How to Apply Purple Shampoo Correctly

Blondes may have more fun, but dealing with dull or brassy color can get in the way of your good time. That's where purple shampoo comes in! Purple shampoo can restore your blonde locks to their former brass-free glory and extend the life of your color. Applying purple shampoo is super easy, and we're going to walk you through everything you need to know about choosing and using this game-changing hair product. If you're ready to banish that brassiness, read on!

Things You Should Know

Use a dark purple shampoo if you have grey, silver, or platinum hair. For blonde hair, go with a bright purple or violet shampoo.
Wet your hair with warm water and massage in the purple shampoo from root to tip.
Let the shampoo sit on your hair for 2-3 minutes if you're a natural blonde or 15 minutes for brassy color-treated hair. For gray or platinum hair, wait 30 minutes.
Rinse out the shampoo thoroughly with cool water and follow with your favorite conditioner. Use purple shampoo once a week to maintain your hair color.

Section 1 of 6:

What is purple shampoo?

Purple shampoo is a toning shampoo designed for blonde hair. This violet-tinted shampoo works as a color-correcting toner to neutralize brassy yellow or orange tones that tend to creep back into light hair over time. Removing brassy tones keeps hair color looking healthy, vibrant, and salon-fresh.^{[1]
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Section 2 of 6:

How does purple shampoo work?

Purple cancels out yellow since it sits opposite on the color wheel. It may sound too simple to be true, but it all comes down to color science! The dense violet pigment in purple shampoo coats your strands and neutralizes brassy tones so your blonde mane looks cool-toned and freshly dyed.^{[2]
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Section 3 of 6:

Who is purple shampoo for?

Purple shampoo is for anyone with blonde, silver, or grey hair. The toning power of purple shampoo is effective on both color-treated and natural hair color. If your hair falls anywhere in the blonde, platinum, silver, or grey range, you can use purple shampoo to keep the color looking cool, fresh, and brass-free.^{[3]
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- Purple shampoo isn't effective on darker shades like brunette or black.

Section 4 of 6:

Applying Purple Shampoo

1
Wet your hair with slightly warm water. Get your hair completely wet before applying the shampoo. Using a warm water temperature helps expand your hair shaft so it can better absorb the purple shampoo.^{[4]
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- Avoid using hot water when you shampoo; it can make your hair color fade.
2
Massage the purple shampoo into your hair from root to tip. Rub gently as you work the shampoo through your hair, starting at the roots and lathering as your work your way down. Pay special attention to your hair's "problem areas"—brassy or yellowed strands that you're hoping to treat with the shampoo.^{[5]
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- Your roots need more time to absorb the shampoo than your ends, which is why you apply the shampoo there first.
- If you're using purple shampoo on highlights and your base color is dark, only apply the shampoo to blond streaks. Purple shampoo does not affect dark hair.
- Prioritize your roots while shampooing to prevent damaged hair in the future.
3
Let the shampoo sit for 2-3 minutes if you're a natural blonde. If your hair is a warmer, natural blonde color and has mild brassiness, 2-3 minutes should be enough time. Then, rinse your hair out thoroughly with cool water.^{[6]
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- The recommended time may vary slightly from brand to brand. Be sure to read your brand's instructions and follow those if they're different from ours.
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Leave the shampoo for 5-15 minutes for color-treated blonde hair. If your hair is significantly discolored or you recently dyed your hair blonde, leave the shampoo in for 15 minutes. Then, rinse the shampoo out of your hair with cool water.^{[7]
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- If this is your first time and you aren't sure how long to leave it on, start with 5-10 minutes. If you don't get the results you want, leave it on for 10-15 minutes during your next treatment.
- If you leave the shampoo on longer than 15 minutes, your hair may take on a lilac tint. If this happens to you, don't worry! You can fix that.
5
Let the shampoo sit for 30 minutes on gray, silver, or platinum hair. The goal with platinum or silver hair is to remove the warm tones entirely, so these individuals will benefit from leaving the shampoo in longer. Then, rinse out the shampoo with cold water.^{[8]
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- If you plan to leave the shampoo on your hair for this long, put a plastic shower cap over your head while you wait.
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Follow up with conditioner as you normally would.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.} If desired, pair your purple shampoo with a purple conditioner to strengthen the toner's intensity.
- Using a purple conditioner with purple shampoo can lead to an ashy tone. Only use the conditioner if you want a pale hair color.

