Last Updated on April 12, 2023 by Verna Meachum

If you’re like most people, you probably think of purple shampoo as a way to get rid of brassiness in your hair. And while it is great for that, it does so much more!

Not only must you be devoted to frequent touch-ups, but you must also invest in products to keep your highlights, or color job looking as fresh as the day you left the salon.

Purple shampoo is one of those products and it should become a staple in your hair care routine if it isn’t already. Consider this product as your blonde hair’s best friend.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about what does purple shampoo do for your hair, including a list of product suggestions.

Introduction

Nothing looks (or feels) better than freshly dyed enhanced blonde hair.

A great blonde service will leave your hair looking brilliant, multi-dimensional, and free of brassiness.

However, another six weeks later…you may start to notice your once-perfect blonde hair looking dull, yellow, or brassy.

Dyed blonde hair is high maintenance, to say the least.

But don’t worry, there’s an easy solution to keep your blonde hair looking its best in between salon visits – Enter purple shampoo!

Introducing purple shampoo into your hair care routine is one of the simplest ways to help maintain your blonde hair color.

What is a Purple Shampoo

A purple shampoo is a color-corrector, if you will, for blonde hair that contains purple pigment to remove brassy and yellow tones.

Purple shampoos work by neutralizing yellow and brassy tones in your hair. Consider it a home toner that aids in the removal of brass.

But why purple? The purple pigment in the shampoo cancels out unwanted yellow tones in your hair, much like the way that green concealer cancels out redness on your face.

While purple shampoo is great for all blondes, it is an absolute essential for those with blonde highlights, bleached hair, or gray hair.

Benefits of Using a Purple Shampoo

In addition to toning your hair and keeping brassiness at bay, purple shampoo can also:

How to Use Purple Shampoo

Let’s face it, toners will fade, the sun will do its damage, your color will be affected by the chlorine in pool water, using heat-styling tools, hard water, and brassiness will happen.

Purple shampoos are not a magic wand when it comes to removing brassiness, but with regular use, they can help maintain your blonde hair color in between salon visits.

Toners usually fades after the first six weeks (when the underlying warm pigment starts to show through) but after that, it’s up to you to maintain your color with a purple shampoo.

How often and when should you use purple shampoo?

It really depends on how often you wash your hair, the type of water you have, how often you swim, etc. Also, keep in mind that purple shampoos are not replacements for your regular shampoos.

• If you have hard water, you may need to use purple shampoo more often than someone with soft water.

• If you have blonde highlights, you may want to use purple shampoo every time you wash your hair (which for most people is every three day or every week).

• If you have bleached hair, you may want to use purple shampoo once a week.

• If you have grey hair, you may only need to use purple shampoo once a month.

The key is to experiment and see what works best for you and your hair type.

Another thing to consider is how long you should leave the shampoo on your hair in order to achieve your desired tone.

How long should you leave the purple shampoo on your hair?

This also depends on your hair type and desired tone.

• If you have bleached hair, you may want to leave the purple shampoo on your hair for up to five minutes.
• If you want a golden tone, do a quick wash.
• If you have blonde highlights, you may only need to leave the purple shampoo on your hair for two minutes.
• If you have grey hair, you may only need to leave the purple shampoo on your hair for one minute.
• If you want to go for an ashy tone, leave it on for six minutes.
• If you want a sandy blonde tone (beige-y), leave it on for approximately three minutes.

It’s also meant mentioning that using too much purple shampoo will leave your blonde hair looking flat, dully, and ashy, so be sure to use it sparingly.

Start with less and add more if needed, as build up can cause the color to lose contrast with the base, resulting in a darker tone.

If however, you experience any build up or your hair feels dry after using purple shampoo, you can easily remove it with a clarifying shampoo.

Now that we’ve gone over the basics of purple shampoo, let’s move on to some more specific questions.

Who should use a purple shampoo?

Anyone with blonde hair! Whether you have highlights, are bleaching your hair, or have grey hair, purple shampoo can help maintain your desired blonde hair color.

Brassiness happens to everyone, but it is more noticeable on lighter hair colors. Because of this, purple shampoo is not only for blonde hair that has been color-treated, but also natural blonde hair.  

How to Use Purple Shampoo

Start by wetting your hair in the shower and then apply purple shampoo evenly throughout.

Leave the purple shampoo on your hair for two to three minutes, depending on the level of brassiness.

