Transitioning from a normal dark hair to blonde can cost you a lot of money, time, and energy. Regardless, we think it’s always worth it once we have finally achieved the perfect lift that we’ve been dreaming of. I hate to break your dreamy moment but if you think the happy ending ends there, let me warn you about the nightmares of getting rid of unwanted tones which are kind of normal but can be easily prevented and eliminated.
Purple shampoo is your fairy godmother that will do all the magic to remove unwanted brassy and yellow tones into the scene. You must have heard of purple shampoos a lot of times already especially if you are a dye hard fan or with a normal blonde. Keep on reading because we will educate you more about the magic behind purple shampoo.
What is a Purple Shampoo?
A purple shampoo is a literally purple-colored shampoo that distributes purple pigment to the hair to help tone down the brassy tone that usually appears right after or a few days after bleaching or dyeing the hair. The purple shampoo won’t turn your hair into purple but rather, it will neutralize the stubborn hair strands that won’t lift along with the others.
How does Purple Shampoo Works?
When the hair is bleached, the melanin, or the natural pigment of our hair is being diluted through the process called oxidation. The bleaching process is usually followed with the dyeing process where the artificial pigment is distributed on the hair to replace the natural color. The noticeable brassy or yellow hair strands are those that did not successfully lift through the process. It becomes brassy because it still shows some of your natural hair pigment.
Bleaching alone won’t make the lifting process totally successful that’s why it is always followed with the toning process with the use of a purple shampoo. Now you’re going to ask, why does it have to be purple of all the colors? When we go back to our color wheel lessons, Yellow and Purple are complementary colors (colors that are opposite each other) that when mixed, will create a vibrant look. Using a purple shampoo will complement the bleaching process and cancel out the warm yellow and brassy tones on the hair to make your lift more vibrant.
How Do I Know if the Purple Shampoo is for me?
If you hair falls under these shades, then you should use a purple shampoo to maintain the vibrance of your hair:
- Blonde
- Platinum
- Ashy Blonde
- Silver or Gray
- White
- Bleached hair dyed with pastel colors
- Highlights
- Natural Blonde
The Best Purple Shampoo Brands to Choose From
1. Biolage ColorLast Purple Shampoo
for Brass and Warm Yellow tones
Achieve 2.5x smoother and 3x stronger hair with Biolage ColorLast Purple Shampoo for brassy hair. It is infused with Fig and Orchid. Biolage is proud of its vegan formula, Paraben-free and no animal-derived by products. Get its maximum results with the help of Biolage ColorLast Purple Conditioner. Hydrating the hair is important when caring for color-treated hair.
2. Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo
for Brassy Blonde and Gray hair
Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo for gray hair has antioxidant-rich Green Tea extract with UV protection that protects hair from fading and boosts its vibrancy. It also has a Bio-advanced Peptide Complex that repairs the hair by eliminating frizz and adding shine after every use. Pair it with Joico Color Balance Purple Conditioner for best results.
3. Kenra Brightening Shampoo
for Blonde, Gray and Silver hair
Instantly brighten and tone your blonde with Kenra Brightening Shampoo. It prevents oil build up to reduce frequent hair washing. This daily color maintenance increases hair brightness up to 80% and hair manageability up to 20%.
4. Matrix So Silver Shampoo
for Blonde and Silver Hair
It is a professional clarifying shampoo that neutralizes brassy warmth and eliminates dul yellow tones. While your purple shampoo for blonde hair is Matrix So Silver that illuminates highlights and and boosts vibrance for color-treated and natural hair ranging from grey to white.
5. Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo
for Brassy, Lightened, Color-treated or Natural Hair
Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo has AntiFade Complex that protects the hair from the distorting effects of heat styling. It is professionally equipped with UV protection and Vitamin E that fights the destructing environmental factors. It has the alluring scents of Pear, Rose, and Sandalwood
6. RedKen Color Extend Blondage
for full or ombre blonde hair
This award-winning hair care has a universal benefit for blonde hair is it can tone, strengthen, and can even brighten light shades. RedKen Color Extend Blondage has a Triple Acid Protein Complex that fortifies the hair for less chances of breakage.
7. BLONDME Tone Enhancing Shampoo
for cool blondes
BLONDME Tone Enhancing Shampoo gently cleanses the and repairs hair and scalp while toning down the unwanted Yellow tones. It has Integrated Bonding Technology helps to create new bonds while the cool purple pigments maintain a fresh, cool blonde result. Its formulation is free of SLS/SLE and Sulfate.
How To Use Purple Shampoo
While Purple Shampoo cleanses and protects the hair the same ordinary shampoos do, some are still confused on how often they should use a purple shampoo. You need to take note that you should not use purple shampoo everyday but must use it only once to twice a week only or less frequently depending on the result that you are trying to achieve. Too much use can reciprocate the expected results. Check the guide below:
- Warm Blondes: Wait 1-3 minutes before rinsing
- Neutral Blondes: Wait 3-5 minutes before rinsing
- Cool Blondes: Wait 5-15 minutes before rinsing
Aside from simple washing, there are more factors than can damage your color-treated hair where the sunlight is the first and foremost, chlorine used in swimming pools, minerals in your hair, and more. Purple Shampoo should become a regular part of your hair care routine especially if you have light, color-treated hair. This is not only good for a one-time use but it can be your most reliable hair maintenance in preserving your color-treated hair or natural blonde.