Section 5 of 6:

Choosing a Purple Shampoo

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Find a purple shampoo with a solid color and thick consistency. A high-quality purple shampoo should be opaque, not transparent, in color. Squeeze a small amount of the purple shampoo onto your finger before buying it to make sure it has a solid color and thick consistency color.^{[10]
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- Great options include Matrix So Silver purple shampoo and Paul Mitchell Platinum Blonde purple shampoo.
2
Use a dark purple shampoo if you have grey, silver, or platinum hair. Darker purple formulas, some of which verge on indigo or blue in hue, work best on platinum, gray, or light blonde hair.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.} Shy away from bright purple or violet shampoos and look for a dark shampoo made specifically for pale hair.^{[12]
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3
Pick a bright purple or violet shampoo if you have blonde hair. Blonde hair requires less purple tint to remove brassiness, so go with violet shampoo if your hair is honey blonde (or if you have highlights or balayage). Avoid dark, inky violet shampoos to prevent over-saturating your hair.^{[13]
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- The lighter the color, the less brassiness it will absorb from your hair. Keep this in mind when choosing the right purple shampoo for you.
4
Avoid purple shampoo if you have dark hair. Purple shampoo is ideal if you want to turn blonde or silver hair from a brassy to a brighter, more neutralized color.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.} It is not as effective on brunette or black hair, though. If you want to remove brassiness from darker hair, try blue shampoo instead.

Section 6 of 6:

Maintaining Your Hair Color

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Use purple shampoo once a week to combat brassiness. Alternate your purple shampoo use with regular shampoo formulated for color-treated hair so your hair color stays light and even. If you have warmer naturally blonde hair, use purple shampoo only when you notice yellowing. Pay attention to your hair and use your judgment when establishing a routine.^{[15]
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- If you're not noticing any changes after a month, try upping your purple shampoo routine to 2-3 times a week.^{[16]
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2
Dilute your purple shampoo with water if it's too strong for your hair. Although purple shampoo will not dye your hair, you may notice some lilac tints after you wash if the shampoo is too strong. To prevent this in the future, mix purple shampoo with water in a 2:1 ratio and put it in a spray bottle before applying it.^{[17]
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- Diluting is ideal if you have already-warm hair and just want to touch up the color.
3
Apply purple shampoo to dry hair for a super glossy finish. In lieu of using the shampoo in the bath or shower, massage the shampoo into your hair before you get it wet. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then rinse it out with cold water. Applying the shampoo dry can leave your hair glossier and remove a persistent brassy hue.^{[18]
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- Try this if you have severely brassy hair or you've had limited results from washing with purple shampoo.
4
Deep condition a few times a month to prevent dryness. Purple shampoo is pretty strong and can dry out your hair over time. To prevent brittle, unhealthy hair, deep condition your hair several times a month after using purple shampoo, or whenever your hair starts to feel dry.^{[19]
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- If your hair is frizzy, often has split ends, looks dull, or is prone to breakage, you may have dry hair.^{[20]
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5
Get regular trims and protect your hair from UV rays. Trimming your hair every 6-8 weeks minimizes split ends so your hair look healthy and vibrant. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, you might notice your hair color fading quickly. To prevent this, wear a hat or use a UV protectant spray before heading outside.^{[21]
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Expert Q&A

Question

Is purple shampoo like a toner?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Purple shampoo does act as a toner. The purple cancels out yellowness in gray and blonde hair.
Question

Can you use purple shampoo on natural blonde hair?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Yes purple shampoo can be used on natural blonde hair. It will help enhance your natural color.
Question

Why is purple shampoo good for?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Purple shampoo is good for blonde and gray hair. Its purpose is to remove yellow and brassy tones from the hair.

Warnings

Because purple shampoo is not a hair dye, it will not turn your hair blonde. It can only reverse hair damage and return your hair to its initial color.

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