Rinse your hair thoroughly and then condition as usual.

When using purple shampoo for the first time, it’s best to start with a small amount and use more if needed.

Best Purple Shampoo for Blonde Hair

If you have bleached blonde hair, you know how difficult it is to maintain your desired shade of blonde.

Bleached hair can often become brassy or yellow over time, but using a purple shampoo can help to combat this.

Note: for those who are sensitive to sulfates, some of the following shampoos contain them so please make sure to read the ingredients.

Here are some of the best purple shampoos for bleached blonde hair:

L’Oreal Paris EverPure Blonde Shampoo

OGX Blonde Enhanced + Purple Toning Shampoo

Redken Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Purple Shampoo

Matrix So Silver Color Depositing Shampoo & Conditioner

Kristin Ess Hair The One Purple Shampoo

Kérastase Blonde Bain Ultra-Violet Shampoo

Nexxus Blonde Assure Purple Shampoo

Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo

Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

Pureology Strength Cure Best Blonde Miracle Filler

Best Purple Shampoo for Curly Blonde Hair (Sulfate-Free)

Shea Moisture Purple Rice Water Strength + Color Care Shampoo

Amika Bust Your Brass Blonde Purple

Eva NYC Tone It Down Blonde Shampoo

Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo

Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

Bumble and bumble Bb.Illuminated Blonde Purple Shampoo

Best Purple Shampoo for Grey Hair (Sulfate-Free)

artnaturals Purple Shampoo

Oribe Silverati Shampoo

Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

L’Oreal Paris EverPure

Ethnique Tone It Down Solid Shampoo Bar

FAQs

Is purple shampoo bad for your hair?

No, purple shampoo is not bad for your hair. In fact, it can actually be good for your hair as it can help reduce brassiness and maintain your desired blonde hair color.

Can I use purple shampoo every day?

No, you should not use purple shampoo every day. Using it too often can actually cause your hair to build up and become dry and brittle.

Does purple shampoo work on brown hair?

Yes, you can use purple shampoo on brown hair. If your hair is a full brown, though, a purple shampoo will not be very helpful. However, if you have lightened hair with highlights, the purple shampoo will tone it.

Do you use purple shampoo before or after regular shampoo?

You should use purple shampoo after regular shampoo.

Does purple shampoo make your hair lighter?

No, purple shampoo does not make your hair lighter. Purple shampoo is formulated for blonde hair and already bleached hair. Its purpose is to neutralize the yellow tone, which happens to be on the opposite color of purple on the color wheel.

If you’re like most people, you probably think of purple shampoo as a way to get rid of brassiness in your hair. And while it is great for that, it does so much more!

Not only must you be devoted to frequent touch-ups, but you must also invest in products to keep your highlights, or color job looking as fresh as the day you left the salon.

Purple shampoo is one of those products and it should become a staple in your hair care routine if it isn’t already. Consider this product as your blonde hair’s best friend.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about what does purple shampoo do for your hair, including a list of product suggestions.

Overview

Nothing looks (or feels) better than freshly dyed enhanced blonde hair.

A great blonde service will leave your hair looking brilliant, multi-dimensional, and free of brassiness.

However, another six weeks later…you may start to notice your once-perfect blonde hair looking dull, yellow, or brassy.

Dyed blonde hair is high maintenance, to say the least.

But don’t worry, there’s an easy solution to keep your blonde hair looking its best in between salon visits – Enter purple shampoo!

Introducing purple shampoo into your hair care routine is one of the simplest ways to help maintain your blonde hair color.

What is a Purple Shampoo

A purple shampoo is a color-corrector, if you will, for blonde hair that contains purple pigment to remove brassy and yellow tones.

Purple shampoos work by neutralizing yellow and brassy tones in your hair. Consider it a home toner that aids in the removal of brass.

But why purple? The purple pigment in the shampoo cancels out unwanted yellow tones in your hair, much like the way that green concealer cancels out redness on your face.

While purple shampoo is great for all blondes, it is an absolute essential for those with blonde highlights, bleached hair, or grey hair.

Benefits of Using a Purple Shampoo

In addition to toning your hair and keeping brassiness at bay, purple shampoo can also:

How to Use Purple Shampoo

Let’s face it, toners will fade, the sun will do its damage, your color will be affected by the chlorine in pool water, using heat-styling tools, hard water, and brassiness will happen.

