

Free UK delivery on every Paul Mitchell colour depositing treatment at Revive Hair Artists in Codsall.