Toning shampoo with improved colour performance

An agent for colouring keratinous fibres, in particular human hair, containing, at least one direct dye, (a) at least one amphoteric surfactant, preferably an alkylbetaine, and (b) at least one alkylpolyglycoside, such that the content of amphoteric surfactant (b) in the agent - with respect to the total weight of the agent - is greater than the content of non-ionic surfactant (a). Preferably the amphoteric surfactant is cocamidopropylbetaine and the alkylglycoside is laurylglycoside. Ideally no sodium chloride or anionic surfactant is present in the composition. In some embodiments, non-ionic thickeners such as cellulose derivatives, gums, alginates, starches, clays and acrylate-polymers may be included. The most preferable thickener is cetylhydroxyethylcellulose. Film-forming agents in the form of cationic polyquaternium compounds, preferably polyquaternium-37, may also be incorporated. The use of the agent to colour keratinous fibres, as well as to a method in which the agent is applied are also disclosed.