Purple shampoo doesn't offer instant results; it takes several uses, often 2-3 times a week, to see noticeable toning, with results depending on your hair's porosity, initial color, and how long you leave it in (2-5 minutes usually). For quick fixes, you might see a difference in one use, but sustained cool tones come from consistent, strategic application, not daily washing, to prevent dryness or purple tinting.
Some people get discouraged when they don't immediately see results from the shampoo. However, purple shampoo doesn't provide the instant results that products like hair dye are famous for. In fact, it's common for it to take several treatments to see a real change in your hair color.
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.
Nope. Purple shampoo is meant for toning blondes in between appointments, it has no lightening power whatsoever. The only way to lighten your dark brown colored hair is with a bleach, or growing it out if your natural color is lighter.
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.
How to use purple shampoo
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.
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.
When using purple shampoo, you don't technically have to use a regular shampoo alongside it. However, if you take the double cleanse approach, Devin Graciano, hair stylist and head of product development at Goldie Locks says the best approach is to first use a regular shampoo and then follow up with the purple shampoo.
At its core, purple shampoo is a specially pigmented cleanser meticulously designed for blondes to actively neutralize and powerfully eliminate unwanted brassy, yellow undertones.
How to fix orange hair
Blondes: Maintain bright, icy tones and neutralize yellow. Highlighted Brunettes: Keep highlighted hair looking fresh and prevent brassiness. Balayage/Ombré: Preserve the dimension and vibrancy of your color. Anyone with Lightened or Bleached Hair: Help correct any unwanted warmth, even if you're not fully blonde.
This is completely up to you and your desired look. In general, we recommend applying a purple shampoo every hair wash (once to twice a week) and alternating between a purple conditioner and your usual conditioner in between washes. However, this frequency can be adjusted based on your toning preferences.
Unlike hair dye, purple shampoo is not permanent. The purple pigments sit on the hair cuticle and do not enter the hair fiber.
How to Maintain Blonde Hair:
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.
Color Theory Magic: Purple Power
If you're looking to neutralize yellow hair color and achieve a cooler, ashier blonde look, color theory is about to become your secret weapon. Remember: purple sits opposite yellow on the color wheel, which means it cancels out those warm brassy tones like actual magic.
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.
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.
What are the worst shampoos for hair loss?
The effects of purple shampoo don't last forever, but they can make a noticeable difference in your hair's tone for a few washes, 2-5 shampoos. If your hair is more porous like bleached, damaged, or naturally dry hair, the violet pigments can cling longer, sometimes lingering for up to a week.
How can I fix my orange hair color at home?
Renee is setting the record straight, because using the wrong products won't save your blonde. Purple shampoo can help maintain your tone, but it won't replace what a professional toner does post-colour. Want your blonde to last longer and stay fresh? You need both, used at the right time.