What does silver shampoo do?

Author: Juanita Bernier  |  Last update: Monday, November 10, 2025

Both silver and purple shampoo are designed to neutralise yellow and brassy tones in blonde, silver and grey hair. If you've used either one, you'll have noticed that bright purple hue when you pop the lid and squeeze. Silver shampoo and purple shampoo use purple pigment to lighten and brighten.

When should you use silver shampoo?

All you need to know about Silver Shampoo. When hair is lightened or turns grey, its natural warm undertones are exposed, creating an undesirable yellow hue. Banish brassy tones between salon appointments and maintain your vibrant blonde or silver colour with a purple pigmented shampoo.

What is the downside of purple shampoo?

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.

What's the difference between purple and silver shampoo?

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.

What are the benefits of silver shampoo?

The shampoo gives gray and white hair a much more vibrant and brilliant appearance while preventing undesired yellow reflections in such hair colors. You can use the Silver Shampoo if you are looking to get rid of the undesired brassy reflections.

HOW TO USE PURPLE SHAMPOO | ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED! | ERICA HENRY JOHNSTON

What happens if I leave purple shampoo in my hair for 30 minutes?

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.

How long can I leave silver shampoo in my hair?

Generally, you should leave silver shampoo on for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing it out. If unwanted tones are not corrected after the first use, you can leave the shampoo on a bit longer the next time. But be careful not to overdo it, as this can lead to excessive purple tones in your hair.

Will silver shampoo fix yellow hair?

Both silver and purple shampoo are designed to neutralise yellow and brassy tones in blonde, silver and grey hair. If you've used either one, you'll have noticed that bright purple hue when you pop the lid and squeeze. Silver shampoo and purple shampoo use purple pigment to lighten and brighten.

How often should I use L'Oreal Silver shampoo?

You don't need to use silver shampoo every time you wash your locks. Instead, alternate it with one of our colour protect shampoos, such as the Elvive Colour Protect shampoo. A good rule of thumb is to use purple shampoo every other wash.

What will silver shampoo do to brown hair?

Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo and Conditioner

The color-depositing properties will neutralize the brassy tones and brighten your hair with a cool finish.

What is the best shampoo for thinning hair?

Top shampoos for thinning hair, at a glance
  • Best Overall: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, $15.
  • Best for Thickening: Kérastase Densifique Thickening Shampoo, $44.
  • Best for Damaged Hair: Vegamour Hydr-8 Shampoo, $38.
  • Best for Volume: Bumble and Bumble Thickening Volume Shampoo, $37.

Why does my hair look darker after purple shampoo?

Overuse of purple shampoo. Purple shampoo builds up on the hair and starts to make blonde look darker over time. The best advice I can give if this has happened to you is to use a clarifying shampoo.

What happens if you use blonde shampoo on brown hair?

Surprisingly, blonde shampoo also can enhance the look of light to medium brown hair, eliminating any brassy tones. While brunettes don't typically experience as much brassiness as blondes, purple shampoos can still help maintain a cooler tone and enhance the richness and depth of brown hair.

How do you get the best results from silver shampoo?

After wetting your hair with lukewarm water, massage a small amount of Silver Shampoo. Make sure that you cover each strand of your hair equally for the best results possible. You can leave the shampoo in your hair (like you would a hair mask) to soak up the benefits.

What happens if you use too much purple shampoo?

Over-toning: Purple shampoo is designed to neutralize yellow or brassy tones in blonde or gray hair. Using it excessively can result in over-toning, leaving your hair with a dull, ashy, or even slightly purple tint.

What's better than purple shampoo?

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.

What's the difference between Loreal silver and purple shampoo?

A purple shampoo like the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo is best used on light-colored hair (like blonde or silver hair) that needs toning, while silver shampoo like the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Silver Care Sulfate Free Shampoo with Peptides is best for those with silver and gray hair who ...

What does brassy hair look like?

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.

Should I wear gloves when using purple shampoo?

After all, you'd never apply hair dye or bleach with your bare hands! Even if you use a less pigmented toning shampoo like our EVERYDAY CLEAN BLONDE DAMAGE REWIND SHAMPOO, we'd always say that gloves are the safest option for avoiding purple shampoo stains.

What is the difference between silver and purple shampoo?

Silver shampoo is designed for those with gray or silver hair, and as silver is opposite yellow on the color wheel. This shampoo fights brassy tones of yellow that can appear in your gray locks, and take away from your color. Thirdly, purple shampoo is used for blonde hair or those with blonde highlights.

Can I tone my hair again if it's still yellow?

One option is to re-bleach the roots to lift them to a lighter level before toning again. You need to get them to that very pale yellow - think the inside of a banana. This will help to ensure that your favourite toner can effectively neutralize any remaining yellow tones and match the rest of your hair perfectly.

Does L'Oreal purple shampoo turn your hair purple?

Far from turning your hair purple, these shampoos counteract brassy tones that present due to natural hair undertones, heat styling, sun and hard water. If you have lightened hair, toner will have been used to help get your hair to your desirable shade.

What is the difference between blue and purple shampoo?

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.

Do you use conditioner after silver shampoo?

Using silver shampoo 1-2 times a week helps your hair look healthier and more color-balanced. Before you start using silver shampoo, pick a product that best fits your hair type. Then, let the shampoo sit in your hair before rinsing it out and applying a conditioner!

Previous article
Why is my saliva white in the morning?
Next article
What are the incompatibilities of salicylic acid?