Yes, purple shampoo effectively neutralizes yellow and brassy tones in gray hair by depositing violet pigments, which are opposite yellow on the color wheel, creating a cooler, brighter, and cleaner silver appearance, making it an essential product for toning gray hair. It works by counteracting those unwanted warm hues caused by heat, sun, pollution, or product buildup, but remember it covers the yellow rather than truly removing the source, so consistent use or a clarifying shampoo may be needed for buildup.
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.
Yes -- purple shampoo can make gray and white hair look noticeably better when used correctly. It neutralizes unwanted yellow or brassy tones that dull the natural coolness of gray/white hair, restoring clarity, brightness, and a cleaner silver appearance.
My hair has turned yellow, how can I fix it?
You can go up to 15 minutes next time if you notice little to no difference after drying your hair. If you have platinum, gray, or silver hair, you can leave the purple shampoo on for up to 30 minutes, depending on how brassy or discolored your hair is.
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.
Use a Purple Shampoo and Conditioner
Combat the brassy tones in your white hair by using a purple shampoo or conditioner. These products deposit purple pigments to balance out the yellow. You can use either or both at the same time. Purple conditioner typically has a more subtle effect.
There are several reasons why clients notice their grey or white hair developing yellow tones. “Grey hair can pick up a yellow tone from the surrounding environment, hard water, cigarette smoke, the sun and pigment in hair products,” explains Claire Egerton of C.E Hair, East Wittering.
Toner. The first option is to use a toner. This is a second color process that adds the neutralizing pigment (purple) to the hair to cancel out the unwanted yellow.
If your hair is blond, grey, or white, use an apple cider vinegar rinse or a baking soda-hydrogen peroxide paste. Once you get the yellow out, you can prevent it from returning with a few changes to your personal care routine.
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.
Use Color-Depositing Products
In the same way you would use a purple shampoo to neutralize brassiness in blonde hair, it can also make silver hair retain its crisp hue by neutralizing yellow tones.
So, even though purple shampoo is something that's marketed towards blondes, it's something worth investing in if your hair is gray or silver. That way you can ensure your hair stays looking bright and fresh without any of the dulling brassiness or yellowing that can occur.
How to get rid of yellow and orange tones in your hair
Instead of combatting yellow hair with a messy blue dye that just masks the problem, you can use a pre-shampoo mineral remover. Our go-to is Color Wow Dream Filter (the reviews speak for themselves!), which removes the minerals and metals from your hair, restoring your gorgeous shade of gray.
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.
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.
Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo| Neutralizes Brass & Yellow Tones | For Blonde, Silver, Gray & Highlighted Hair.
Apple cider vinegar not only lightens hair color to diminish brassy tones but also acts as a natural cleanser, removing product buildup and hard water residues. You can make an apple cider vinegar hair rinse for gray hair at home. Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with one cup of water.
The predominant cause of yellow hair, or xanthotrichia, has been determined to be exogenous chemicals. Some of the compounds implicated in yellow hair discoloration include selenium sulfide 2.5% (anti-dandruff) shampoo and dihydroxyacetone (found in self-tanners).
How often can you use purple shampoo on gray hair? It is widely recommended only using purple shampoo on gray once a week.
For a youthful look at 60, opt for warm, soft, blended colors like honey blonde, caramel, warm auburn, or chocolate brown with caramel highlights, which add brightness and soften features, avoiding harsh, solid dark colors or platinum blonde. Adding subtle highlights or lowlights creates dimension, and embracing natural gray with a silver or platinum shade can also be very modern and flattering, especially with a soft, layered cut.