Blondes might have more fun, but they often have to work harder to keep their hair healthy. One secret all lighter hair tones should know about is purple shampoo. Whether you are a bottle blonde or have naturally lighter locks, incorporating this toning shampoo into your hair care routine can help you maintain and tone your current hue in between salon visits.
While purple shampoos will not make your hair lighter (or turn your hair purple), they will neutralize brassiness and make dull locks shine brighter than ever.
The reason that taking your hair to a brighter, blonder hair tone typically requires more upkeep is because it lifts your hair’s base color. In comparison to dyeing your hair a darker shade, bleach requires more processing and chemicals. This leaves the hair more vulnerable to breakage by opening the cuticle and allowing UV rays, pollution, and other pollutants to enter. It also prevents hair from retaining moisture, which in turn makes color appear dull and brassy. The good news is purple shampoos will help you say bye bye to brassiness.
Whether you’ve gone platinum blonde, silver, or just want to add vibrancy to your natural blonde locks, you should consider keeping a purple shampoo on hand. Here’s everything you need to know about these violet-based alternatives, along with 10 of the best purple shampoos on the market.
What does purple shampoo do?
Purple shampoo is a must-have for blonde manes. But what does purple shampoo do? Just as the name suggests, purple shampoo is a purple pigmented formula that helps keep yellow and brassy undertones at bay. Designed as an at-home toning system, the formula helps maintain blonde hair’s brightness in between salon appointments and neutralize unwanted pigments.
Why purple? It’s all about the color wheel theory. Shades on the opposite of the wheel cancel each other out, which means purple pigments help counteract yellow tones in blonde hair. The results of purple shampoo before and after show a clear reduction of warm and yellow colors. The same color correction principle is used in makeup, such as using green concealer to tone down skin redness.
Is purple shampoo only for blondes?
Blonde hair, especially dyed blonde hair, has the most to gain from purple shampoo. However, brunettes can benefit from purple shampoo too! If you are a brunette with ombre, highlights or balayage, then you can also benefit from using this violet-based product.
Purple shampoos function as an effective toner for brown hair since they often deal with the same brassiness and color changes. The dyed sections of hair can become dry and damaged, revealing underlying warmer and yellow pigments.
How to choose the right purple shampoo for your hair
With tons of purple shampoos on the market right now, it can be difficult to choose just one. A good general rule of thumb to follow is the lighter the shade of purple, the more subtle the results. Quality purple shampoos will have a thicker consistency, deeper purple color, and will not appear as translucent.
How to use purple shampoo
Typically purple shampoo can be used just like your normal shampoo. For your first wash, use a deep cleansing shampoo to lift any yellowish deposit from product use, the environment, or heat styling tools. Then, use your purple shampoo of choice. Lather the shampoo throughout wet hair and let it sit for up to 15 minutes, depending on your brassiness level. Since purple shampoo has toning properties, it will continue to tone your hair as long as you leave it in. Always read product directions and rinse hair thoroughly after washing.
How long to leave purple shampoo on your hair
Experts advise people to be careful when using violet-based shampoos. If you have icy-blonde hair and leave a purple shampoo on too long, your hair will end up having a blue-purple tinge to it. Always be sure to read instructions carefully and time your session. If your hair does start to take on a lavender or blue tint, cut back on washes and supplement with your normal shampoo.
How often to use purple shampoo
Colorists note that it’s easy to overuse purple shampoo since it can have a drying effect. It’s best to use a color safe shampoo and conditioner for your normal routine, but then add in purple shampoo in between washes.
If you typically wash your hair twice a week, it’s best to use purple shampoo once a week. Keep in mind that purple shampoo should not replace your regular shampoo and should only be used once or twice a week. Overusing it can lead to build up and dullness, or even make you immune to the product. Luxy's Balancing Purple Shampoo can be used on natural hair and blonde extensions as well to keep the color looking vibrant.
The best purple shampoos for blonde hair
1. Luxy’s Purple Balancing ShampooWe don’t mean to brag but our vegan purple shampoo does a fantastic job of combatting brassy tones in blonde hair while adding hydration with avocado and babassu oil.
Use this shampoo for your hair extensions if you need to restore their vibrancy or on your natural hair as a hair treatment.
2. Moroccan Oil's Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo
Consistently ranked as one of the overall best purple shampoos by Allure and other beauty sites, this Moroccan Oil shampoo fights brassiness in blonde, lightened brunette, and even gray hair. The nourishing formula contains argan oil and is sulfate-free, meaning wavy, curly, and coily hair types can use it without worrying their hair will be stripped of moisture. It also works a charm for straight hair types, too.
3. Oribe's Bright Blonde Shampoo
While a bit of a splurge, this sulfate-free shampoo from Oribe is super gentle and will work to bring out blonde tones in your hair. It’s a great choice for those with heat-damaged or curly locks. The best part is that it will protect your strands out of the shower from UV rays and dullness.
4. John Freida's Violet Crush for Blondes
A total drugstore deal, you will start to see brassiness disappear after just one use of this shampoo. Experts suggest leaving it in hair for a few minutes before minutes to help blonde tones look their best.
5. Kevin Murphy's Blonde Angel Wash
While purple shampoos can have a drying effect, the sunflower seed oil in the Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel Wash gives dried out strands a healthy dose of moisture. There’s also ingredients like olive and linseed to keep hair strong.
Fortified with hyaluronic acid, this shampoo will deliver maximum hydration with every use. The purple pigments are highly concentrated, ensuring blonde and gray tones will be maintained between salon visits. Perfect for any hair texture or shade of blonde.
7. Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo
A top pick for highlighted hair, this budget-friendly shampoo has been around for decades. The highly pigmented shampoo tones all-over brassiness and livens up faded highlights, helping them look their absolute best.
8. Paul Mitchell's Platinum Blonde Shampoo
If you’re a blonde who likes a soft beige tone without brass or silver, then this Paul Mitchell shampoo is for you. The violet-tinted formula neutralizes brassy tones in the lightest of blondes, making it a must for platinum blondes.
9. SheaMoisture Purple Rice Water Strength + Color Care Shampoo
The star ingredient in this shampoo is rice water, which leaves hair soft, clean, and visibly brighter. Not to mention that this purple shampoo smells amazing. If you have damaged hair, the ultra-hydrating formula with organic shea butter, jojoba oil, and argan oil will help restore moisture.
10. Pravana The Perfect Blonde Shampoo
Thanks to a nourishing combination of amino acids, jojoba, and coconut oil, this purple shampoo will keep strands shiny and moisturized. Of course it will also neutralize and give your bleached, highlighted, or natural color a deep reset.
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