
“You can increase to every second wash as your color fades and you get closer to your next salon appointment,” she says. Typically, a purple shampoo should be used for maintenance, which may only be as often as every three to four washes following a color service. Reid warns that some shampoos with a strong violet tone can build up in the hair, making highlights cool and dull over time, and making strands lose the brightness that blondes love. How often you use a purple shampoo is based on your current hair color and desired shade. Blondes usually have more yellow tones, so a violet or purple shampoo would be best as this is the counteracting color that neutralizes yellow. Brunette hair usually has a tendency to show more orange tones, so a blue shampoo will work best as this is the counteracting color that neutralizes orange. Reid explains that different variations in the hair will require a different color to neutralize warmth and provide a more natural result. We often refer to brassy hair as having orange or yellow undertones, but it’s important to consider your natural hair color first. “They work to gently neutralize unwanted yellow and brassy tones in the hair, making them great for blondes that want to ensure their color does not turn warm between salon visits due to frequent washing, sun exposure or environmental buildup,” she says. Reid says that a purple shampoo is best for all blondes who want to maintain their cool, ash, beige, buttery or biscuit blonde shade. She emphasizes finding one that includes nourishing butters that moisturize hair to prevent color stripping.

“Purple shampoos offer a true semi-permanent color result that is easily incorporated into your haircare regimen,” says Reid. This is an easy litmus test for success.īrassiness usually strikes in between salon visits, and violet shampoos and treatments are a great way to ensure that your personalized blonde shade stays on point. Dark, opaque formulas are the ones that are most effective due to concentrated pigment. Good purple shampoos will be thicker in texture, have a deep dark purple color and won’t look translucent. While it’s not always possible, checking the consistency of the product can be helpful. The combined effect safeguards color to maintain bright, blonde shades. “It includes murumuru seed butter to restore elasticity, shea butter to protect against dryness and brittleness, mango seed butter to restore and maintain the natural moisture balance and sunflower seed extract to help prevent color from being stripped from the hair,” she says. Reid uses our best overall pick Kevin Murphy’s Blonde.Angel Wash as a top example. And if you have highlights layered on top of color, it’s doubly important to look for formulas with hydrating ingredients, as bleach can easily dry out hair. Purple shampoos rely on a synergistic blend of ingredients to keep hair color from turning while keeping processed strands nourished and healthy. Similarly, when brunettes become brassy, they should go for a blue shampoo. Depending on how strong the toning effect of the shampoo is, the neutralization can help maintain anything from beige to silver highlights. Hair that is gray, blonde or platinum benefits from a good purple shampoo, since purple is the direct opposite of yellow on the color wheel (so that brassy hue would get canceled out). Here’s what to consider when choosing the best purple shampoo for your hair.

There are plenty of options on the market, with many featuring varying ingredients, so choosing the right one can seem challenging. This story is regularly reviewed to guarantee all prices, availability and the best versions of the products are up to date. We also take into account hair tones and efficacy of the products. To round up the best purple shampoos, we’ve tested many ourselves on various shades of blonde, highlighted and lightened hair, researched each formula and ingredient, tapped professionals and considered tons of reviews from consumers. Aside from scouring the web for customer reviews, retail ratings and social-media buzz, we also enlisted the help of an expert in the field to share her tips for using purple shampoo and what to look for depending on the state of your strands. The Forbes Vetted beauty team stays on top of the latest and greatest in the market, and is constantly in the process of testing various products at any given time.
