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.
So, does purple shampoo damage your hair? No, it's not inherently bad for your hair, but it is definitely ruining your color. "Color-treated blonde hair is super light and it shows dark stains easily. But when hair is chemically-lightened (“lifted”) it can be dehydrated and extremely porous.
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.
Purple shampoo shouldn't be used every single wash - usually I recommend every 3-4 washes (sometimes even less if a warmer tone is something you prefer). Purple shampoo can cause the blonde to be dull and dry, and can cause a pigment build up if you're using it too often.
It contains purple pigments that counteract yellow hues on the color wheel. When you use purple shampoo, it can make your hair appear slightly darker for a few reasons: Pigment Deposit: The purple pigments can temporarily coat your hair, adding a darker hue, especially if your hair is porous or damaged.
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.
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.
Your purple shampoo should be implemented into your blonde hair care routine to keep your hair looking bright and healthy. Purple shampoo does not replace your regular shampoo as they have different functions.
Let the Shampoo Sit
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.
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.
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.
Too much purple tone in these products can cause the hair to look dull and over toned. The more orange the hair throws off from the shampoo lightening the natural hair, the more the public use the toning shampoo to tone out the warmth, resulting in over toned, murky, green/khaki, dull looking blonde hair.
Could I just put it in my hair and sleep on it to make it more effective? Zoe's answer: Leaving purple shampoo in your hair for longer than the recommended time is not always a good idea. The longer you leave it, the more pigments will be deposited on your hair and they could even stain it permanently.
Sulphate-rich shampoos are ideal for stripping hair since they help to release the colour - especially with dark or vibrant colours. These include clarifying or deep cleansing shampoo or anti-dandruff shampoo.
Generally, he says, the range is somewhere between once a day and once a week. “If you have very fine or thin hair, you may need to wash more often, while those with thick or curly hair may need to wash less often,” says Dr Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board certified dermatologist and hair health expert.
Long-Term Effects
Over time, even the gentler formulas of hair color shampoos can lead to cumulative damage. Prolonged use may result in weakened hair strands, reduced thickness, and increased porosity.
Purple shampoo is a toning shampoo specially designed for blonde hair. It features crushed violet pigments that neutralize style-ruining brassy and yellow tones. On the color wheel, purple is the opposite of yellow, which is why purple pigments cancel out brassy, yellow tones.
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.
If you waited 72 hours before washing your hair after it was bleached, you could use the purple shampoo the next time you shower. If it hasn't been up to 72 hours, shy away from the purple shampoo until your next wash day, so it doesn't potentially ruin your hair tone.
"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.
Clairol Shimmer Lights is our favorite drugstore option because it promises to enhance your color and tone down brassiness—a tall order for a budget-friendly product. We love that it works on both naturally gray and dyed hair—plus it revitalizes blonde and silver highlights for a shiny, healthy-looking mane.