Purple shampoo starts working almost immediately and shows results in 1-3 uses, but how long you leave it on (2-10+ mins) and how often you use it (weekly to bi-weekly) depends on your hair's lightness, porosity, and desired tone; for quick fixes, 2-3 mins might suffice, while stronger toning for very brassy hair can take longer, always following with deep conditioner to prevent dryness.
Typically, you should use purple shampoo about once a week or whenever you begin to notice brassy undertones in your hair.
The Dangers of Purple Shampoo: If you leave it on too long, it WILL make your blonde darker. We never suggest more than three minutes max, unless you dilute it with your daily shampoo. If you use it as you're only shampoo, your hair WILL dry out and become brittle.
If your hair has mild yellowing, just one wash can make a visible difference. For deeper brassiness, it may take a few uses over a week to fully neutralize warm tones. The key is to let the shampoo sit for the right amount of time, like 3 to 5 minutes for maintenance or up to 10 minutes for stronger toning.
Over time, after several washes, the hair starts to slide back towards the yellow underneath. Purple, being the opposite of yellow on the color wheel, neutralizes the yellow and slows the process down a bit. Purple shampoo only works on the lightest of blonde colors. It doesn't affect brown hair at all.
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.
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.
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.
If your bleached hair looks more yellow than orange, you'll need a purple toning shampoo to neutralise the yellow. If your hair's turned orange, you'll need a blue toning shampoo to tone the brassiness and get rid of the orange.
Purple shampoo should be applied in the shower or during a hair wash. While your hair is wet, apply the shampoo and lather it onto your hair.
Step-by-Step:
Stick to once or twice a week.
Wondering how often to use purple shampoo? 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.
Bleached hair is very porous and can soak up purple shampoo or conditioner in a heartbeat. If you leave it on for too long and don't like the result, don't panic. Simply wash your hair again with a clarifying shampoo and it should dull down the silver-tone from even the best purple shampoo for silver hair.
So if you bleached your hair and it came out more yellow, you'll likely need to use a purple toner before going in with your purple shampoo to neutralize the yellow color. If your hair is truly orange, you'll need to use a blue toner and a blue shampoo to tone the brassiness and work to get rid of the orange color.
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.
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.
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.
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.
However, it will not tone hair that has been lifted with color. So purple shampoo will only work on hair that has been highlighted with lightener, not hair color. The brighter the blonde, the better purple shampoo works. 3- Purple shampoo will not damage hair.
What are the worst shampoos for hair loss?
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.
How to get rid of yellow and orange tones in your hair
If the bleach isn't left on long enough to lift these pigments fully, you'll be left with a brassy, orange-toned mane. (And no, leaving your bleach on for longer than recommended isn't the solution—that'll just end up damaging your strands).
Use 10 Vol for tone down coloring and level-on-level coloring. Use 20 Vol if you are aiming for a 1-2 level lift (and if you have grey hair that needs covering). Use 30 Vol if you are aiming for a 2-3 level lift. Use 40 Vol if you are aiming for a 3 level lift and if the hair is particularly difficult to color.