If you’re a blonde, you know that using purple shampoo is essential to keeping your hair looking its best. But how often should you use it? That can be a bit of a tricky question to answer since everyone’s hair is different. However, we can give you some general guidelines to follow. In this blog post, I discuss the best way to use purple shampoo and how often you should apply it for optimal results. Keep reading for more information!
What is purple shampoo?
While most shampoos are designed to cleanse your hair, purple shampoos serve a different purpose. This type of shampoo is a toning shampoo and is used to neutralize brassy tones in blonde, silver hair, or gray hair.
No, it’s not supposed to give you purple hair….
It works by depositing a small amount of purple pigment onto the hair shaft, which helps to cancel out unwanted yellow or orange tones. Purple shampoo can be used as often as needed, although it is important to start with a small amount and increase the frequency gradually if desired.
When used properly, purple shampoo can help to keep blonde hair looking bright and beautiful and counteract brassy tones. If you are wanted to be part of the cool-toned blondes, you need to add a purple shampoo into your hair care routine.
It helps by adding pigments and helps maintain brightness and color for longer. If you get sulfate-free purple shampoo, your hair fiber will be healthier helping to prevent damaged hair.
How To Use Purple Shampoo?
Purple shampoo is a specialized shampoo that helps to get rid of unwanted tones in bleached or highlighted hair.
- To use purple shampoo, start by wetting your hair in the shower.
- Squeeze a small amount of shampoo into your palm and massage from roots to tips.
- Make sure you lift and evenly distribute the shampoo through all your hair.
- Leave purple shampoo in for only 3-5 minutes to avoid a purple tint
- Rinse the shampoo out thoroughly, then follow up with conditioner.
For best results, use purple shampoo once a week especially if you wash your hair every 3-4 days. You may also need to experiment with different brands to find one that works well for your hair type. In general, purple shampoo can be a great way to help maintain blonde hair between salon visits.
**You should shampoo with a regular shampoo first, then follow up with your purple shampoo. You still need to cleanse your hair before you add a ‘treatment’ type of shampoo.
When should you use purple shampoo?
Only use purple shampoo once you notice your hair has brassy tones or yellow tones. You don’t need to use it before to ‘maintain’ that’s not how it works. Since it neutralizes yellow and orange tones, if you don’t have any in your hair yet, you could be overdoing it and wasting product.
Some hairstylists say that you should use it for your first wash (at least 48 hours) after you you get blonde or highlighted hair.
What causes yellow tones in your hair?
First off, there is a difference between yellow hair and brassy hair.
Brassy hair is orange like copper, bronze or gold.
Yellow hair is yellow like banana yellow.
If your hair lifts enough when getting bleached, your hair will be yellow (before toning). If it doesn’t, it will be more brassy tones meaning your lightener aka bleach didn’t sit on your hair long enough to pull out the warmer, brassy tones in your hair that we all have.
Toner, glazes, and hair in general fade in color, if it doesn’t, it means your hair is usually damaged.
But yellow tones in your hair can come from a number of different things.
One common cause is the use of shampoo and conditioner that isn’t suited to your hair type.
Another common cause of yellow tones is environmental factors like sun exposure and hard water. If you live in an area with hard water, try using a chelating shampoo to help remove any build-up from your hair.
But this is why we have purple, to help prolong the color and avoid so many trips to the salon.
How Often to use a purple shampoo?
Depending on how platinum you want your hair to be will depend on how often you should use a purple shampoo.
Start once a week to see how your hair reacts to the shampoo and especially if it’s the first time using a purple shampoo. If you want a more dramatic look, use it more often if you need to.
Bleached hair is super absorbent so it can really take to the purple color and give you purple hair. Don’t leave it in too long, but if you do, it’s okay because it can be washed out with a clarifying shampoo. Check out my clarifying shampoo blog post round-up here.
After using a clarifying shampoo or purple shampoo, always follow up with a nourishing conditioner. Not only because of the extra cleaning agents in the shampoos but because of your fragile blonde hair from the bleach.
What are the best purple shampoos for blonde hair?
When choosing the best purple shampoos, there are a few key factors to consider.
First, you should look for a shampoo that contains high-quality ingredients, such as nourishing vitamins and antioxidants to avoid dry hair. This will help to protect your hair from damage while also restoring moisture and shine.
Additionally, you should check the pH level of the shampoo and make sure that it is tailored to suit your hair type. Whether you have thin or coarse hair, or a color-treated tress or highlighted blonde hair, there is sure to be a purple shampoo out there that will work for you.
For Fizzy Hair – MATRIX TOTAL RESULTS SO SILVER
This shampoo is designed with moisturizing agents to not only tone your hair but also tame frizz. It neutralizes unwanted yellow tones in blonde and white hair for a cooler tone.
For Damaged Hair – L’OREAL EVER PURE PURPLE SHAMPOO
This shampoo is super hydrating leaving hair feeling soft and doesn’t contain sulfates, parabens, or salts. It has over 45,000 raving reviews and works to keep platinum blondes in the perfect white shades and highlights bright.
For All Hair Types – CLAIROL SHIMMER LIGHTS PURPLE SHAMPOO
This is one of the best purple shampoos that are affordable and for all hair types. It is super pigmented so only leave it on for about 3 minutes and don’t overuse it. It’s great for brown hair, silver hair, grey, and obviously blonde hair.
Low Porosity Hair – FANOLA NO YELLOW
If you have low porosity aka products sit on the hair and don’t absorb well, you will want stronger violet pigments like in Fanola No Yellow. It has violet pigments that are also ideal for hair going grey to keep your color consistent and vibrant.
Do you have a favorite purple shampoo? Or what are your tips for keeping your blonde hair blonde?
XO, Annie
