Ah, blond hair. It awakens Sun-In nostalgia, Brigitte Bardot’s sexuality and makes us all wish we were girls from California. Except in cases where copper tones penetrate and destroy the sunbathing effect. You do not need to lose your temper (sorry for the pun), as then the best purple shampoo emerges with its impressive powers to restore the shades.
If you are new to this type of shampoo, you are in luck – we spoke with some of the industry’s top hair experts to explain exactly how it works and how to use it. Keep reading for everything you need to know…
What causes brass hair?
It is undoubtedly the biggest enemy of blonde hair: brassiness. Why does it happen? “Lighter strands often make it difficult to look shiny and healthy,” says Steve Shiel, L’Oréal’s scientific director. “This is because the free radicals in the dyeing process break down the protein and so blonde hair becomes porous.”
This porosity means that bleached hair absorbs unwanted minerals and minerals in tap water and acquires a yellow tinge over time. “It also means that blonde hair absorbs light instead of reflecting it and is more prone to wear and tear,” adds Shiel.
What is purple shampoo?
Simply put, violet shampoo is the equivalent of a noisy bodyguard hair treatment. Protects against blur and unwanted warm tones between color appointments.
“Purple shampoo neutralizes the yellow color in blonde hair, leaving a creamy to ash effect,” explains the top colorist and favorite celebrity. Josh Wood. “This is because yellow and purple sit opposite each other on the color wheel.”
So, when you bathe with this particular shampoo shade, it deposits purple dye on blonde hair, to neutralize any yellowing tones that start to shine.
How to use purple shampoo
This may seem obvious, but a violet-based shampoo is not made for your daily foam.
Those who bleach their hair and live in areas with hard water (which creates more accumulation of minerals in the strands), should use it only once a week. That is, a bottle will hold you until your next color appointment, if not longer.
But Zoe Irwincreative director at John Frieda Salons, advises customers to be careful as purple-based products may dry out.
“I pour half of my purple shampoo into half a bottle Oribe Moisture Control Shampoo (£ 45 | Cult Beauty),’ she says.
“The result is softer, both in terms of color and in terms of how my hair feels afterwards. I would not recommend getting your purple shampoo to the ends. The hair there can be up to four years old, so it will grab too much of the purple dye.
“If you can not avoid it, first put the ends with conditioner to create a moisturizing base and dilute the shampoo. Then apply your ‘s’ purple shampoo to medium lengths and apply it with your fingers to deposit the dye evenly.’
How long should you leave the purple shampoo in?
It all depends on the instructions on the particular bottle, but not overdoing it is the key. “If you leave a purple shampoo for a long time, your hair will have a blue-purple tint,” warns Irwin.
Conference stylist Ali Pirzadeh agrees and recommends the use of your regular conditioner afterwards. “I will not deal with a purple conditioner either, as you want to make sure your hair is still nourished.”
What is the difference between toner and purple shampoo?
Toners cool or warm your complexion between hairdressing appointments.
A home version is the equivalent of a semi-permanent color therapy mask. Without peroxide or ammonia, it will not really enhance your color, but it penetrates the hair follicle and deposits a small amount of lilac color. This brightens the old hair dye and tones their undertones, as well as prevents fading and enhances shine.
L’Oreal Paris Elvive Color Protect Purple Reviving Oil, 12.99 £ | Feelunique
This is the first brass extraction oil. Designed for use between shampoos, it should be used on clean, towel-dried hair. Apply 2/3 drops on dry and brittle ends for immediate toning as well as hydration.
Below are our picks for the best purple shampoo for blonde hair. Senior Beauty Editor, Katie Thomas, chose these after experiencing each one personally. She has blonde hair and loves to have a grayish tone. Whatever she did not like, she just did not make the list. The things she particularly focused on were: how she felt her hair afterwards – how it felt dry or soft to the touch and how well they reduced the bronze.
Here are her recommendations for the best purple shampoos…