Welcome to our purple shampoo shopping guide, where we’ll be diving into the world of toning shampoos to help you achieve the perfect shade of blonde or silver. If you’re new to purple shampoo, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.
First, let’s talk about what purple shampoo is and how it works. It serves as a toning shampoo that helps neutralize brassy or yellow tones in blonde, silver, and white hair. It contains purple pigments that counteract the warm tones in the hair, leaving it looking cooler and brighter. It’s a must-have for anyone with blonde, silver, or white hair who wants to maintain their color and keep it looking fresh.
When it comes to choosing a shampoo, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, consider the intensity of the purple pigments in the shampoo. If you have very brassy hair, you may want to opt for a stronger formula with more pigment. However, if your hair is only slightly yellow or brassy, a milder formula may be all you need.
Another thing to consider is the ingredients in the shampoo. Look for a formula that is gentle and won’t strip your hair of its natural oils. Some shampoos can be quite drying, so it’s important to choose one that will nourish your hair as well as tone it.
Now, let’s talk about how to use purple shampoo. It’s important to remember that it’s not like regular shampoo—it should only be used once or twice a week, as needed. Too much use can actually result in an over-toned, ashy look.
When using the shampoo, lather it into your hair and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out. This will give the pigments time to work their magic.
Finally, let’s take a look at some of our top picks for purple shampoo. We’ve tested and tried a range of products to bring you our favorites, including cult classics and newer formulas that are making waves in the beauty world. Whether you’re on a budget or willing to splurge, there’s a shampoo for everyone.
- Toning effect
- Nourishing formula
- Convenient hair care
- Potential staining
Step out of the sun, because you’ve got the perfect hair color for summer.
This shampoo is specially formulated to improve the brightness and coolness of golden blonde hair by eliminating brassiness and boosting tone. It’s like having your own personal sunscreen for your hair since it’s formulated with extremely concentrated violet pigments and orchid flowers, which neutralize yellow and brassy hues.
Furthermore, it contains kukui nut oil, which softens, smoothes, and adds spectacular shine, making it the ideal accessory to your sun-kissed complexion. Best of all? It was created specifically for those with bleached, dyed, or gray hair.
“I am literally obsessed with this new purple shampoo and conditioner combo. I saw a difference in one use,” shared one reviewer.
- Neutralizes brassiness
- Deep conditioning
- Color protection
- Staining potential
Want to make your hair a little more interesting? You can do that with this product.
We’ve all been there: you’re in the middle of a big event and you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, and suddenly you realize that your blonde isn’t quite so hot anymore. It’s gone warm, or yellowy, or even orange—and it’s not looking great.
That’s why Redken created this hair mask. With it, you’ll be able to neutralize those unwanted undertones at home and get back to looking like your best self again. Just 5 minutes after applying this mask, you’ll notice that your hair has turned cool and bright again.
You’ll be able to go back out into the world feeling confident that everyone will be admiring your new look!
- Brightens blonde hair
- Moisturizes and nourishes
- Sulfate-free formula
- High price point
R+CO’s Daily Blonde Shampoo is the product you’ve been looking for.
It’s got everything you need to keep your hair fresh, clean, and glowing. This formulation contains glycerin, which helps keep the hair hydrated, and sunflower sprout extract, which is packed with beneficial vitamins and nutrients.
Meanwhile, pure pearl extract is recognized as a symbol of perfection and beauty, providing revitalizing, moisturizing, and shine effects on hair.
But what really sets this product apart is that it protects your blonde or gray hair from ultraviolet light from the sun without turning it purple! It’s also great for color maintenance if you have any other analogous colors in your locks.
“It really does help my hair to maintain my color a little longer,” shared one buyer. “And it’s not drying. Really good shampoo and a good buy for the price.”
- Toning effect
- Hair strengthening
- Enhanced shine and softness
- Possible over-toning
Now, you can get the same results as a professional salon visit with this purple toning shampoo that strengthens, hydrates, and neutralizes brassy tones. This shampoo from Opalex keeps the hair hydrated from roots to ends and is suitable for all blonde, lightened, and gray hair.
The key ingredient bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate helps rebuild broken and weakened bonds in your hair.
“This purple shampoo is among the best out there, in my opinion,” wrote one honest reviewer. “Does tone and is a tad drying, but I use it at least once or twice a week along with their hair mask.”
- Toning benefits
- Enhances hair color
- Restores shine and luster
- Drying effect
If you’ve ever felt like your hair was too blue, but didn’t want to dye it black, we’ve got the solution for you: Verb’s Purple Shampoo.
This shampoo is formulated with pro-grade violet pigment and açaí extract to cleanse and brighten while toning brassy yellow hues. And because we know that price is always a concern when choosing a new product, this one clocks in at $20 so that you can enjoy all of its benefits without having to worry about breaking the bank.
