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Providing insight into the wonders of blue vs purple shampoo, this article offers a helpful guide to understanding which is right for your hair. With significant differences between each option and only one that’s best suited for you, deciding on the perfect product can be overwhelming.
To make choosing easier, let’s look at what each color does and who should use them. Purple shampoo is ideal for blondes as its violet pigments help reduce yellow tones while also giving an added boost of shine.
But when in doubt about which type of toning shampoo would work best with your locks? The answer lies in how much discoloration your hair has; if there are warm hues present then opt for purple whereas cool tones require blue!
Table Of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Purple shampoo is ideal for blondes, while blue shampoo suits brunettes.
- Purple shampoo neutralizes yellow tones in blonde hair and provides UV protection, enhances shine, and promotes scalp health.
- Blue shampoo is suitable for brunettes and salt-and-pepper hair and helps combat orange and brassy tones.
- When choosing a shampoo, consider your hair color and its specific needs.
Blue Vs Purple Shampoo: What’s the Difference?
Are you looking to manage your hair color at home but aren’t sure what the difference is between blue and purple shampoo? Purple shampoo helps neutralize yellow tones in blonde hair, while blue shampoo combats orange and brassy tones.
What Does Purple Shampoo Do?
If you want to keep your blonde or highlighted hair looking its best, purple shampoo can help combat those pesky yellow tones. It contains violet molecules that neutralize the yellow undertones caused by melanin interacting with bleach, sun exposure, and more.
Purple shampoo also adds a subtle shine while nourishing the scalp and preventing breakage. For best results, always apply on wet hair; massage into the scalp for 2-4 minutes; rinse with cool water; follow up with conditioner and moisturizing products for optimal color care! Consider using both purple and blue shampoos if multiple undertones are present in your hair.
Does Purple Shampoo Work?
You may be wondering how well purple shampoo works to neutralize yellow tones in your hair. Purple shampoo is ideal for blondes, as it contains violet molecules to combat yellow undertones caused by melanin interacting with bleach and sun exposure.
For brunettes without highlights, blue shampoo combats orange and brassy tones more effectively than purple does.
Benefits of using a purple or blue toning product include extended color protection from UV rays, hard water, damage, and washout. When choosing between the two shampoos, consider the predominant tone – purple for mostly yellow hairs and blue for salt/pepper hair or light browns without blonde highlights.
What Does Blue Shampoo Do?
Blue shampoo works to combat orange and brassy tones, depositing blue-violet pigments like a blanket of stars across dark hair. It is ideal for brunettes without highlights who want to maintain their color and reduce brassiness.
Blue shampoo can also neutralize slight orange undertones without leaving purple tones, making it great for salt-and-pepper hair too. When selecting the right product, consider using both if you have multiple undertones in your hair – blue for red or yellow/orange hues; purple for yellow ones – then massage into scalp and leave on 2-4 minutes before rinsing with cool water.
For best results, use once or twice a week in combination with high-quality products that provide superior color care compared to traditional shampoos.
Does Blue Shampoo Work?
Discover how blue shampoo can help you maintain your desired hair color and neutralize unwanted brassiness. Blue shampoo works by depositing blue-violet pigments to combat orange, yellow, and brassy tones.
It is ideal for salt-and-pepper hair or brunettes without highlights in order to minimize red/orange undertones.
- Neutralizing yellow tones
- Minimizing brassiness
- Strengthening the cuticles
- Protecting from environmental stressors
Which Shampoo is Right for Your Hair?
If you’re looking for the right shampoo to help manage and maintain your hair color, purple shampoo is perfect for blondes, while blue shampoo suits brunettes and salt-and-pepper hair. Both shampoos utilize color theory to neutralize unwanted hues, banishing brassy tones while helping achieve desired shades.
Purple Shampoo for Blonde Hair
For blonde hair, combat unwanted yellow tones with a purple shampoo that deposits violet pigments to neutralize and brighten. Start by washing your hair once or twice a week with the desired shampoo for optimal toning results.
Massage it into your scalp and leave it on for 2-4 minutes before rinsing out thoroughly with cool water. If you notice excess color, reduce usage to once a week or less and use high-quality products to keep your locks moisturized.
Blue Shampoo for Brunettes and Salt-and-Pepper Hair
If you’re a brunette or have salt-and-pepper hair, blue shampoo is essential for keeping your color vibrant and free of brassy tones. It combats orange and brassy hues by depositing blue-violet pigments to neutralize the undertones.
Brunettes’ best bet is to opt for a shampoo with violet molecules that are designed specifically for darker hair colors without highlights. For optimal results, apply it on wet hair, massage into the scalp and down the shaft, then leave it on for 2–4 minutes before rinsing with cool water.
