Yes, hairdressers use purple shampoo and highly recommend it for clients with blonde, gray, or silver hair to neutralize unwanted yellow and brassy tones, but they often advise using professional-grade formulas sparingly at home to avoid over-toning or drying hair, preferring in-salon toners for precise, long-lasting color correction.
Your hairdresser likely advised against purple shampoo to prevent dryness, dulling, uneven color (ashy/muddy), or over-toning (purple/blue tint), as it's a temporary fix not for everyday cleaning, and can interfere with future coloring by creating buildup, especially if your hair is very porous or already a bright, cool blonde. They might prefer professional toners, moisturizing treatments, or detox shampoos for better, healthier results.
The main downside of purple shampoo is that overuse can lead to hair becoming dull, dry, brassy, or even tinted purple/ashy because it deposits pigment and can strip moisture, so it should be used as a treatment (once or twice a week) rather than a daily shampoo, with plenty of conditioning afterward to counteract dryness. It's a toner, not a cleanser, and excessive use can build up, making hair darker or harder for stylists to work with.
Blondes and Silver Hair: Stick with purple shampoo to keep yellow tones at bay. Brunettes with Highlights or Lightened Hair: Lean on blue shampoo to neutralize orange and red tones.
Use the purple shampoo about once a week, not every 6--7 shampoos. Since you wash your hair 1--2 times weekly, that means using it every wash.
A bleach bath typically lifts hair 1 to 3 levels, offering a gentler lift than traditional bleaching by diluting bleach with shampoo and applying it to wet hair, making it great for removing toner, correcting color, or subtle lightening, though results vary based on your starting hair color, porosity, and developer strength.
When You Notice Brassy Tones. If your blonde, lightened, or gray hair starts to show yellow or brassy undertones, it's time to reach for purple shampoo. This product is specifically designed to neutralize those warm tones, helping to restore your hair's cool, vibrant color.
It is true that today many hairdressers use high-lift colours instead of bleach; however it always depends on the base colour of the client's hair. If for example your own hair colour is a light hazel brown or dark blonde, high-lift colours will lighten this hair colour easily.
As we hinted at above, the undertones that appear in your hair will help you determine whether you should try blue shampoo or purple shampoo. If you have brassy orange or even red tones, blue shampoo is your best bet. However, blue pigment won't help with yellow undertones. The reverse is true for yellow undertones.
The truth is: purple shampoo itself doesn't cause hair loss, but the wrong formula or overuse might contribute to other issues that lead to breakage or increased shedding. Here's what to watch out for: Dryness from harsh ingredients or over-toning. Buildup on the scalp if the product isn't rinsed properly.
Using it more than recommended can dry out your strands or make your color look dull. One to two times per week is typically enough to keep brass away and your hair looking fresh. Always pair with a purple conditioner. Purple shampoo tones, but it can leave hair feeling slightly dry if used alone.
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While the violet tones in purple shampoos can help bring blonde back to life, it does this by adding more toner; in effect, covering up the mineral coating on the hair cuticle. The more you shampoo with tone-correcting products, the more buildup you create — and the darker your blonde looks.
Enhances cool tones
If you have platinum, silver, or icy blonde hair, purple shampoo can help keep those shades looking crisp and vibrant. By neutralizing warmth, it enhances the cool hues in your hair color. The result is a salon-fresh finish without the need for extra toning services.
Brassy tones in dyed or bleached hair can fade over time, but they often persist as the underlying warm natural pigments re-emerge with the fading of the dye or toning treatments.
Keratin Treatment:
One of the most popular salon treatments for achieving silky hair is the keratin treatment. This intensive procedure involves infusing the hair with keratin—a protein that's naturally found in hair—to strengthen and smooth the hair shaft.
The hardest hair colors to remove are typically black and vivid reds, due to their dense pigment load and strong staining power, often requiring multiple bleaching sessions; while vivid blues and purples are also very difficult, especially cool-toned ones, because their small dye molecules deeply bond to porous hair, making them stubborn to lift.
The "prettiest" blonde hair color is subjective, but popular choices include Golden Blonde (warm, sun-kissed), Platinum Blonde (icy, glamorous), Ash Blonde (cool, gray/silver tones), Honey Blonde (rich, warm), and Champagne Blonde (cool, elegant, pearly), with the best choice depending on your skin tone and desired vibe. Techniques like balayage and highlights add dimension, while "bronde" blends blonde and brunette for a natural look.
But, as with many hair products, it's a good idea to use purple shampoo in moderation. Over-use or leaving it on too long can result in your hair looking dull with a purple tinge. Use it just enough to counteract the brassy undertones in your hair.
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If you had permanent/box dye put on your hair at one time, this can prevent it from lifting the same as the rest of your hair. If parts of your hair had previously been lightened while others hadn't, this can also cause the color to lighten unevenly and cause banding.
Diluted household bleach has been safely used for many years to help treat skin infections. A small amount of bleach added to the bath is recommended for conditions such as eczema, impetigo (school sores), boils, and infected wounds, to help reduce bacteria on the skin and improve the severity of disease.
The salon price to dye your hair can fall between $75-$200+ depending on the coloring technique used, the salon, the experience level of your stylist, and your current hair situation.