How to Use Purple Shampoo

Water or chemicals like bleach and chlorine can damage light-colored hair, causing it to turn yellow or brassy. Whether your hair is naturally blonde or freshly dyed light shades or gray, purple shampoo can help restore its natural shine and correct damage. The frequency of use depends on your preference – you might only need to wash once a month or twice a week, but remember, excessive use may cause your hair to turn purple. As long as you use it carefully, purple shampoo can help maintain your natural color and repair damage.

Look for a purple shampoo with a rich color and thick texture. High-quality purple shampoo will have an opaque color rather than being clear. If possible, squeeze a small amount of shampoo onto your hand to ensure it has the deep color before purchasing.

• Good options include Matrix So Silver and Paul Mitchell Platinum Blonde shampoos.
• You can find purple shampoos online, at beauty stores, or at salons that sell retail products. You may want to call ahead to ensure the salon has stock.

Buy a darker purple shampoo for gray, silver, or platinum hair. The formula of darker purple shampoo (some leaning towards indigo or blue) is most effective for platinum, gray, or light blonde hair. Avoid purchasing lighter purple or violet-colored shampoos and look for dark purple shampoo designed specifically for light-colored hair.

Choose a lighter purple shampoo if you have blonde hair. Blonde hair requires less purple to eliminate brassy tones. Avoid using dark purple shampoo and opt for a lighter one to prevent oversaturation.

• The lighter the shampoo color, the less brassy tones will be absorbed by your hair. Keep this in mind when selecting a purple shampoo.

Avoid using purple shampoo if you have dark hair. Purple shampoo works great for neutralizing brassiness in blonde or platinum hair to tone and brighten it, but it’s ineffective on black or dark brown hair. If you have dark hair, you should try using a different type of treatment shampoo.

Wet your hair with lukewarm water. Your hair should be fully wet before applying the shampoo. Lukewarm water is gentle and helps restore hair health. The temperature causes the hair shaft to open, allowing the purple shampoo to be absorbed more effectively.

Apply shampoo to your hair. Massage the purple shampoo into your hair, starting from the roots and working your way to the tips. Gently massage the shampoo through your entire head of hair, creating a lather. Focus on the "problem areas" – brass or yellow strands that you hope to recover with the shampoo.

• If you have highlighted hair, only apply the purple shampoo to the yellow highlights. Purple shampoo doesn't work on darker hair.
• When applying shampoo, prioritize the roots to prevent damage in the future.

Leave the shampoo in your hair for 2-3 minutes if you have naturally blonde hair. If your natural blonde hair is warm-toned with a slight brassiness, leaving the shampoo in for just 2-3 minutes is enough. After the time is up, rinse it out with cool water.

• The roots of your hair need more time to absorb the shampoo than the tips. This is why you should apply the shampoo to the roots first. The tips are more porous and absorb the color more quickly.
• The recommended time for leaving the shampoo in may vary depending on the brand. Some brands allow you to leave it in for up to 5 minutes.

Let the shampoo sit for 5-15 minutes if you have brass or dyed blonde hair. If your hair is severely discolored or recently dyed blonde, you should leave the shampoo in for 5-15 minutes. Your hair might need more time to fully absorb the color. Once the time is up, rinse the shampoo out with cool water.

• If you've never used purple shampoo before, try leaving it in for 5-10 minutes and rinse. If the color doesn’t change much, try leaving it in for 10-15 minutes next time.
• If left on for more than 15 minutes, the purple shampoo may leave a lilac tint. While this can work well for gray or silver hair, it may damage naturally blonde hair.

Leave the shampoo in for up to 30 minutes for gray, silver, or platinum hair. Dark-haired individuals may worry about turning their hair gray, but if you have silver or platinum hair, leaving the shampoo in for a longer period is beneficial. You can leave the shampoo in for up to 30 minutes, depending on the level of brassiness or discoloration.

• Unlike blonde hair, which is darker, the purple shampoo works on gray or platinum hair to fully remove warm tones.
• If you're leaving the shampoo in for a long time, you may want to cover your hair with a plastic cap while waiting.

Condition your hair as usual after rinsing out the shampoo. Complete your wash routine with a conditioner to hydrate your hair. If desired, you can use a purple conditioner along with the purple shampoo to intensify the color effect.

• Purple shampoo can leave a cool, ashy tone to your hair. Only use it if you're aiming for a lighter shade.

Use purple shampoo once a week or whenever your hair shows brassiness. Alternate with a color-free shampoo to keep your hair color gentle and even. If you have naturally blonde hair with warmer undertones, you may only need to use the purple shampoo when your hair starts to turn yellow. Pay attention to your hair and schedule your washes accordingly.

• If you don’t notice any changes after a month, you can increase your washing frequency to 2-3 times a week.

Dilute the purple shampoo if it feels too strong for your hair. Although purple shampoo does not dye your hair, you may notice a lilac tint if the shampoo is too potent for your hair. To prevent this, you can dilute the purple shampoo with water in a 2:1 ratio and store it in a spray bottle.

• Feel free to add more water if you want a more diluted mixture.
• This is a great option for those with warm-toned hair who just want to tweak the color slightly.

Apply purple shampoo to dry hair for a smoother finish. Instead of using purple shampoo in the shower, you can apply it to dry hair before wetting it. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with cool water. This method can give your hair a shinier look and help remove stubborn brassiness.

• Try this method if your hair has strong brassiness and the regular shampooing method doesn’t work well.

Deep condition your hair a few times a month. Over time, purple shampoo can dry out your hair. To prevent weakness and breakage, you should deep condition your hair a few times each month after using purple shampoo or whenever you notice your hair starting to feel dry.

• If you notice frizz, split ends, dullness, or increased breakage, your hair may be dry.

• Be patient when using purple shampoo. Initially, you might not see immediate results, but with several treatments, you will notice a significant change in your hair color.

• Purple shampoo is not a hair dye, so it won't change the color of blonde hair, but rather helps repair damaged hair and restore its original color.