Anyone with blonde or silver color-treated hair knows that over time the color will fade or sometimes even become brassy. To keep your hair light and bright with unwanted warm tones at bay, your best strategy is to use products formulated for color-treated hair. Purple shampoo can help your hair color last longer, but how exactly does it work?
What is purple shampoo?
Purple shampoo is a shampoo formulated with violet pigment, which helps counteract warm hair undertones including yellow, orange and red. For hair that’s been color-treated or highlighted hair, purple shampoo neutralizes these tones to prevent brassiness. While color won’t last forever, purple shampoo can help you maintain blonde or silver color and extend the time between salon visits.
How does purple shampoo work?
Purple shampoo works based on the science of color theory, where colors on opposite sides of the color wheel neutralize each other. The key ingredient in purple shampoo is violet pigment, which is the opposite of yellow on the color wheel — so the violet pigment in purple shampoo cancels out yellow and other brassy tones.
Purple vs. blue shampoo
Purple shampoo and blue shampoo are both similar products designed to neutralize unwanted tones, but they cater to different hair colors. Purple shampoo is ideal for those with blonde, silver or light-colored hair, because it counteracts brassy or yellow tones. Blue shampoo is better at tackling orange and copper tones in brunettes or those with darker hair shades. Both options help maintain vibrant and cooler hues, allowing you to embrace your chosen color with confidence.
Why use purple shampoo?
After a color treatment like bleaching, or even highlights, your hair will be light, bright and cool. Over time the color will fade and your natural undertones will start to come out at the roots. When this occurs, you’ll need to take a trip to the salon for touch-ups, usually every six weeks to maintain the look. Not only is this inconvenient, it’s also expensive.
Using purple shampoo can help you maintain your color-treated hair so you can extend the time between salon visits. Purple shampoo not only helps cancel out brassy hues, but some also contain nourishing ingredients to give color-treated hair the moisture for locks that are soft, shiny and healthy.
Is purple shampoo only for blonde hair?
Purple shampoo isn’t just for blondes, it’s also great for highlights, silver and gray color-treated hair. We discuss other hair colors and treatments that could benefit from purple shampoo in our blog here.
How to use purple shampoo
It’s as simple as replacing your normal shampoo on the wash day that you use a purple shampoo. In the shower, massage into wet hair, lather well and rinse. Follow with Verb® Purple Mask, using as needed. If you notice brassiness appearing, increase the usage.
How often to use purple shampoo
Start by using purple shampoo once a week, but increase usage to twice a week or every other wash if you see brassy tones appearing at the roots. Using the product too often could lead to a brighter and cooler hair tone than what you desire, so it’s best to start slow and increase usage only when needed.
What other purple hair products are there?
There are a couple of additional common purple hair products that go beyond just shampoo, designed to enhance your blonde, gray, silver or color-treated locks.
- Purple conditioner - designed to complement purple shampoo and is particularly beneficial for maintaining and enhancing cool-toned hair colors, while providing deep nourishment and conditioning. These can come in standard conditioner bottles, or in the form of a leave-in mist.
- Purple masks - like purple conditioners, these are another specialized product for blonde or color-treated hair that works to restore some of the hydration that we lose through washes and everyday life. By incorporating purple masks into your hair care, you can enjoy the benefits of intense toning alongside the luxurious pampering your locks deserve.
purple hair mask
formulated to hydrate, soften
and reduce brassiness in blonde,
grey and silver hair tones
Purple shampoo FAQs
Some more common questions about purple products for the vibrant, cool-toned hair of your dreams include:
Does purple shampoo turn your hair purple?
While purple shampoo does contain violet pigment, it will not turn your hair purple. Leaving purple shampoo on for an extended period of time or using it too often may result in a light lavender tint. If this occurs, stop using purple shampoo until the lavender tone disappears.
Does purple shampoo on dry hair absorb better?
While there is an internet rumor suggesting that applying purple shampoo to dry hair can lead to better toning results, this is not true. Always use purple shampoo on wet hair. Dry hair cannot evenly absorb the product, and applying it on wet hair ensures even distribution, resulting in the desired color-correcting effect.
What other products should you use with purple shampoo?
The color treatment process can be damaging to your hair, and while purple shampoo is a good start — using it in combination with a few other products can help improve hair health and keep your hair color longer.
We’d recommend starting with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Coloring your hair dries out strands which can lead to breakage and dullness. If you aren’t already, make sure to use a shampoo and conditioner that replenishes the moisture in your hair so it stays strong, soft, shiny and healthy. We’d also suggest using a deep conditioning treatment once a week, like our Purple Mask that is formulated to brighten and tone color-treated hair.
Another tip is to cut down your washes; ideally you should wash every two to three days. Washing your hair too often strips your hair of color and the natural oils that keep it healthy. To avoid bad hair days between washes, use dry shampoo for fresh hair that doesn’t hurt your color.
Prevent brassy hair with purple shampoo
As we explore the best products to complement your blonde or color-treated hair, there's one standout solution: Verb® Purple Shampoo. It cleanses and brightens to bring blondes back to life. Formulated with professional-grade violet pigment and açaí extract, this shampoo was designed to neutralize brassy yellow hues in blonde, gray and silver hair tones.
Benefits of our Purple Shampoo:
- Pro-grade violet pigment helps cancel out yellow, brassy tones
- Açaí extract is rich in antioxidants which help provide extra moisture
- Coconut fatty acids is easily absorbed by hair, helping to hydrate and nourish
- Frankincense oil helps add shine and moisture to hair
