Purple Shampoo Is the Number One Non-Negotiable in My Blonde Hair Routine

Bye, brassiness.

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As someone who has been pretty much every shade of blonde under the sun—golden, butter, honey, bleached, sandy, and rich blonde (you name it, I’ve been it)—I started my love affair with purple shampoo pretty early. I don’t even remember the name of the colorist who gave me my first highlights freshman year of high school, but I do remember her instilling in me the diligence of using a purple shampoo to keep my hair from transforming into an less-than-fabulous shade of tarnished, orange-yellow.

If you’ve ever dipped a toe in going blonde, embraced your gorgeous grays, or wanted to stretch time between salon appointments and still maintain your fresh highlights, I’m here to assure you that the fight to keep your hair luminous and bright doesn’t have to be so hard. Purple shampoo is the number one tool you need in your arsenal against brassiness and discoloration. Why? Color theory, baby.

"Purple shampoo works to neutralize unwanted brassiness or yellowing tones in blonde, gray, silver, and highlighted hair, and to help maintain the integrity of your hair color," explains celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel. "By using a purple pigment to counteract these tones, purple shampoos can help brighten and restore vibrancy to hair while preventing color fade in between salon services."

We spoke to the experts to break down everything there is to know about purple shampoos, like how and when to use purple shampoo, and how to find the best formula for your hair's needs.

The Best Purple Shampoos

Contributing beauty writer Brianna Peters uses Oribe#039;s purple shampoo.

Contributing beauty writer Brianna Peters uses Oribe's purple shampoo.

(Image credit: Brianna Peters)

Contributing beauty writer Brianna Peters applies Christophe Robin purple shampoo.

Contributing beauty writer Brianna Peters applies Christophe Robin purple shampoo.

(Image credit: Brianna Peters)

Contributing beauty writer Brianna Peters applies Virtue#039;s purple shampoo.

Contributing beauty writer Brianna Peters applies Virtue's purple shampoo.

(Image credit: Brianna Peters)

hannah baxter before and after purple shampoo

(Image credit: Hannah Baxter)

Other Purple Shampoos I Love

Who Should Use a Purple Shampoo?

Pretty much everything can affect the integrity of your hair color—the minerals in your water, exposure to the sun, heat styling, and of course, what shampoos, conditioners, and leave-ins you use regularly.

Ellis says that if your highlights, platinum color, or grays look dull or yellow, it's the best time to look into a purple shampoo, just as brunettes often turn to blue shampoos when their locks look dull. Think of it as you do color-correcting makeup—where a green concealer can help buff out redness, purple shampoo can help neutralize warm, yellow tones.

"You want to use a purple shampoo when you start to see those warmer tones come through in your blonde—when it starts to get yellowy-brassy looking," Ellis explains. "Typically, people use it once every other week once they start to see brassiness (usually six to eight weeks post-color). I recommend talking with your colorist about the frequency with which you use it, depending on your color."

Kelly adds that purple shampoo is only a good fit for people with light or cooler-toned hair. "You cannot use purple shampoo on caramel highlights," he says. It will not do anything. It’s not light enough for the color to grab on to." He also adds that purple shampoo works wonders "if your hair isn’t light enough or your hair was highlighted or colored in properly."

Remember that purple shampoo is meant to be a temporary fix until your next professional color appointment—not a permanent solve. "The more you use purple shampoo, the more it makes your blonde look dull, because you are continuously depositing color shampoo," Kelly points out. So, while keeping a bottle on hand is important, that doesn't mean you can skip your hair appointments altogether.

What To Look For in a Purple Shampoo

The best purple shampoo is one that keeps your hair fresh and vibrant by eliminating yellow, brassy tones that build up on hair. High-quality ingredients and proper use make the biggest difference in results.

Ingredients:

"Look for a purple shampoo with natural colorants as they tend to be less harsh than synthetic dyes, especially for chemically treated or damaged hair," says Abergel. "Traditional violet pigments in shampoos, conditioners, and masks for blondes tend to leave build-up on the hair. While the pigment initially deposits onto the hair shaft, it can accumulate over time which often leaves a dull layer on hair."

Frequency of Use:

Another thing to look out for? How often you're using purple shampoo. "You want a purple shampoo that is concentrated enough to do the job, but be wary of anything that is too pigmented, as overuse can very easily dull out the hair," says Henderson. "If you are finding yourself grabbing a purple shampoo more than one to two times a week, it might be a sign that you need to schedule a professional toning service with your colorist."

What Are The Downsides Of Purple Shampoo?

Because you're essentially using purple pigment on your hair—whether natural or synthetic—it's incredibly important to follow the label's instructions for best practices. "Purple shampoos with synthetic dyes, if used too frequently or left on too long, can leave a dull, grayish or violet cast on the hair, making it look muddy rather than bright," says Abergel. "Heavily pigmented shampoos can also stain skin, nails, or bathroom surfaces if not rinsed quickly."

A lot of drawbacks happen when you overuse or don't use purple shampoo properly, adds Henderson. "Additionally, if you are someone who likes warmth in their hair, a purple shampoo should be used far less frequently than someone who prefers a cooler tone," she says. "In this case, a good professional, color-safe shampoo and conditioner may work better."

How Often Should I Use Purple Shampoo for Gray Hair?

Those with gray hair can actually use purple shampoo more often than blondes with varying levels of dimension and depth. "I normally recommend my clients use purple shampoo once a week to once every two weeks," says Henderson. "But someone with silver hair can use purple shampoo a bit more frequently as there isn’t as much of a risk with over toning."

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.”

How We Tested

To find the best purple shampoos, we started making a list using our own experiences with purple shampoos as well as asking editors about their top favorites. From there, we consulted with leading hairstylists and colorists and poured over real customer reviews to ensure each pick was rated highly across the board. We then evaluated each option based on overall performance, ingredients, and more to narrow down our list to the 14 best purple shampoos on the market.

Meet the Experts

Adir Abergel Headshot
Adir Abergel

Adir Abergel is a celebrity hairstylist and creative force behind some of the most legendary red carpet hair moments with clients like Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, Kristen Stewart, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Garner, and more. He is also the creative director at Virtue Labs.

Katelyn Henderson Headshot
Katelyn Henderson

Katelyn Henderson is a master hair color specialist and educator at Spoke and Weal salon in Austin, Texas.

Glenn Ellis
Glenn Ellis

Glenn Ellis is a hair stylist who works between New York City and Los Angeles. Currently, he can be booked at the Andy Lecompte Salon in L.A. or the Marie Robinson Salon in NYC.

Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly

Kevin Kelly is a hairstylist specializing in color and hair extensions. He runs his own salon in Keyport, New Jersey, and also works as a partner with Glam Seamless Hair Extensions.

Brianna Peters
Brianna Peters
Contributing Beauty Writer

Brianna Peters is a writer and consultant with over a decade of experience covering beauty, travel, wellness, and lifestyle. Her work has appeared in goop, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Brides, InStyle, and more. She holds a BA in journalism from the University of Missouri and currently splits her time between NYC and Austin. Her passions are many—when she’s not seeking out the coolest skin expert or uncovering the best Italian spas, you can find her traveling, antiquing, reading two books at a time, or walking her dog, Shiloh. To keep up with her, you can follow her at @briannalavinia.