If you’ve ever gone blonde, you know the struggle is real—warm tones creep in quicker than you’d like. And that’s where purple shampoo comes in (SOME of the time). It’s the product everyone reaches for to fix their hair and keep blonde looking salon-fresh. But here’s the catch: while it can help tone certain shades, there are a lot of myths and mistakes around how it’s used. Let’s break them down and explain the truth about blonde toning.
What Is Purple Shampoo and How Does It Work?
Purple shampoo is a toning shampoo infused with violet pigments. These pigments are designed to cancel out yellow tones in blonde or silver hair. Since purple sits opposite yellow on the color wheel, it helps neutralize unwanted warmth.
But here’s the surprising part: not all undertones are yellow. Many shades lean more orange aka brassy and purple shampoo doesn’t cancel out orange. This is where a lot of people get confused.
The Big Misconception: Making Blonde “Brighter”
Many people’s go-to belief is that using purple shampoo will make their blonde look brighter. In reality, it often does the opposite.
Here’s why:
- Blonde brightness needs a touch of yellow. In hairdresser’s terms, yellow is called gold. And here’s the truth: gold is not a bad thing. In fact, if your goal is a creamy, luminous blonde, you actually need some gold in your hair. Removing it completely with purple shampoo makes your hair look flatter, duller, and overly ashy.
- Purple tones neutralise yellow, not orange. If your hair leans orange, purple shampoo won’t correct it.
So instead of brightening, overusing purple shampoo can leave blonde hair looking lifeless.
Myths About Purple Shampoo
Myth 1: Purple Shampoo Will Dye Your Hair
It won’t dye your hair. Instead, it deposits subtle pigments to tone it.
Myth 2: You Should Use It Every Day
Daily use can strip too much gold and make your hair lose vibrancy. Unless you want the ashy look then go wild.
Myth 3: It Fixes Every Shade of Warmth
It only works on yellow tones. Orange shades need a different approach, like blue shampoo.
Mistakes People Make
Leaving It On Too Long
Hoping for more brightness often backfires, leaving hair looking violet or gray.
Using It on the Wrong Undertones
Purple shampoo won’t help with orange warmth; you need a different toner.
Thinking Gold Is Bad
Gold is what keeps blonde bright, creamy, and glowing. Without it, blonde turns flat and dull.
How to use Purple Shampoo properly
- Use It Sparingly – 1–2 times per week is usually enough. TOP TIP; if your purple shampoo is quite strong, mix it with a non violet shampoo to dilute it.
- Time It Right – Shampoo your hair with regular hydrating shampoo first, then on the second shampoo use the purple shampoo.
- Keep Balance – Alternate with hydrating shampoo to avoid dryness and dullness.
- GOLDEN BLONDES - do not use purple shampoo
Our Recommendations
One important thing to remember: not every purple shampoo is good quality. Some formulas can overtone your hair, leaving it looking dull and flat, while others can dry out blonde hair and make it feel brittle.
That’s why we recommend Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Shampoo. It’s a salon-quality formula that tones gently, hydrates, and keeps your blonde soft and shiny instead of dry and fragile. Investing in the right product makes all the difference in keeping your blonde looking healthy and luminous.
Final Thoughts
Purple shampoo is a powerful tool for toning blonde hair, but it’s not the magic answer to every shade. If you want a bright, creamy blonde, you need to embrace a little gold—because gold means shine, vibrancy, and dimension.
The secret? If you feel like you need your hair refreshed in between foil appointments, pop back to the salon for a toner refresh and don’t risk over-toning with purple shampoo!