As a full time hair stylist working behind the chair with clients I get questions about how to properly use purple shampoo to eliminate the brassy yellow tones in their hair without drying it out and causing more yellowing later. Before we talk about the how, where and when, let’s first talk about the why.
Why would someone choose to use purple shampoo on their hair?
Whether or not you should use purple shampoo depends on your hair color, your hair goals, and your personal preferences. Here are a few different scenarios where using purple shampoo might be beneficial for you:
- Blonde, Silver, or Gray Hair: If you have blonde, silver, or gray hair and you want to maintain a cool, neutral tone while preventing or correcting brassiness, purple shampoo can be a helpful addition to your hair care routine.
- Brassiness Concerns: If you’ve noticed that your hair is developing unwanted yellow or brassy tones, purple shampoo can help counteract those tones and restore a more natural and neutral color.
- Color-Treated Hair: If you have color-treated hair that’s prone to fading or shifting in tone, using purple shampoo can help extend the life of your color and keep it looking fresh.
- Desired Cool Tones: If you prefer cooler, ashier tones in your hair, purple shampoo can help enhance those tones and give your hair the look you want.
However, there are a few factors to consider before using purple shampoo:
- Hair Type and Condition: If your hair is already dry, damaged, or over-processed, excessive use of purple shampoo can contribute to further dryness. In such cases, you might need to use purple shampoo less frequently or make sure to follow up with a good conditioner after and between uses.
- Natural Hair Color: If you have darker hair colors like brown or black, purple shampoo might not be as effective or necessary, as it’s primarily designed to neutralize warm tones in lighter hair colors. If you have darker hair color and are having issues with brassiness, look up a blue shampoo to help target the darker brassy tones.
- Frequency: It’s important not to overuse purple shampoo, as excessive use can lead to overly cool or even slightly purple results. Follow the recommended usage instructions on the product and adjust the frequency based on your hair’s response. Keep in mind this is an as needed shampoo not and every day shampoo. If it is needed daily, you may want to look into a toner or to refresh your hair color with your stylist.
- Consult a Professional: If you’re uncertain about whether purple shampoo is right for you, it’s a good idea to consult with a hairstylist. They can assess your hair color, condition, and goals, and provide personalized recommendations.
Ultimately, the decision to use purple shampoo should be based on your individual hair needs and preferences.
Now that we have a better understanding of why you might decide to use purple shampoo on your hair, lets talk about how often you should be using purple shampoo.
The frequency of using purple shampoo depends on your hair color, the level of brassiness you’re dealing with, and your desired result. Here are some general guidelines to help you determine how often you should use purple shampoo:
- Blonde, Silver, or Gray Hair Maintenance: If you have blonde, silver, or gray hair and your main goal is to maintain a cool, neutral tone and prevent brassiness from developing, you might use purple shampoo about once a week or every other week. This frequency should help keep unwanted warm tones at bay without causing an over-deposit of purple pigments.
- Brassiness Correction: If your hair has already developed noticeable brassiness or yellow tones, you can use purple shampoo more frequently, such as every two to three days. However, be cautious not to overdo it, as using purple shampoo too often can lead to an overly cool or even slightly purple hue in your hair.
- Hair Porosity and Tone: Consider your hair’s porosity and how well it holds onto color. If your hair is very porous and absorbs color quickly, you might need to use purple shampoo less often to avoid an excessive color deposit.
- Trial and Observation: Start by using purple shampoo once a week and monitor the results. If you notice that your hair is becoming too cool or slightly purple, you can adjust the frequency accordingly.
- Alternating with Regular Shampoo: To maintain a balance between color correction and hair health, consider alternating between purple shampoo and your regular moisturizing shampoo. This can help prevent over-drying and over-toning.
- Consult a Professional: If you’re unsure about the appropriate frequency for your specific hair type and color, it’s a good idea to consult with a professional hairstylist. They can provide personalized advice based on your hair’s needs and your desired outcome.
Keep in mind that the goal of using a toning shampoo is to achieve a balanced and natural-looking result. If you’re ever uncertain about how often to use it, it’s better to start with less frequent use and gradually increase as needed to avoid any unwanted color effects.
Purple shampoo is a specialized type of shampoo that is commonly used to tone and neutralize brassy or yellow tones in blonde, silver, or gray hair. It contains purple pigments that work to counteract these unwanted warm tones, leaving the hair looking cooler and more neutral in color.
However, some people might experience dryness or a lack of moisture in their hair after using a toning shampoo. There are a few reasons why this could happen:
- Sulfates: Many purple shampoos contain sulfates, which are cleansing agents that can strip the hair of its natural oils. Sulfates are responsible for creating the foaming lather that people often associate with a good cleaning, but they can also be quite harsh and drying, especially with prolonged or frequent use.
