Purple shampoo is a pigmented shampoo designed primarily for blonde, bleached, gray, or silver hair to neutralize and remove unwanted brassy, yellow, or warm tones that develop over time. It contains violet pigments that counteract these yellowish hues because purple is opposite yellow on the color wheel, effectively canceling out the brassiness and brightening the hair to a cooler, fresher tone
. The shampoo works by depositing purple pigment onto the hair during washing, which helps maintain the salon-fresh blonde or lightened color between coloring sessions. It is especially useful for combating the effects of environmental factors like sun exposure, chlorine, and mineral buildup that cause brassiness
. Purple shampoo is typically used once or twice a week rather than replacing regular shampoo, as overuse can cause the hair to appear darker or have a slight purple tint. It can also be mixed with regular shampoo to moderate the toning effect
. While mainly marketed for blondes, purple shampoo can also benefit brunettes with lightened sections such as balayage or ombre by reducing yellow and orange tones in those areas
. In summary:
- Neutralizes yellow, brassy, or warm tones in lightened hair
- Deposits violet pigment to tone hair cooler and brighter
- Helps maintain color between salon visits
- Best used 1-2 times per week or mixed with regular shampoo
- Suitable for blondes, gray/silver hair, and brunettes with highlights
This makes purple shampoo an essential color-correcting product for anyone looking to keep their blonde or lightened hair looking vibrant and cool-toned