You can use it in between trips to the salon or even just when you want to make sure your color stays vibrant.
According to Verb, “I needed hydration, a good clean and support for my ever increasingly grey hair. I leave it on for a few minutes 1-2 times a week and my hair is softer and my greys look brighter and toned.”
- Color enhancement
- Nourishing properties
- UV protection
- Color limitation
It can be difficult to be a natural blonde and this is something that many people understand. Sun damage, pollution, and other environmental contaminants can seriously diminish your hair’s natural shine, so it’s important to preserve it every day.
But what if you want something more lightweight? Having to cope with brassiness and brassy tones may leave your hair looking lifeless and lackluster.
Don’t worry—we have the solution: Kevin Murphy’s Blonde Angel is a conditioning treatment that enhances color and removes brassiness from dull blonde shades.
Protect your color-treated hair and keep your blonde looking fresh with this richly hydrating combination of sunflower seed and olive oil extracts, lavender, and jojoba seed oil.
“My hair stylist first used this on me and I was amazed. It really tones down the yellow in my hair,” revealed one buyer. “I use it as a mask before I shampoo. Love!”
- Toning and brightening
- Nourishing formula
- Color preservation
- Overuse and toning
Your hair is more than just a pretty face. It’s also an extension of your personality, which is why it deserves a shampoo as unique and special as you are.
Amika’s Bust Your Brass Shampoo strengthens, repairs, and hydrates dry strands with the label’s bond cure technology, which targets the hair bonds most prone to breakage. It also contains vegan proteins that provide keratin-like benefits while counteracting yellow and brassy tones with ultra-violet pigments.
So take your look from blah to beautiful with this one-of-a-kind purple shampoo!
As one hair enthusiast points out, “This is a lower cost alternative for light blonde or pale highlighted hair. Especially those few like me who have baby fine hair and the acid bonding purple shampoo and conditioner systems simply dry out and tangle your tresses!”
- Toning effect
- Brightening
- Color maintenance
- Overuse concerns
Have all the color you want, but also keep your healthy, luxious strands. That’s what Odele’s Purple Shampoo does for your hair.
It’s salon-grade—formulated with amaranth and plant-based proteins to hydrate and help promote overall hair health. Violet pigments enhance and restore blonde, silver, and gray tones for a healthy look that will make everyone green with envy.
Fresh notes of cucumber, oakmoss, and ylang-ylang deliver a light and neutral fragrance that smells amazing as it hydrates your hair.
As one reviewer sums up, “My hair is gray-white and this product works wonders on it. Leaves my hair soft and so manageable.”
- Enhances blonde hair
- Maintains color
- Convenient and time-saving
- Overuse and potential staining
You know how it is when you have your hair done at the salon and it looks amazing, but then a few days later it has faded and become brassy? IGK Hair made this shampoo for that same purpose.
To remove the yellowing effect of brass, it utilizes a violet pigment while simultaneously replenishing lost moisture, brightness, and gloss. You do not even have to be a blonde to benefit from its calming and smoothing effects on your hair.
Even hair that has been dyed may benefit from the formula’s moisture-restoring properties.
- Neutralizes brassiness
- Brightens hair color
- Color maintenance
- Potential overuse
Your hair is the most important accessory you wear every day. And like any accessory, it needs a little help from time to time. That’s where Dae’s Violet Hour Shampoo comes in.
With its unique formula of vibrant pigments and nourishing botanicals, it enhances color and repairs damage without stripping your hair of moisture or dulling its shine. The shampoo counteracts brassiness while giving your locks a boost of dimension and depth. All this means that your hair will look more vibrant, more beautiful—and more like you!
It works well for all hair types and textures, so whether you’re looking for a quick fix or an all-around solution, this is the product for you.
- Tones down brassiness
- Enhances shine
- Nourishing formula
- Potential overuse
Fight back against the brassy blues!
If you’re tired of feeling like you need to be on the lookout for an electric blue wig, then it’s time to stop freaking out. Whether you have lightened, cool blonde, bleached, or gray hair, this purple shampoo will quickly neutralize the brassy overtones in all of your hair. In addition, it fortifies blondes that have been damaged, allowing them to recover their previous splendor.
So what makes this shampoo different from other shampoos out there? First of all, it contains hyaluronic acid, a highly concentrated acid that seals cuticles, improves the hair’s softness and gloss, and helps repair damage. Also, it has edelweiss flower extract, which is high in antioxidants and helps to soothe and repair sensitive hair from everyday stress.
And last but not least, ultra-violet neutralizers are highly concentrated pigments that neutralize yellow undertones and remove brassy tones from your blonde locks!
