So, you dyed your hair a yellow shade and your hairdresser advised you to add purple shampoo to your care routine.
Why is this? And what exactly does it do? Does purple shampoo lighten or darken hair?
Stay tuned as I’m about to show you how purple shampoo works to keep color-treated hair vibrant for longer.
Can purple shampoo lighten or darken hair?
Strictly speaking, purple shampoo does not contain hair dye, so it does not chemically lighten or darken your hair. However, the buildup of purple dirt can make your hair look darker.
Purple and yellow are complementary colors, meaning they are opposite colors on the color wheel. When colors are combined in the same area, they cancel each other out, creating a muddy shade of gray.
However, adding a small amount of purple pigment to the yellow will neutralize the excessive yellow tint. This is how purple shampoo works.
Adding a small amount of purple pigment to light-colored hair will give you a natural ashy look while also preventing a faded brassy look.
Purple shampoo is essential for maintaining blonde or light-colored hair because minerals found in tap water, chlorine, and air pollution can build up in the hair cuticle, or the outermost layer of the hair, causing damage.
The heat from styling products and UV rays can also dry out your hair and cause damage. The more damage your hair does between colors, the more it oxidizes, causing the color to stand out and look brassy.
Fortunately, the combination of Color Safe and Purple Shampoo can help you maintain your dyed hair much longer than usual. However, since purple shampoo does not contain dyes, only pigments, the effect is temporary.
For best results, use Color Safe Shampoo daily and Purple Shampoo once a week.
Why does my hair look darker when I use purple shampoo?
Purple shampoos don’t darken your hair, but they add dark pigment on top of lighter shades, which can create the illusion that your hair is darker.
Purple shampoo adds pigment to create an ashy look, making your hair look more natural. However, if your hair starts to look cloudy, you’re either using the product too often, leaving it on too long, or you need a cleansing shampoo.
Purple shampoo only sits on top of your hair cuticle and hides the brassiness, so it doesn’t remove the buildup in your hair that caused the yellow tint in the first place.
Clarifying Shampoo deeply cleanses to remove built-up residue and reduce severe yellowing for longer-lasting results.
Not to mention, frequent washing with clarifying shampoos will dry out your hair and cause it to lose color. After using a purifying shampoo, be sure to condition once a week and add purple shampoo to your cleaning routine.
If cleansing shampoos don’t work, have your stylist do a touch-up.
Is purple shampoo safe to use on brown or blonde hair?
We know that purple shampoo is safe for washing blonde and light-colored hair, but what about brown hair?
Purple shampoo won’t harm brown hair, but it’s not always beneficial.
There is no need to use it unless your hair dyed with ombre or balayage is likely to turn blonde.
As mentioned earlier, hairstylists recommend purple shampoo for light-colored hair. This is because it is the opposite of yellow on the color wheel and neutralizes the brassiness.
For people who have dyed their hair brown, blue shampoos are most effective. As buildup builds up on brown hair, it becomes a rusty orange or golden color.
Blue is the complementary or opposite color of orange on the color wheel, so a blue shampoo is a great way to gently condition orange-brown hair.
conclusion
Purple shampoos can create the illusion of darker hair due to the buildup of purple pigment, but they do not physically lighten or darken your hair.
Neutralizes the blonde shade of blonde and light hair, creating an ash look. It is safe for both blonde and brown hair, but the former is more effective.
Use a purple shampoo weekly for best results, and consider a clarifying shampoo if your hair looks overly dark or muddy.