- Frequency of Use: Purple shampoo is not meant to be used as an everyday shampoo. Its primary purpose is to address specific color concerns, and using it too frequently can lead to over-cleansing and dryness. It’s generally recommended to use purple shampoo once or twice a week, depending on your hair’s needs and the specific product’s instructions.
- Lack of Moisturizing Ingredients: Purple shampoos are formulated with a focus on color correction, so they might not contain as many moisturizing ingredients as regular shampoos. This can contribute to dryness, especially if your hair is naturally dry or damaged.
- Hard Water: The type of water you have in your area can also impact how your hair responds to different shampoos. Hard water, which contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, can leave a residue on the hair and make it feel dry and rough. If you have hard water, it might be exacerbating the drying effects of the purple shampoo.
To mitigate the drying effects of purple shampoo, you can consider the following steps:
- Use a sulfate-free purple shampoo, as sulfate-free formulas tend to be gentler on the hair and scalp.
- Follow up with a good-quality conditioner after using any toning shampoo to restore moisture to your hair.
- Incorporate deep conditioning treatments or hair masks into your routine to provide your hair with extra hydration. Looking for a Hair Conditioning Mask Guide, read my blog post here!
- Pay attention to the frequency of use. If you find that your hair is becoming excessively dry, consider using a toning shampoo less often.
- Consider using a water softener or clarifying treatment if you have hard water in your area.
Don’t forget that everyone’s hair is different, so it might take some trial and error to find the right balance and routine that works best for your hair type and concerns. If you’re experiencing persistent dryness or other hair issues, it’s also a good idea to consult with a professional hairstylist or dermatologist for personalized advice.
It is possible to experience a temporary “brassy” effect after using purple shampoo, and this can happen for a few reasons:
- Overuse: If you use purple shampoo too frequently or leave it on for too long, it can deposit too much purple pigment onto your hair. This excessive pigment can give your hair a temporary purple or lavender tint, which might appear to be brassy once the cooling effect of the purple wears off.
- Hair Porosity: Porous hair tends to absorb pigments more easily and quickly. If your hair is very porous, it might absorb the purple pigments from the shampoo more intensely, leading to a stronger tint that can eventually fade into a brassy appearance.
- Water Quality: The quality of the water you’re using to rinse out the shampoo can affect how the pigments interact with your hair. If your water has a high mineral content or is hard water, it might cause the purple pigments to behave differently, potentially leading to uneven color distribution and a brassy look once the purple tones fade.
To avoid the temporary brassy effect after using purple shampoo:
- Follow Instructions: Always follow the instructions on the bottle. Most products will recommend leaving the shampoo on for a specific amount of time before rinsing.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Make sure to rinse your hair thoroughly after using purple shampoo. Any excess pigments that aren’t properly rinsed out can contribute to the brassy effect as they continue to interact with your hair.
- Use in Moderation: Purple shampoo is best used as a color-correcting treatment on an as-needed basis. Avoid using it too frequently, as this can lead to an accumulation of pigment and unintended results.
- Alternate with Regular Shampoo: Consider alternating between purple shampoo and a regular moisturizing shampoo. This can help maintain a balance between color correction and hair hydration.
- Use a Clarifying Shampoo: Occasionally using a clarifying shampoo can help remove any built-up pigments or residues from your hair, preventing them from contributing to a brassy appearance.
The purple color is on the opposite side of the color wheel from yellow and orange, so it helps cancel out those warm tones, leaving the hair looking cooler and more neutral in color.
If you do notice a brassy effect after using a toning shampoo, it’s usually temporary and can be corrected by using regular shampoo or clarifying products to help remove excess pigment. If you’re unsure about how to correct the issue, or if you’re consistently experiencing this problem, consulting a professional hairstylist can provide personalized guidance and solutions based on your hair’s specific needs.
I have included a list of my 3 favorite purple shampoos that I recommend to my clients that available for you to purchase on Amazon and a little blurb about my experience with each one.
- KERASTASE Blond Absolu Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo – Best of the Best!
If you are looking for the absolute best purple shampoo, it has to be Kerastase. Loaded with conditioning properties like hyaluronic acid that strengthens and fortifies hair with each use. - Cezzanne Ultimate Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner – Sodium Free Purple Shampoo!
My go to for those avoiding salts in their shampoo to comply with their keratin smoothing treatments. If you are having troube; with your hair turning an unwanted brassy tone due to a smoothing treatment, ask me about our new Anti-yellow formula! Get the same great non-toxic smoothing treatment by Cezanne with built in purple tone! - Finola Color Depositing Purple Shampoo Toner – Best all around budget toner!
This shampoo is very highly rated with over 150,000 reviews and a 4.7 rating. My experience with this shampoo is that it is in fact very drying to the hair and very strong purple color that can easily stain platinum hair. Use this one sparingly and make sure you have a good conditioning mask to counter act its drying effect.
If you have any more questions that were not address in this post, feel free to comment below and I will be happy to answer for you. I hope you all found this information useful!
Cheers,
Rachel Angulo
