hether you’re naturally blonde, have silver hair, or you visit our salon for lightening treatments, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard us recommend using purple shampoo. Adding this simple step to your routine can keep your color vibrant and prevent brassiness while you lather, rinse, and repeat. If you’re curious about sudsing up with the purple stuff, keep reading.
First things first: What are purple shampoos?
Just as they sound, they’re shampoos with purple pigments in them. They allow you to gradually tone your hair color at home. Since purple and yellow are complementary colors (they’re across from each other on the color wheel), they neutralize one another. This means that applying a small amount of purple pigment to your hair will help tone down yellow tones or brassiness.
Our favorite purple formula is Shu Uemura’s Yubi Blonde.
We’ve tested them all, but the Yubi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo exceeds any other we've worked with. Aside from neutralizing brassiness, it gently but effectively cleanses, leaves hair smoother and shinier, and smells ahhhmazing! If your hair is damaged, or your yellow tones are more resistant, give Shu Uemura’s Yubi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Hair Mask a try. We can’t recommend it enough.
Purple shampoos are really easy to use.
You use them pretty much the way you would any shampoo: Apply about a quarter-size amount of the shampoo to your wet hair (we suggest starting at the ends and working up to your scalp), then rinse well. Keep in mind: Purple shampoo shouldn’t replace your usual shampoo. Eliminating too much yellow can cause your hair color to look darker, so don’t overdo it. Reach for purple shampoo about once a week. If you love the results and want to push it further, you can add a second or third day. Want to test it out more cautiously? Mix a bit of purple shampoo with your regular shampoo and build from there. As always, we suggest consulting with your colorist first.
Purple-shampoo is the secret to gorgeous gray hair.
It’s not just about blondes. Purple shampoo works incredibly well for natural white, gray, and silver hair. A common concern with gray hair is how it can start to look yellow as a result of hard water and the minerals that accumulate. Adding a purple shampoo will seriously reduce any yellowing and will make those silver tones really pop.
