What Does Purple Shampoo do?

Health Line

27-05-2025

Purple shampoo is a color-correcting toner that reduces brassiness and harsh yellowing in blonde, white, gray, or silver hair. If you dye your hair blonde, purple shampoo may help your hair maintain its desired shade.
In addition to many of the standard ingredients contained in traditional shampoos, purple shampoo contains violet pigment, such as violet No. 2, that gives it its color-protective qualities.
Violet pigments may be derived from natural ingredients, such as crushed violets, or from synthetic dyes derived from petroleum.
Purple shampoo should not be used the same way you use traditional shampoos. It's also not recommended for dark hair.
Color Correction
Color wheels are used to represent color theory, which provides information about light, and how our brains interpret color. On a color wheel, purple hues are located opposite yellow hues.
Purple, which is a combination of blue and red wavelengths, are able to cancel out yellow, which is a combination of red and green wavelengths.
When applied to hair, purple shampoo neutralizes yellow by leaving a violet tint on the hair. In blonde hair, purple shampoo reduces orange, yellow, or brassy undertones, so that your hair looks natural and soft.
On white, gray, or silver hair, purple shampoo cancels out yellowness, so that your hair looks shimmery and natural.
Neutralizing Brassiness
In hair that is dyed, unwanted warm tones, like red, orange, or yellow sometimes appear. These tones give hair brassiness, or a harsh look.
Brassiness can be caused by:
harsh minerals in hard water
fading hair dye
UV sun exposure
styling with heat
bleaching or lightening hair
bleached highlights
Since purple neutralizes yellow, using a purple shampoo can mitigate the look of brassiness, so that your hair looks blonde instead of yellow.
How Often to Use
Purple shampoos often contain cleansing and conditioning ingredients, like those found in high quality regular shampoos. However, purple shampoo is a toner, not a cleansing or moisturizing product. Some purple shampoos are designed for daily use, but many are meant to be used once or twice a week, rather than daily.
There are many brands of purple shampoo, so following the manufacturer's directions for use is your best bet for protecting your hair. Some purple shampoos can dry out hair if they're used too often.
They can also strip hair of more yellow color than you'd like. This can make your hair look brown instead of blonde.
When determining usage, you can also use the overall appearance of your hair as a guide. If it looks brassy, dull, or yellow, see if toning with a purple shampoo makes a difference. If it does, your hair's appearance may benefit from using your chosen product often.
Application Tips
In general, you can use purple shampoo the same way you do other types of shampoo: Read the manufacturer's label to make sure you're using it as directed.
Unless specified otherwise:
Wet your hair in the shower or sink.
Based on the length and thickness of your hair, apply several capfuls of purple shampoo.
Lather the shampoo so that it penetrates your hair from scalp to tip.
Leave it in for 2 to 5 minutes.
Rinse.
Follow up with a conditioner for moisturization and detangling.
FAQs
Read on to find the answers to some frequently asked questions.
Will purple shampoo turn my hair purple?
Overuse of purple shampoo can give certain hair tones a purple, pink, or blue tint. Make sure to use your shampoo only once or twice a week, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.
Overuse of purple shampoo can give certain hair tones a purple, pink, or blue tint. Make sure to use your shampoo only once or twice a week, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.
Does purple shampoo lighten hair?
No. Purple shampoo only removes brassy undertones. It is not a hair dye and will not lighten dark hair.
No. Purple shampoo only removes brassy undertones. It is not a hair dye and will not lighten dark hair.
Is purple shampoo safe for color-treated hair?
Yes. When used correctly, purple shampoo is safe to use on color-treated hair. In fact, it is primarily designed to treat hair that has been dyed shades of blonde.
Yes. When used correctly, purple shampoo is safe to use on color-treated hair. In fact, it is primarily designed to treat hair that has been dyed shades of blonde.
How long does it take to see results from using purple shampoo?
You should start to see an improvement in your hair's color tone after only a few washes. If you don't see results, consider using the shampoo more often, or using a bigger quantity when you wash your hair. Changing brands may also be beneficial.
You should start to see an improvement in your hair's color tone after only a few washes. If you don't see results, consider using the shampoo more often, or using a bigger quantity when you wash your hair. Changing brands may also be beneficial.
Are there any alternatives to purple shampoo for maintaining blonde or gray hair?
Yes. Look for cool-toned shampoos that are color-specific for your shade of hair. Certain shampoo brands cater to gray, white, or silver hair. Shampoos for naturally blonde and dyed blonde hair are also typically cool-toned and may include ingredients like okara extract, pearl extract, and sunflower extract.