"Gray hair typically has a yellow hue to it, so adding a cool color (like purple) can make it look whiter and brighter," explains Michael Dueñas, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Veluer Creative. He advises using a shampoo with a violet or purple tint to keep gray hair color vibrant and fresh.
Purple shampoo uses purple pigments to neutralize yellow tones and keeps blondes brighter and ashier. Purple shampoo is also great for silver/white hair as well. Blue shampoo uses blue pigments to neutralize brassy orange tones in the hair.
Purple and Blue Shampoo
Celebrity hairstylist Peter Butler says violet- and purple-based shampoos, such as Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Shampoo and L'Oréal EverPure Sulfate Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo, are super helpful in keeping gray, silver, white, and blonde hair bright and manageable.
Because purple shampoos leave hair with an ultra-cool finish and can be used on silver hair, the names silver shampoo and purple shampoo are frequently interchanged.
Blue Shampoo: Which Is Better for Gray Hair? Purple shampoo is a more ideal choice for gray hair than blue shampoo. While they both counteract brassy tones, purple shampoo gets rid of yellow pigments in light hair, and blue shampoo neutralizes orange and copper tones in brown hair or dark hair.
Blue shampoos are designed to counteract orange tones in brunette hair, while purple shampoos are used to banish brass in blonde hair. If you make the leap from brunette to blonde hair, make sure to switch to a purple shampoo to counteract the yellow tones that often appear in color-treated blonde hair.
The takeaway. Yes, gray hair can turn brassy and dull—but a purple shampoo can easily brighten up the silver strands.
Ward off fading by shampooing only every couple of days. The more you shampoo, the faster your silver hair is going to fade. On days between washes, use dry shampoo to refresh your hair and give you a boost of volume. When you do shampoo, make sure you use a color-safe formula.
Purple shampoo neutralises brassiness but enhances blonde pigmentation. To maintain a silver shade, your shampoo requires a stronger colour neutralisation. Silver shampoo is formulated with deeper purple pigments to target yellow tones in a much stronger way.
What does purple shampoo do? Yellow is the opposite of purple on the color wheel. So when your gray or lightened hair has unwanted yellow tones, purple shampoo acts as a toner and can cancel out brassy hues. Purple shampoo works to help fix brassy tones with a pretty simple approach.
Apply shampoo to dry hair before washing. Processed for 10-15 minutes, sometimes longer (depending on shampoo brand, hair type and desired result). Rinse well and wash your hair as usual and use a conditioner and/or mask.
Does purple shampoo work on gray hair? The short answer to this is yes – purple shampoo does work on gray hair. Gray hair can actually turn brassier and yellow more quickly than blonde hair because it clings onto particles found in the air that cause that unwanted discoloration.
Blue shampoo deposits blue-toned pigments on hair to offset brassy or red tones on brown/brunette hair. Don't worry about the silver strands, as it will add shine to them.
Yellow + Blue = GREEN
When someone with yellow-y gray hair uses a blue shampoo, guess what color you are going to get? That's right. GREEN! Blue shampoo is not designed to be used on gray hair; its function is to neutralize orange tones in brown hair.
Another option is to mix a bit of apple cider vinegar into a dollop of shampoo. This clears build up from environmental toxins and hair products. It also seals the hair cuticle, making your grays silky, shiny and frizz-free.
Limit washing your hair to once or twice per week. Gray hair dye faces faster than most, so the less you wash your hair, the longer your color will stay. Limit the heat styling to keep your hair healthy and your color vibrant. Let your hair air dry whenever possible, and learn to embrace your hair's natural texture.
Silver grey hair will look best on olive and fair skin with yellow undertones. If you have a pink tone, your skin may appear red and irritated with a cool grey hue.
The purple shampoo can cause build up making the hair look dull and darker if overused." This makes the lightening process more difficult to create a seamless blend.
“The Kérastase Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo is a great option, according to our expert.”Formulated with Ultra Violet Neutralizers, which is a highly concentrated pigment, it helps remove brassy and yellow undertones to let your gray hair shine,” he notes.
Purple shampoo is for already bleached hair, so if you're hoping to lighten brown hair with purple shampoo, you'll be disappointed. This is all down to the fact that purple shampoo isn't lightening. Instead, it brightens blondes by canceling out yellow tones, which just happen to be opposite purple on the color wheel.