Maintenance tips include reducing the use of blue shampoo if excess color appears. For toning salt-and-pepper shades, use both purple and blue shampoos alternatively as needed, depending on the predominant hue.
How to Choose the Best Shampoo for Your Hair Color
Choosing the right shampoo for your hair color can be tricky, especially when it comes to understanding the significant differences between blue and purple shampoos. Knowing who should use a blue or purple shampoo will help you pick the best product for maintaining and enhancing your desired hue.
Significant Differences Between Blue and Purple Shampoos
Understanding the significant differences between these two types of shampoos can help you find the perfect one to maintain your desired hair color. Purple shampoo neutralizes yellow tones, while blue shampoo combats orange and brassy tones by depositing blue-violet pigments.
It is important to consider your predominant tone when choosing between purple and blue. For mostly yellow undertones, use purple. For red or orange undertones, opt for blue.
Both should be applied on wet hair with a massage into the scalp before being left on for 2-4 minutes, depending on brassiness.
Universal products such as Color Care Shampoo may also be considered an alternative option in maintaining hue without using either type of toning product specifically designed for it!
Who Should Use Blue or Purple Shampoo?
Deciding which shampoo is best for your hair color depends on whether you have blonde, brunette, or highlighted hair.
Blondes should opt for purple shampoos with violet molecules to combat unwanted yellow tones. If the predominant tone is orange/yellow, use blue shampoo. If it’s mostly yellow, go with purple.
Highlighted hues should consider the overall tone and then pick a shampoo accordingly. For salt and pepper strands or brunettes without highlights, reach for a blue toning product.
Color care products extend protection and are suitable for both light and dark shades, but they may not provide optimal toning results like dedicated shampoos.
Top 5 Best Blue and Purple Shampoos
Are you searching for the best blue and purple shampoos to help maintain your desired hair color? Look no further than Matrix BrassOff Shampoo, Not Your Mother’s Triple Threat Brunette Shampoo Conditioner, Fanola No Orange Shampoo, Biolage ColorLast Purple shampoo, and Kristin Ess Hair Purple Shampoo Blonde.
Each of these products is specifically designed to target different tones in order to achieve the perfect look.
1. Matrix BrassOff Shampoo
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Matrix BrassOff Shampoo is specifically designed to reduce orange undertones in dark blondes and brunettes who’ve lightened their hair. It’s enriched with Biolage AromaScience fragrance, helping to neutralize and reduce brass and red tones while cleansing the hair without stripping color.
This shampoo works best when used in conjunction with the Brass Off Neutralization Mask for optimal toning results. Its gentle formula is suitable for both natural or chemically treated hair types, as well as color-treated tresses that need a boost of cool tones.
The Matrix BrassOff Shampoo contains coconut oil, which provides shine and prevents breakage. Additionally, the hypoallergenic Tiare flower seals off cuticles for an extra layer of protection against environmental stressors like UV rays or hard water damage.
- Suitable for all types of naturally colored/chemically processed/color-treated hair
- Nourishes and hydrates
- Prevents breakage and protects against environmental stressors
- Enhances warm tones on darker complexions
- Cruelty-free and vegan-friendly formulation
- Can be drying if left on too long
- Contains sulfates
- Not recommended alone – use alongside other purple shampoos
2. Not Mothers Triple Threat Brunette Shampoo Conditioner
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Not Your Mother’s Triple Threat Brunette Shampoo Conditioner helps rid brunettes of undesired brassiness, leaving hair feeling soft and looking refreshed. This blue toning shampoo is specifically designed for brown hair and contains pigments to reduce brassy hues while also fighting orange tones.
It’s sulfate-free, silicone-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, gluten-free, and cruelty/vegan friendly, making it suitable for all types of hair.
Plus, its nourishing formula leaves the locks super soft! When used 2 – 3 times a week in lieu of regular shampoo, you can maintain beautiful color vibrancy without the fear of damage from harsh chemicals.
This gentle but effective product boosts shine and prevents breakage thanks to its coconut oil base, while Tiare flower reinforces cuticles with hypoallergenic properties that soothe your scalp and add luster back into each strand.
Fanola No Orange Shampoo will make sure your brunette tresses remain healthy no matter how often you use them – whether you’re dealing with natural or dyed mops, this one gets the job done!
- Reduces brassiness & fights orange tones
- Sulfate-, silicone-, paraben-, phthalates-, gluten-, and cruelty/vegan friendly
- Boosts shine & prevents breakage due to coconut oil
- Hypoallergenic properties added through Tiare flower
- Mixed results on neutralizing red/orange tones
- Caution may be needed when using conditioners on fine hair
3. Fanola No Orange Shampoo
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Fanola No Orange Shampoo is perfect for reducing grey visibility and cooling off yellow hues on lightened hair. It contains coconut oil to add shine, as well as hypoallergenic Tiare flower to nourish and seal the hair cuticles.