Purple shampoos are not a magic wand when it comes to removing brassiness, but with regular use, they can help maintain your blonde hair color in between salon visits.

Toners usually fades after the first six weeks (when the underlying warm pigment starts to show through) but after that, it’s up to you to maintain your color with a purple shampoo.

HOW OFTEN AND WHEN SHOULD YOU USE PURPLE SHAMPOO?

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU LEAVE THE PURPLE SHAMPOO ON YOUR HAIR?

It’s also meant mentioning that using too much purple shampoo will leave your blonde hair looking flat, dully, and ashy, so be sure to use it sparingly.

Start with less and add more if needed, as build up can cause the color to lose contrast with the base, resulting in a darker tone.

If however, you experience any build up or your hair feels dry after using purple shampoo, you can easily remove it with a clarifying shampoo.

Now that we’ve gone over the basics of purple shampoo, let’s move on to some more specific questions.

Who should use a purple shampoo?

Anyone with blonde hair! Whether you have highlights, are bleaching your hair, or have grey hair, purple shampoo can help maintain your desired blonde hair color.

Brassiness happens to everyone, but it is more noticeable on lighter hair colors. Because of this, purple shampoo is not only for blonde hair that has been color-treated, but also natural blonde hair.  

How to Use Purple Shampoo

Start by wetting your hair in the shower and then apply purple shampoo evenly throughout.

Leave the purple shampoo on your hair for two to three minutes, depending on the level of brassiness.

Rinse your hair thoroughly and then condition as usual.

When using purple shampoo for the first time, it’s best to start with a small amount and use more if needed.

Best Purple Shampoo for Blonde Hair

If you have bleached blonde hair, you know how difficult it is to maintain your desired shade of blonde.

Bleached hair can often become brassy or yellow over time, but using a purple shampoo can help to combat this.

Note: for those who are sensitive to sulfates, some of the following shampoos contain them so please make sure to read the ingredients.

Here are some of the best purple shampoos for bleached blonde hair:

L’Oreal Paris EverPure Blonde Shampoo

OGX Blonde Enhanced + Purple Toning Shampoo

Redken Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Purple Shampoo

Matrix So Silver Color Depositing Shampoo & Conditioner

Kristin Ess Hair The One Purple Shampoo

Kérastase Blonde Bain Ultra-Violet Shampoo

Nexxus Blonde Assure Purple Shampoo

Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo

Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

Pureology Strength Cure Best Blonde Miracle Filler

Best Purple Shampoo for Curly Blonde Hair (Sulfate-Free)

Shea Moisture Purple Rice Water Strength + Color Care Shampoo

Amika Bust Your Brass Blonde Purple

Eva NYC Tone It Down Blonde Shampoo

Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo

Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

Bumble and bumble Bb.Illuminated Blonde Purple Shampoo

Best Purple Shampoo for Grey Hair (Sulfate-Free)

artnaturals Purple Shampoo

Oribe Silverati Shampoo

Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

L’Oreal Paris EverPure

Ethnique Tone It Down Solid Shampoo Bar

FAQs

Is purple shampoo bad for your hair?

No, purple shampoo is not bad for your hair. In fact, it can actually be good for your hair as it can help reduce brassiness and maintain your desired blonde hair color.

Can I use purple shampoo every day?

No, you should not use purple shampoo every day. Using it too often can actually cause your hair to build up and become dry and brittle.

Does purple shampoo work on brown hair?

Yes, you can use purple shampoo on brown hair. If your hair is a full brown, though, a purple shampoo will not be very helpful.
However, if you have lightened hair with highlights, the purple shampoo will tone it.
Do you use purple shampoo before or after regular shampoo?

Do you use purple shampoo before or after regular shampoo?

You should use purple shampoo after regular shampoo.

Does purple shampoo make your hair lighter?

No, purple shampoo does not make your hair lighter. Purple shampoo is formulated for blonde hair and already bleached hair. Its purpose is to neutralize the yellow tone, which happens to be on the opposite color of purple on the color wheel.

Is purple shampoo damaging to hair?

No, purple shampoo is not damaging to your hair. In fact, it can actually be beneficial for your hair as it can help to reduce brassiness and maintain your desired blonde hair color.

However, if you use it too often, it can cause your hair to become dry and brittle. Therefore, it is important to use purple shampoo as directed and not to use it every day.