Blondes aren't the only ones who can benefit from purple-tinted shampoo, though. Korab tells us that people with silver or gray hair can also use purple-tinted washes in effort to address unwanted yellowness post-hair treatment.
Purple Shampoo Purple shampoos are the best shampoos for gray hair turning yellow, as purple is the opposite of yellow on the color wheel. A great purple option is BTWCo's purple shampoo & conditioner. It's very gentle, has a light fragrance, and really makes silver hair shine.
The blue pigment cancels out orange, and the purple pigment cancels out yellow. All this talk about color comes down to two important points. Blue shampoo removes orange tones from brunette or darker hair, while the purple shampoo is a great option when yellow tones appear in blonde or light-colored hair.
Grey hair is more wiry in nature, so I still recommend purple shampoo over blue shampoo if you have grey hair - the reason for this is that blue shampoo tends to have more drying formulas than purple toners, so regardless if you use shampoo, conditioner, or mask, they will make grey hair more prone to frizz.
Neutralization of Yellow Tones: Silver hair can sometimes develop yellow or brassy tones over time. Purple shampoo works by neutralizing these yellow hues, so it may help to maintain the brightness of silver hair.
"You want to stop using it two weeks before any lightening service. The purple shampoo can cause build up making the hair look dull and darker if overused." This makes the lightening process more difficult to create a seamless blend.
A blue rinse is a dilute hair dye used to reduce the yellowed appearance of grey or white hair. The blue rinse gained popularity after Jean Harlow's appearance in the 1930 film Hell's Angels.
You can, but it depends on your hair color and the tones you're dealing with. This can be a good option for hair with multiple tones. For instance, brunettes with blonde highlights might mix a small amount of blue shampoo with regular purple shampoo to address both brassy and yellow tones.
Purple shampoo, also known as silver shampoo, is a cleansing product formulated to neutralise those unwanted brassy tones in your hair. This shampoo is made for anyone with light hair (including blonde, platinum, gray, white, pastel, or highlighted), whether your hair is naturally light or colored in a salon.
Expert colourists recommend a darker shade of dye for your roots and a lighter shade, that matches more or less your natural hair colour, for the rest of your hair. Start by applying the darker dye to the roots up until an inch or so down. Then, use the lighter shade for the rest of your hair.
No two purple shampoos are made the same. Some are almost too potent, risking a purplish tinge after just a minute of sitting on locks, taking hair extra-ashy. Others may be too weak, meaning they need 10 minutes or more to make a noticeable difference to brassy tones if they manage to do anything at all.
There are many reasons why platinum shampoo is a far better alternative to purple shampoo. First of all, platinum shampoo can make your hair look incredibly shiny. It's also less likely than purple shampoo to cause your hair to become dry and brittle.
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.
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.
Red: a bold and daring choice that can create a stunning contrast with grey hair. This shade is perfect for those with warm skin tones. Purple: a unique, eye-catching shade that can add a pop of colour to grey hair. This hue is perfect for those with cool skin tones.
Purple shampoo deposits violet pigments onto the hair's surface to help offset yellow tones. It's most commonly recommended for those with cool-toned blonde, gray, or silver strands but can also help warmer blondes strike the ideal balance of warm but not brassy.
Purple shampoo is the key to maintaining ash blonde hair. This is due to a little secret called color theory. Purple and yellow sit on opposite sides of the color wheel. This means violet hues counteract brassy tones.
Our top pick for the best purple shampoo is Amika Bust Your Brass Blonde Purple Shampoo. This shampoo features a deep and vibrant purple tone that effectively tones brassiness with just one wash.
"If you have blonde hair, you more likely want purple shampoo, and any darker or brunette shades will most likely require blue," Leake explains. If your hair is highlighted or somewhere between blonde and brunette, Leake recommends inspecting the tone you want to remove and determining if it's more yellow or orange.
While you should stick with purple or blue shampoo most of the time, you do have the option to use both if you have multiple undertones. But a good rule of thumb is that a blue shampoo is best for dark hair and brunettes; and purple shampoo is better for blondes, silver or gray hair.
Whether you're taking your first steps to embrace your gray strands or just want a way to maintain your platinum locks in between touch-up appointments, blue shampoo will get the job done. It's cost-effective and only takes 3-7 minutes once or twice a month — if only all beauty hacks could be this easy!
Known for drawing out moisture from your hair and scalp, continuous exposure to salt water can make gray hair color lose any shine it may have. It also strips away the natural oils from your scalp while making it appear dull and lifeless.
This shampoo/silver toner for hair is just as effective on grey hair as it is on platinum and other light blonde shades which can suffer from the same brassy tones.
Nicola recommends “white and platinum if you'd like to keep your look natural, or consider blue and ash tones if you're after a more edgy grey.” For something slightly less bold, weaving iridescent, pearly shades through a grey base also gives hair a low-maintenance lift.