- Color protection
- Strengthens hair
- Moisturizing properties
- Scent sensitivity
You know how difficult it is to maintain if you’ve been dyeing your hair. It’s not just that your strands feel strung out and tangled—also it’s that they can feel brittle and dull.
Yet, SheaMoisture’s sulfate-free shampoo is safe for use with both chemically-processed and relaxed hair. By eliminating the residue that causes damaged hair to seem dull, this shampoo and repair treatment may help restore your hair’s natural shine and strength.
No matter how badly your hair has been treated, this product will repair the damage and bring back the luster and strength.
As we conclude this shopping guide on purple shampoo, we hope you’ve found it informative and helpful in your quest for perfect blonde or silver hair. It’s absolutely a game-changing hair care product that can help you achieve the perfect cool-toned hue and keep unwanted brassiness at bay.
Meet the experts:
Lindsay Holden, co-founder of Odele, a clean beauty brand creating salon-grade, cruelty-free hair care and body products. Applying decades of experience in hair care, the label uses the best ingredients possible while remaining affordable.
How to Choose the Perfect Purple Shampoo
Tone
Different purple hues address various levels of brassiness. For example, violet is particularly effective at neutralizing yellow tones in light blonde shades. However, for brassier orange or warm brunette tones, purple might not be sufficient. In these cases, opting for a blue shampoo is more suitable, as it targets and neutralizes the brassiness in warmer colors.
Moisturizing Ingredients
Purple shampoos can sometimes be drying to the hair. To counteract this effect, look for hydrating components such as argan oil, shea butter, and keratin amino acids. These ingredients ensure that your hair remains soft, smooth, and shiny after washing, while also providing the necessary toning effects.
Sulfate-Free Formulation
Sulfates, commonly found in many shampoos, can be harsh on your hair. If your hair is already on the drier side, a sulfate-free purple shampoo is a better option. Such shampoos are gentle on the hair and scalp, helping to maintain your hair’s natural moisture balance, while still effectively eliminating unwanted brassy tones.
Hair Type
It’s crucial to consider your specific hair type when selecting a purple shampoo. Some formulations are specially designed for color-treated or chemically processed hair, while others cater to natural blonde shades. By choosing a product that aligns with your hair type, you ensure the best results, while also preserving the health and integrity of your locks. A well-matched shampoo will cater to your hair’s unique needs and provide the desired toning effect without causing further damage.
FAQ
What is purple shampoo?
This specialized hair care product is designed to neutralize brassy tones in blonde (including strawberry blonde hair), silver, and gray hair. Violet pigments in the shampoo work to counteract the yellow and orange hues that can develop over time, restoring your hair’s brightness and vibrancy.
“It’s a color-toning product… a pick me up to keep hair color fresh, if you will. Purple hair products typically contain purple pigments that enhance and restore blonde, silver + gray tones, neutralizing any brassiness (aka orange or yellow undertones hair color develops over time thanks to UV exposure, heat stylers, and other stressors), keeping your color exactly as nature (or your colorist — no judgment here!) intended,” Holden explains.
She adds, “The concept stems from color theory because purple is the opposite of yellow on the color wheel. As complementary colors, they effective cancel each other out when mixed together. In other words, by depositing purple pigments onto hair, they neutralize unwanted yellow undertones that cause that brassy look.”
How does it work?
Purple shampoo works on the principle of color theory. On the color wheel, purple is the opposite of yellow, meaning they cancel each other out. When the violet pigments in the shampoo are applied to the hair, they counteract the brassy tones and restore the hair’s original cool or neutral shade.
How often should it be used?
The recommended frequency for using purple shampoo depends on your hair type, color combination, and individual needs. Generally, once or twice a week is sufficient, but you can adjust the frequency based on your hair’s brassiness and desired tone. Avoid overusing the product, as it may lead to over-toning and cause hair to take on a purple or blue tint.
“We recommend using Purple Shampoo + Conditioner no more than 2-3 times a week to avoid overcorrection of dyes, which means lilac-tinted locks or dull, darkened strands. We always reco using conditioner after purple shampoo, as the shampoo can be drying, so you want to ensure you’re coating your hair with moisture,” Holden reveals. “Also, be sure to use color-safe styling aids and heat protectants with your hair — it can use all the protection and TLC it can get.”
Can it be used on non-blonde hair?
While primarily designed for blonde, silver, and gray hair, this shampoo can be used cautiously on other hair colors. Brunettes with highlights or balayage can benefit from it, as it helps neutralize brassiness in lighter sections. However, if you have darker hair without lighter tones, the shampoo may not provide noticeable benefits.
“A resounding yes. It’s a solid option for anyone looking to keep their light-colored hair looking vibrant — whether that’s someone with blonde, silver and gray hair. Also, if you’re a brunette with lighter highlights, whether it’s a blonde balayage or ombre, purple products can help maintain those highlights,” Holden states.