Keep in mind that purple shampoo does not replace your regular shampoo and should only be used once or twice a week. Doss warns that there is such a thing as too much purple. “When you eliminate too much yellow, it visually ends up darker and a lot of people don't want it to look darker,” she says.
Can you overuse purple shampoo? Yes. If you overuse it, it will give your hair a purple, blue, or even pink tint, if that is what you want... no problem. However, if you just want to neutralize the yellowing then only use it when you notice the yellow returning. It can also be very drying.
How often can you use purple shampoo on gray hair? It is widely recommended only using purple shampoo on gray once a week. If you only wash your hair once a week, I'd move to only using it once a month.
The good news is silver shine pigments are temporary it last one or two washes. If you don't want to wait that long, there are a few steps that you can take to remove the purple pigment from your hair.
Purple shampoo can be drying, so be sure to follow up with a purple conditioner and/or your favorite color-protecting hair mask to restore lost moisture.
Don't use on very dry hair
It is important to get the hair into a healthy condition before using purple shampoo because hair is more porous when it is dry and those dry areas can absorb more product which could create unevenness in tone and darken those areas more. This in turn will create a patchy purple effect.
If you leave purple shampoo in your hair for 30 minutes, the risk of over-toning increases significantly. While purple shampoo is designed to neutralize brassy or yellow tones, leaving it on for an extended period can lead to overly cool or even purple-tinted hair, especially for those with light or porous hair.
Typically, you'll want to incorporate purple shampoo into your haircare routine up to twice a week in place of your usual shampoo for color-treated hair. Pair a corresponding purple shampoo and conditioner together to maximize the brass-busting benefits.
Brass usually shows up as yellow or orange tones in blonde hair and orange or red tones in brunette hair. Brassy hair is caused by an overabundance of warm pigments in your hair, usually caused by bleaching and the hair coloring process.
Purple shampoo is for already bleached hair, so if you're hoping to lighten brown hair with purple shampoo, you'll be disappointed. This is all down to the fact that purple shampoo isn't lightening. Instead, it brightens blondes by canceling out yellow tones, which just happen to be opposite purple on the color wheel.
Unless the shampoo is specifically designed to be used as a daily toner, applying purple shampoo every time you wash your hair is typically discouraged because it can begin to eliminate too much yellow from your hair.
Kristin Ess The One Shampoo
You can find the purple shampoo at a variety of retailers for under $15, making it an excellent budget-friendly choice. And, despite the more affordable price point, the packaging still feels high-quality and looks great in your shower.
On the flip side, if you leave the shampoo on for too long or don't rinse it out thoroughly, those violet pigments can overstay their welcome, leaving your hair with a grungy, grayish-purple tint. Not exactly the icy blonde look you were going for, right?
This might be the case for some people, but there's also the risk of more porous, damaged sections of the hair (the ends) absorbing more pigment than the newer hair towards the root. So, to avoid a patchy purple effect, use the Blonde Assure Color Toning Purple Shampoo as advised: on wet hair.
Purple shampoo only works on levels 8+ . If you are not blonde enough, your purple shampoo will not tone correctly.
Nexxus Blonde Assure Purple Shampoo is our favorite purple shampoo that we tested. Every time we used it, our hair looked noticeably brighter, and the shampoo effectively cleaned our scalp while leaving our hair nourished and moisturized.
If your hair is brown, you may need to bleach it more than once before you apply the grey dye. It's important you get your hair as light as possible before you attempt to turn it grey – this will help ensure a more even tone and vibrant, all-over colour.
One downside of purple shampoo is that overuse can lead to a purple or violet tint, especially if left on for too long. It's important to follow usage instructions to avoid this issue and to ensure the best results for your hair.
To solve the problem of having lilac-tinged hair, the best way to use purple shampoo is by applying one day per week or when you start to notice brassy tones. Unless you have white hair or gray hair, you shouldn't leave the purple shampoo on for longer than 15 minutes at a time.
Let the shampoo sit for two to five minutes depending on how brassy your hair is and how ashy you like your color, then rinse thoroughly. The difference between two minutes and four minutes with purple shampoo is a big one so keep an eye out. It may be helpful to set a timer so you don't go over.
Keep in mind that purple shampoo does not replace your regular shampoo and should only be used once or twice a week. Doss warns that there is such a thing as too much purple. “When you eliminate too much yellow, it visually ends up darker and a lot of people don't want it to look darker,” she says.
Level 2–3 is extremely dark brown, as level 1 is black. Level 9–10 is very pale blonde. Color does not lift color; only bleach can make your hair lighter.
And there's no need to panic if you overdo it. Think of it as a temporary stain – a good clarifying shampoo should re-balance over-toned hair. We've already mentioned how overusing purple shampoo can result in a dull finish, which is why you'll need alternative in-shower products for your non-purple wash days.