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Toning with purple shampoo is one of the most common methods for blondes to get rid of unwanted brassy tones in their hair and to keep their shades of blonde nice and bright.
The blonde-enhancing product can be extremely effective, but only when users properly implement it into their hair-care routine.
Toning Your Hair With Purple Shampoo: A Summary
It can be intimidating for first-time users of purple shampoo to embark on the process of toning their hair with the blonde-enhancing product.
In order for you to maximize success with the shampoo, it’s important to have a game plan that prioritizes the best possible results while maintaining the health of your hair.
In a nutshell, you’ll:
- Wet your hair
- Apply purple shampoo to your hair
- Let the purple shampoo sit
- Lather and rinse
- Condition your hair
- Use a hair moisturizer
- Evaluate the results and change your routine accordingly
The results that a purple shampoo produces vary from person to person, depending on hair type and color.
This is a basic outline of the routine that you should adopt in order to tone your hair with purple shampoo, but it’s key to monitor your hair’s response to the product to find what works best for you.
How to Tone Your Hair With Purple Shampoo in 6 Easy Steps
When it comes to getting the results that you desire from your purple shampoo, using it for just one wash is nowhere near enough. Below, find a detailed routine that you should practice as often as you would normally wash your hair.
1. Wet Your Hair
Just as the case is with most other shampoos, the first step to successfully toning with purple shampoo is to wet your hair. Make sure that your entire head is wet, from the roots to the ends. This will ensure that your hair absorbs the shampoo evenly across your entire head.
Some users will insist on putting purple shampoo on dry hair. Their reasoning is that dry hair will absorb the blonde-enhancer better. While this may be the case, dry hair will not absorb the purple shampoo evenly from root to ends, looking like you got a patchy hair dye job.
Some users choose to wet their hair while taking a shower, but others choose to wet their hair and then settle somewhere comfortable given that the purple shampoo will be sitting in the hair for quite a few minutes.
If you intend on using another shampoo in addition to the purple shampoo to cleanse your hair as normal, then do it before using the blonde enhancer. Once you wash the cleanser out, your hair will be wet and ready for the application of purple shampoo.
2. Apply the Purple Shampoo to Your Hair
The next step is to apply the purple shampoo to your hair. It is important to put on gloves before taking this step, as the violet pigments of the product will otherwise stain the skin on your hands.
To apply the product to your hair, begin by squeezing a generous amount of shampoo into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together to work up a slight lather, and then begin to work the shampoo into your hair.
Whereas a regular shampoo should only focus on your scalp and roots, apply purple shampoo from the top of your roots to the very bottom of your ends.
If there are streaks of hair that you are specifically attempting to tone with your use of purple shampoo, then be sure to pay close attention to these streaks of hair in particular. For example, to tone blonde highlights, make sure to cover the entirety of the streak thoroughly.
As aforementioned, the high concentration of violet pigments in the shampoo is likely to stain the skin. So, take extra care to avoid the purple shampoo finding its way to your face for too long. Otherwise, you might find yourself walking around with an unwanted purplish tint to your face.
3. Let the Purple Shampoo Sit in Your Hair
The next step requires a little bit of patience, depending on the look that you are going for. For a warmer blonde that requires less enhancement, the shampoo will only need to sit in the hair for one to three minutes to produce optimal results.
For a medium blonde shade, anywhere from three to five minutes of the shampoo sitting in the hair tends to be the sweet spot for more neutral tones.
For lighter blonde tones, you will want to wait for up to fifteen minutes before rinsing out the shampoo. The purple shampoo should not stay in your hair for longer than fifteen minutes.
The shampoo can be drying for the hair, so it is important to take it in strides. Remember, it will take multiple washes with the shampoo over a few weeks to start to see real results.
So, keeping the purple shampoo in your hair for longer than necessary will not necessarily lead to quicker results. In fact, leaving it in for too long could result in both over-toning and an unwanted purplish hue on the hair.
4. Lather and Rinse
After the shampoo has been sitting in your hair for an appropriate amount of time, it is time to give your hair one last lather and then rinse all of the shampoo out of it.
