What Will Purple Shampoo Do To My Hair?

1. It’s bright purple (if you hadn’t noticed!)

Be warned, if a product claims to tone blonde hair but comes in a barely-there shade of pastel violet, it’s not going to make a very dramatic difference (or any difference) to your color. Toning shampoos are bright for a reason; unwanted brass won’t budge until it's canceled out by a hefty hit of purple (they sit opposite each other on the color wheel). When hair is bleached or pre-lightened, the natural pigment is removed from the hair’s cortex, leaving an underlying natural warmth that can creep back in as your chemical color begins to fade. Purple shampoo works by enveloping each strand, neutralizing unwanted yellow tones for a cooler, crisper blonde.

2. It could have the opposite effect if you overuse it

Life is all about balance, and the same theory should be applied to your purple shampoo schedule. While it can brighten and cool unwanted warmth when used once or twice a week, slathering purple shampoo on too frequently puts your hair at risk of taking on a dull, gray hue (which certainly isn’t the intended result). Follow the instructions carefully, easing in with once-a-week use and adding to that if required. And there’s no need to panic if you overdo it. Think of it as a temporary stain – a good clarifying shampoo should re-balance over-toned hair.

3. Purple shampoo works best as part of a team

We’ve already mentioned how overusing purple shampoo can result in a dull finish, which is why you’ll need alternative in-shower products for your non-purple wash days. It’s really important to continue your color care with this alternating system, making sure it’s sulfate-free (to preserve your color), and contains other restoring ingredients that improve your hair health and extend the life of your color. The Nexxus Color Assuresystem contains a ProteinFusion blend rich in the same amino acids (cysteine, glutamic acid, and serine) that are lost during the chemical coloring process, allowing you to gently cleanse, restore, and protect between your purple toning sessions.

4. A good purple shampoo can treat as well as tone

It’s all very well using a shampoo that instantly tones bleach-blonde hair, but what about the damage caused by said bleaching? We’ve mentioned the kinds of products you should be alternating your “purple days” with, but you should also consider a toning shampoo that works to replenish and restore damaged hair. Blonde Assure Color Toning Shampoo contains keratin protein, which our hair is naturally made up of. By infusing our color-care systems with the very building blocks hair loses when exposed to external aggressors, the hair’s resilience is improved, and as a result, its color remains vibrant for longer.