Suitable for brunette, dark blonde, high-level blonde, and warm tones alike, this blue pigment formula works to combat unwanted copper and red reflections while leaving your locks with a brighter color tone.
This product is sulfate-free, so it’s safe for keratin-treated hair too! The application process requires you to wet your strands before lathering the shampoo in from root to tip, then letting it sit between 1-5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Fanola No Orange Shampoo can be used once or twice weekly depending on desired results, but users have reported positive feedback when used more frequently over time.
- Reduces visibility of greys
- Cools yellow hues in lightened hair
- Infused with Coconut Oil & Hypoallergenic Tiare Flower
- Sulfate-Free – Safe For Keratin Treated Hair
- May have a drying effect on some people’s locks
- Strong pigmentation may cause staining
4. Biolage ColorLast Purple Shampoo
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Biolage ColorLast Purple Shampoo is like a toner for your hair, leaving it softer and brighter with its ultra-violet pigment formula that neutralizes brassy tones. This vegan and cruelty-free product is formulated with Biolage AromaScience fragrance to give you a pleasant scent while using the shampoo.
The super concentrated formula means you only need to leave it on your hair for 3 minutes before rinsing off in order to get optimal results, making this an ideal daily use shampoo for those who have lightened their hair or are noticing brassiness from sun exposure.
- Vegan & Cruelty-Free Product
- Super Concentrated Formula
- Neutralizes Brassy Tones
- Pleasant Scent from Biolage AromaScience Fragrance
- Nourishes Hair Cuticles With Coconut Oil & Tiare Flower Extract
- Some users noted a purple residue left on the scalp when scratched under nails even after rinsing out
- Not suitable if looking purely just for cleansing without any tonal effects
- Must be used carefully depending upon desired effect; too much can result in a purple tinge
5. Kristin Ess Hair Purple Shampoo Blonde
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Kristin Ess Hair Purple Shampoo Blonde is perfect for toning both blondes and brunettes, restoring shine to hair with its ultra-violet pigment. It can be used to achieve ashy or pastel lavender tones, while also strengthening the strands thanks to Zip-Up Technology™.
For natural or color-treated hair alike, this sulfate-free formula is cruelty-free and safe for keratin-treated hair. Application is easy – apply a quarter-size amount (or more depending on thickness) onto wet hair and massage into a rich lather before focusing on areas that need extra brass reduction; leave it in longer near the roots if desired.
Users report noticeable toning after just one use! The pleasant scent adds an extra touch of luxury while leaving your locks feeling soft and smelling great – plus, you don’t need much product each time, so it should last quite a while too!
- Effective toning with longer application time (3-5 minutes).
- Pleasant scent & leaves hair soft & smelling great.
- A little goes a long way & removes yellow tones/lightens hair.
- Purple strands may result if not used carefully.
- Bottles may leak & stain shower/tub
- Some users found results exceeded expectations, whereas others expected better results.
How to Use Blue and Purple Shampoos Effectively
Using the right blue or purple shampoo can be a game-changer for your hair. Whether you have blonde, brunette, salt and pepper, or highlighted hair – following these simple application tips will give you the best toning results.
Here’s a 5-step guide to using blue and purple shampoos:
- Always apply it on wet hair; massage into the scalp and down the shaft, then leave it in for 2-4 minutes depending on brassiness levels.
- Rinse with cool water to seal the color before conditioning colored-treated locks with high-quality products like universal color care formulas. These formulas don’t contain pigments but offer long-lasting protection against damage from UV rays and hard water washout of color tones over time.
- For maximum effects, use weekly once you have achieved the desired tonal balance between both shades if multiple undertones are present in your tresses.
- Keep an eye out to see if there is any excess color left from usage, and reduce frequency accordingly.
- You’re all set now! Enjoy those beautiful colored strands without worrying about brassy hues popping up again
Conclusion
Deciding which shampoo is best for your hair can be a tricky decision, but with the right knowledge, you can find the perfect blue or purple shampoo for your hair color needs.
According to statistics, over 50% of people with color-treated hair use purple shampoo, and the remaining half use blue shampoo.
Blondes should opt for purple shampoo, while brunettes, salt-and-pepper hair, and those with orange and brassy undertones should use blue shampoo. Both shampoos neutralize unwanted tones to help you maintain a desired hair color.
When using blue or purple shampoos, always apply to wet hair, massage into the scalp and down the shaft, and rinse with cool water.
