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Attention all bleach blondies that are looking to maintain your look. Here are all the tips and tricks for washing your hair with purple shampoo to keep your hair looking as fresh as it did when you came out of the salon. In this comprehensive guide, we answer all your pending questions on how to properly use purple shampoo and what steps to take to get the perfect toning effect you are looking for.
What is Purple Shampoo?
Purple shampoo differs from regular shampoo in that it has been formulated with purple or violet pigments that neutralise the yellow tones in your hair. These pigments help to counteract the brassy tones in your hair and leave you with cooler and brighter white to silver tones.
How Does Purple Shampoo Work?
Purple shampoo’s secret working is due to colour theory. Yellow and purple are opposite each other on the colour wheel so when these colours are mixed, they balance each other; creating a neutralised effect. Depending on how long you leave the purple-pigmented shampoo in will dictate the results. For example, if you leave it in for longer, you will end up with more silver-to-white effects versus if you leave it on for a couple of minutes, the brassy or yellow tones may still be visible but muted.
How to Use Purple Shampoo Properly
Here are the steps to using purple shampoo properly to get the exact look you would like:
1. Choose the Right Shampoo
Choosing a high-quality sulphate-free shampoo will be your best friend when it comes to toning your hair. Grabbing a blonde shampoo that is formulated with nourishing ingredients will also protect your recently bleached hair from breakage and support your hair follicles.
2. Test Patch
We always recommend doing a patch test when you are trying out a new product, this is because you could have an allergic reaction or the product could not deliver the desired results. You can also track the time you put the purple toning shampoo on your hair to know how long you should leave it on to get the toning effect you want.
3. Wet Your Hair
Once you know the product is what you are looking for, wet your hair thoroughly with lukewarm water. The heat will help open your hair cuticles and make it easier to absorb the effects.
4. Application
Apply a pea-sized amount of purple shampoo evenly throughout your hair, taking care to focus on the areas where you are brassier.
5. Massage and Rinse
Gently continue to massage the shampoo into your scalp and hair to allow for even distribution of the product. Leave the product on for 2-3 minutes if you are after a more neutral look. Whereas if you want your hair to have cooler tones, you can leave it on for up to 10 minutes. Once the desired look has been achieved, rinse your hair thoroughly.
6. Conditioning
As your hair has been recently chemically treated, it is important to have a nourishing and hydrating treatment to use after shampooing. You can incorporate a non-toning conditioner or use a toning conditioner for blonde hair for an added effect. If you want a deeper conditioning treatment that tones your blonde locks at the same time, we recommend using a blonde hair mask instead of a conditioner.
How Often Should You Use Purple Shampoo?
This is completely up to you and your desired look. In general, we recommend applying a purple shampoo every hair wash (once to twice a week) and alternating between a purple conditioner and your usual conditioner in between washes. However, this frequency can be adjusted based on your toning preferences. If you also find that your hair is looking more purple or silver than desired, you can always switch back to your hair care products without purple pigments to wash out the toning effects.
FAQs about Purple Shampoo
How long to leave purple shampoo in for?
This is dependent on what results you would like. For silver hair, leave it in for up to ten minutes, whereas if you are looking to neutralise the brassy or yellow tones, 2 to 3 minutes should be sufficient.
How long does purple shampoo take to fade?
This is dependent on your hair’s porosity levels, frequency of washing with the violet pigments shampoo and the product formulation. In general, it will fade subsequently if you stop using the shampoo and wash your hair with regular shampoo.
Does purple shampoo work on natural hair?
Purple shampoo works best on hair that has been bleached or highlighted as it is designed to counteract any brassiness. If you have naturally light blonder hair you may still see results, however, if your hair is darker it is likely you won't see results.
Does purple conditioner work the same as purple shampoo?
Whilst purple conditioner contains similar purple pigments as purple shampoo, each offers different benefits and is formulated to different strengths. Purple shampoos typically contain a more concentrated violet pigment formulation than purple conditioners as the two products are designed to be used together. If you want to get rid of the unwanted brassy tones and have cooler tones instead, we recommend using a purple shampoo followed up with a nourishing purple conditioner.
Can I mix purple shampoo with regular shampoo?
Yes you can! However, it isn't necessarily recommended or needed as it can dilute the purple pigments and may cause an undesirable reaction. Instead, if you want to reduce the purple pigments, it is best to alternate between purple shampoo and regular shampoo between washes as well as adjust the time that you leave the purple shampoo in for.
Can I use purple shampoo on red-dyed hair?
Purple shampoo has been designed to rid your hair of yellow or brassy tones, leaving you with luscious blonde locks. That is why if you use it on red hair it may affect how vibrant your red hair looks and could lead to undesired results. Instead, it is best to use colour-protection shampoos and conditioners that are specifically formulated to maintain red tones or colour-treated hair.
How soon can I use purple shampoo after balayage?
Balayage is the process by which highlights are hand-painted onto the hair to create a beautiful and natural-looking sun-kissed effect. Since your hair is faded into a lighter tone, it won't need purple shampoo right away and should hold its colour for some time. However, if you want to rid your hair of any yellow tones, it is best to wait at least 72 hours before you wash your hair with purple shampoo to give your hair time to set with the treatment.
