What is the difference between purple shampoo and blue shampoo?

Author: Mrs. Danika Pouros II  |  Last update: Sunday, July 20, 2025

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.

What is better, purple or blue?

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.

When should I start using blue shampoo?

If red, copper, or orange undertones become visible in your hair naturally, making it look brassy, you should absolutely include a blue shampoo in your hair care routine. But if it isn't a common problem, you might opt out of using it, or wash your hair with such a shampoo only from time to time.

What happens if you use blue shampoo on blonde hair?

If you're a darker blonde with orange tones, blue shampoo neutralises orange tones within blonde hair, banishing brassiness. Perfect for brunettes turned blonde converts, whether you've gone ombre, balayage, highlights or gone all the way.

What is the downside of purple shampoo?

Did you know that most purple shampoos can make your hair too dry? It's designed to remove brassiness from your hair, but if used incorrectly they can leave a buildup on your strands that makes them brittle and dull.

Blue Shampoo VS Purple Shampoo on Light Brown Dark Blonde Hair

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.

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.

Should I get blue or 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.

Can you leave blue shampoo on too long?

For a stronger effect, you can leave it in your hair for three minutes before rinsing. But don't leave your shampoo for too long, it might darken your hair too much!

What does blue shampoo do to grey hair?

Neutralizes brassy tones in all shades and adds silvery brightness to gray hair.

Is it better to put blue shampoo on wet or dry hair?

If your hair is resistant to color, using blue shampoo on dry hair may be more effective. If your hair takes color well, do a strand test on dry hair. If you rinse it out and end up with unwanted blue tones, you may be better off applying the shampoo to wet hair in the future.

What is the best blue shampoo?

Best for Blondes: Davines Heart of Glass Silkening Shampoo, $38. Best for Fast Results: Eva NYC Brass to Sass Brunette Shampoo, $14. Best for Hair Repair: Virtue ColorKick De-Brassing Shampoo, $44. Best for Gray Hair: Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo, $75.

Will blue shampoo darken my hair?

Using too much blue shampoo too often can leave you with a darker shade than you desire. One way to avoid over-use is to alternate blue shampoo with your regular go-to shampoo. The blue pigment in blue shampoo can be a powerful surface toner.

Can I mix blue and purple shampoo together?

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.

Is purple or blue better for GREY hair?

Purple shampoo has been used for decades by hairdressers, mostly to help tone and neutralize blonde and gray hair, getting rid of brassy or yellow tones for an overall more cool-toned look.

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.

How many washes does it take for blue shampoo to work?

Typically, washing with blue shampoo results in an instant brightening effect that can eliminate orange tones for 2-3 washes.

What happens if you leave blue hair dye in too long?

In case you do leave hair dye on your hair for too long rather than rinsing it at the recommended time, you could end up with a hair color that is much darker than the color you were hoping for. Even worse, your hair might end up brittle, over-processed and unnatural looking.

What happens if you overuse blue shampoo?

Overuse of blue shampoo on fine or dry hair can lead to unwanted color buildup or dryness, so spacing out applications is key. Long or thick hair: Frequency once per week or as needed.

Why is my hair still orange after blue shampoo?

There's two reasons why your hair is still brassy after toning or colouring. Either the undertone of the toner/colour is wrong, or the product is too light for you.

What hair needs purple shampoo?

To neutralize yellow undertones, you need to use the opposite of yellow on the color wheel, and purple is exactly that. This is why purple shampoo is a great choice for blonde hair but not necessarily recommended for other colors. Understanding this can help you make the best choices for your hair care routine.

What is green shampoo used for?

Green shampoo, like blue and purple shampoo, refers to the color of the product and it's neutralizing capabilities. You could think of this shampoo as a color corrector for your hair. Just like in makeup, you would use a green color corrector over any red acne scarring, orange over blue patches of skin etc.

What are the big 3 for thinning hair?

Most of the time when people are chatting about the big 3 for hair loss, they are referring to Minoxidil, Finasteride, and Ketoconazole (Nizoral) shampoo. Although, there are some who feel like the third component of the big 3 should be microneedling in place of Ketoconazole shampoo.

What shampoo to avoid with thin hair?

When choosing a shampoo, check the ingredient list and stay away from the following hair products.
  • Shampoos containing sulphates. ...
  • Shampoos containing parabens. ...
  • Shampoos containing formaldehyde. ...
  • Shampoos containing DMDM hydantoin. ...
  • Shampoos containing alcohol. ...
  • Shampoos containing selenium sulphide.

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