Yes, purple shampoo is a form of at-home toner designed to neutralize yellow and brassy tones in blonde, silver, or lightened hair, but it's for maintenance, not a full replacement for professional toning; it deposits purple pigment to cancel out unwanted warmth, keeping cool shades fresh between salon visits. While effective for keeping brassiness at bay and adding cool tones, it won't perform complex color corrections like a salon toner and can sometimes leave a slight lilac tint if left on too long.
Purple shampoo just basically helps to reinforce tone and minimize brass over time as you wash your hair, it's not designed to immediately tone your hair. Some people will mix it with a developer and use it as a toner, which can sometimes work, but it's not designed that way.
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.
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.
Can purple shampoo cause hair loss? “The dyes used in purple shampoos can enter the hair follicles and cause irritation or allergic reactions. I do not recommend regular use of these purple shampoos and instead suggest our Color Wow Purple Toning and Styling Foam,” Dr. Joe says.
At its core, purple shampoo is a specially pigmented cleanser meticulously designed for blondes to actively neutralize and powerfully eliminate unwanted brassy, yellow undertones.
What are the worst shampoos for hair loss?
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.
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.
How to use purple shampoo
Many of us spend time maintaining our hair colour using purple shampoo and while perfect for keeping your locks looking beautiful, it can leave purple residue and stains on tiles, grout and around plug holes.
Use an apple cider vinegar toning rinse
This homespun method is a long-term way of gently fixing orange hair. Add a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into one litre of lukewarm water, then add a couple of drops of liquid food colouring - use blue for orange hair, and purple for more yellow.
If it's your first time trying purple shampoo, experiment with leaving it on for only 5-10 minutes before washing it out. You can go up to 15 minutes next time if you notice little to no difference after drying your hair.
There's also platinum shampoo, a special type of toning shampoo that works just like purple shampoo, with a few key differences. Platinum shampoo, also known as silver shampoo or platinum blonde shampoo, is a type of shampoo formulated to remove yellow tones from hair.
The "Big 3" hair loss treatments, popular in forums, are Minoxidil, Finasteride, and Ketoconazole shampoo, often combined to tackle hereditary hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) by boosting growth, blocking hormones, and reducing inflammation. Minoxidil (Rogaine) widens blood vessels, Finasteride (Propecia) blocks DHT, and Ketoconazole fights scalp fungus and inflammation, with microneedling sometimes considered a fourth addition.
Hair loss can signal deficiencies in nutrients like iron, Vitamin D, Zinc, Biotin (B7), B12, and even Vitamin C, as these support follicle health, oxygen supply, and keratin production, but it's crucial to see a doctor for blood tests to confirm which nutrient you're lacking, as excess vitamins (like A or Selenium) can also cause hair loss, notes Harvard Health and The Hairy Pill.
Avoid: Shampoos with harsh sulfates that strip away natural oils. These can leave your hair dry, damaged, and lifeless. Look For: Sulfate-free shampoos that gently cleanse fine hair while preserving its natural moisture.
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.
Odds are your hair wasn't lightened enough when you had it professionally done. You need a toner applied and processed for at least 15-20 minutes. Keep using the purple shampoo and leave it on longer than you have before. Make sure you condition well afterwards as these toning shampoos can dry out your hair.
Use blue shampoo regularly
To combat orange tones you need blue to neutralize. On the color wheel, blue sits across from orange, which means it will balance out and neutralize unwanted warmth or brassiness in the hair.
Purple toner is your bestie for neutralizing yellow hair! This works because purple sits opposite yellow on the color wheel, so it cancels out those brassy tones when applied.
The good news is silver shine pigments are temporary it last one or two washes. If you don't want to wait that long, there are a few steps that you can take to remove the purple pigment from your hair. Shampoo with another non-pigmented shampoo right when you notice too much purple tone in your hair.
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.