Leaving purple shampoo on too long can deposit too much pigment, resulting in temporary purple, lilac, or ashy streaks, especially on porous or very light blonde hair, making it look dull or even gray, but it's usually fixable with a clarifying or regular shampoo, though it can also dry hair out, so it's best to stick to recommended times (usually a few minutes) and deep condition afterward.
Unless you have white hair or gray hair, you shouldn't leave the purple shampoo on for longer than 15 minutes at a time. If you're already leaving the shampoo on for less than 15 minutes and you're noticing a purple tone, then try leaving the product on for even less time.
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 you want the most intense purple toning effects, leave purple shampoo on for an hour, then leave purple conditioner or a purple mask on for another hour. After doing this, you'll hands down get the best yellow neutralizing possible from shampoos and conditioners, WITHOUT drying your hair out.
As mentioned above, purple shampoos are highly pigmented and, when overused, purple shampoo can lead to a huge amount of buildup in your hair. This can lead to the appearance of unwanted tones, such as blues or purples or even a muddy tint.
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.
Purple and yellow are complementary colors, meaning they can cancel each other out when combined. If you have a purple color that you want to neutralize or tone down, adding a yellow hue or using a yellow color corrector can help counteract the purple tones.
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.
Can I use purple shampoo on dry hair? We'd advise you not to; purple shampoo should always be used on wet hair to ensure that it's absorbed evenly and get the most out of your shampoo's toning qualities.
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.
If the purple residue in your hair is pretty light, a clarifying shampoo may do the trick! Apply the clarifying shampoo to your hair just like regular shampoo, lather it up for a few seconds with your fingertips, and rinse it out. Repeat this 2-3 times to make sure you get rid of the tint.
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.
Overlapping the toner application or leaving it on for too long can lead to overprocessing, which may result in dryness, breakage, or a change in texture. To avoid overprocessing, it's crucial to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully and monitor the toner's development time.
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.
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.
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.
A clarifying shampoo is your go-to solution for reversing any unwanted purple tinge from purple shampoo. It effectively strips away excess pigment, restoring your hair to its intended shade with just a few washes.
The truth is: purple shampoo itself doesn't cause hair loss, but the wrong formula or overuse might contribute to other issues that lead to breakage or increased shedding. Here's what to watch out for: Dryness from harsh ingredients or over-toning. Buildup on the scalp if the product isn't rinsed properly.
Purple shampoo will not make you “blonder”.
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.
For more pronounced toning, you can leave it on for 3-5 minutes. Always adhere to the specific product instructions on your Redken Blondage Purple Shampoo bottle, and keep a watchful eye on your hair's tone to avoid over-toning, especially if you're new to purple toning.
If your roots are still yellow after toning, then you likely didn't formulate the toner properly. The most common reason for this is that you didn't tone down, meaning you mixed a toner that was too light of a color to cover the yellow roots.
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.
Steer clear of yellow
If you're looking to the color wheel for advice on color pairings, yellow is purple's color wheel opposite, so it's a tempting contrast. But in reality, the result can be extremely jarring and feel chaotic.
2/ At Home Toning Products
Secondly, you can find toner in some haircare products like a purple shampoo, that will help you maintain your colour between treatments at the salon. A salon toner is more pigmented and the results will last longer than an at-home toning product like a purple shampoo.