Be sure that you are thoroughly rinsing every last bit of purple shampoo out of your hair to avoid over-toning your shade of blonde. Failing to thoroughly rinse out all of the product can also cause the appearance of your hair’s tones to become patchy.
5. Condition Your Hair
Just as you would do after shampooing your hair with a normal cleanser, be sure to use a conditioner before concluding your hair washing routine.
Due to the drying factors of purple shampoo, do not neglect to use your usual moisturizing conditioner after rinsing all of the shampoo out of your hair.
This will lock in all of the moisture that your hair needs to maintain its health, even with the consistent use of the drying purple shampoo.
6. Use a Hair Moisturizer
To provide your hair with additional moisture, a good tip is to try incorporating a hair moisturizer into your hair care routine after using the purple shampoo. For example, a hair mask can do wonders for your hair’s moisture barrier.
Including new moisturizing products into your routine when you begin to use purple shampoo will produce optimal results for your hair’s quality. Your blondes will be brighter and your hair will be radiating with a healthy shine.
7. Evaluate the Results
The final step to properly toning with purple shampoo is to evaluate the results of the product on your hair and to alter your use of it accordingly. The results will be clearest after a few weeks, so it is in your best interest to give it a bit of time before evaluating the final look.
If you find that your hair appears to be over-toned, then it is time to lessen the frequency that you are using the purple shampoo.
If your shades of blonde are not as bright as you would like for them to be, then it may be time up the ante. Begin washing with the shampoo more frequently or letting it sit in your hair for a longer period of time before you rinse it out.
After consistently using one type of purple shampoo and failing to see your desired results, then it might be time to switch to another purple shampoo product with a different intensity.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I Use Purple Shampoo Every Day?
While it’s definitely not necessary, you can use purple shampoo every day. You can safely use the product as often as you would use any other shampoo.
Of course, it’s necessary to be aware of how likely this product is to dry your hair out. Take caution to moisturize your hair with conditioner and make use of hair masks, just as you should do if you wash it every day with normal shampoo.
Is It Normal for Your Hair to Start Appearing Purple?
Yes, it’s normal for your hair to begin to develop a purple hue, especially with the overuse of purple shampoo. If this is the case for your hair, then make sure to halt the use of the product for a few washes until the hue begins to fade away.
After a few normal washes, your hair will no longer have a purple hue. When it’s time for you to return to the use of purple shampoo, be sure to adjust your hair care routine to incorporate the product less frequently.
Does Purple Shampoo Only Work for Blonde Hair?
Purple shampoo only works to tone blonde hair, but that does not limit its use to light blonde hair.
People with dirtier or brassier shades of blonde tend to have just as much success with purple shampoo as those with bleach blonde hair, though their frequency of use will differ.
Which Purple Shampoo Is Best for Your Hair?
The type of purple shampoo that will work best with your hair depends on your hair type and hair color. The concentration of violet pigmentation in a purple shampoo will say a lot about its strength.
So, if you are looking to clear up some particularly dark and brassy spots of hair, shampoos that are a darker purple will likely yield the best results.
Additionally, a less intense purple shampoo should do the job very well for salon shades of blonde, while natural blonde tones will fair better with stronger formulas.
Should You Use Purple Shampoo or Blue Shampoo for Orange Hair?
For hair that is closer to a shade of orange than it is to a yellowy blonde, purple shampoo should not be the go-to product to add to your routine. Rather, a blue shampoo will be yield better results, as its formula tones more orangey shades of hair that have turned rusty.
So, How Do You Tone Your Hair With Purple Shampoo?
Of course, the first step to using purple shampoo is understanding that the purpose of the shampoo is not to dye your hair purple, which is a common misconception. Rather, it is to eliminate rusty and brassy hues and enhance blonde tones.
To receive the best results, apply the purple shampoo to your wet hair and let it sit for fifteen minutes. Then rinse it out with water, taking care to use a hair-moisturizing product to keep your hair as healthy as it will be blonde.
After using the shampoo for a few weeks, it is time to evaluate the changes in your hair and adjust the routine accordingly.