Blue Vs Purple Shampoo: Which is Best? (2024)

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The allure of golden locks beckons, yet brassy tones leave hair lackluster. Like yin and yang, purple and blue shampoos counteract to revive vibrancy.

As opposites on the color wheel, purple neutralizes yellow while blue cancels orange. So whether you’re a blonde battling brassiness or a brunette overcoming orange hues, the right shampoo brings balance.

Let these colorful toners liberate your inner radiance. One simple lather summons your hair’s potential for luminous glory.

Blue Vs Purple Shampoo

When comparing blue and purple shampoo, you need to understand their unique purposes.

Blue shampoo targets brassiness in brunettes.

Purple shampoo brightens blondes by neutralizing yellow tones.

Deciding which one to use depends on your hair color and goals for tone correction.

Purpose and Benefits of Blue Shampoo

Blue shampoo is designed to remove orange tones from brunette or darker hair.

As a colorist, I often recommend blue shampoo for my brunette clients who want to neutralize brassiness and keep their color multi-dimensional.

The blue pigments in the shampoo cancel out unwanted warm undertones, whether from balayage, ombré, or natural hair oxidation over time.

By keeping orange and red tones at bay, blue shampoo helps maintain the cool ashiness that flatters darker locks.

Used properly, it’s a simple at-home toner between salon visits.

Just a few minutes with blue shampoo makes a big difference in keeping brunette color looking fresh.

Purpose and Benefits of Purple Shampoo

Purple shampoo, on the other hand, offers its own unique benefits and purpose in the world of color care.

Specifically formulated to target brassiness and yellow tones, purple shampoo utilizes violet pigments to neutralize unwanted warmth in lighter blonde, silver, and gray hair.

By keeping yellow brassiness at bay, purple shampoo helps maintain bright, vibrant color; enhances shine; and extends time between dye jobs.

Both blondes and brunettes with highlights can benefit from occasionally swapping in this toning product when unwanted yellow appears.

How Do Blue and Purple Shampoos Work?

You’ll be happy to know that blue and purple shampoos utilize color theory to effectively neutralize brassy tones in color-treated hair. These specially formulated shampoos contain pigments that adhere to hair fibers and counteract unwanted warm shades.

We can delve deeper into the precise effects blue and purple shampoos have on different hair colors.

Color Theory and Neutralizing Tones

How do blue and purple shampoos utilize color theory to neutralize unwanted tones in your hair?

1. Color-Correcting Pigments:
   • Blue shampoo contains blue pigments, while purple shampoo contains purple pigments.
   • These pigments work by counteracting the warm tones that can make your hair appear brassy or yellow.
2. Tone-Correcting Shampoos:
   • Both blue and purple shampoos are specifically formulated to neutralize brassiness in different shades of hair.
   • Blue shampoo targets orange tones, while purple shampoo focuses on yellow tones.

3.Extend Time Between Colorings:

• By using either a blue or a purple toning shampoo regularly, you can help extend the time between salon visits for touch-ups and keep your hair color vibrant for longer periods.

Effects on Different Hair Colors

To understand how blue and purple shampoos work, it’s important to consider their effects on different hair colors. These toning shampoos are designed to neutralize unwanted tones in specific hair types and shades.

Blue shampoo is effective for dark hair with balayage or highlights, while purple shampoo works wonders for blonde or gray strands.

For a comprehensive understanding of the effects on various hair colors, refer to the table below:

Hair Color	Effects of Blue Shampoo	Effects of Purple Shampoo
Black	Helps neutralize orange tones	May not have significant effect
Red	Can help minimize brassiness	Not recommended as it may enhance warmth

Gray Reduces yellow undertones Tones down any yellowness

Multicolored Can maintain vibrancy in highlighted areas Evens out overall color

Virgin Provides shine and dimension Minimizes yellow or brassy hues

By choosing the right shampoo based on your natural or dyed hair color, you can effectively combat unwanted tones and achieve vibrant results that elevate your hairstyle.

Choosing the Right Shampoo for Your Hair

When deciding between blue and purple shampoo, pay attention to your hair’s prominent undertones.

Blondes should opt for purple shampoo to target yellow tones, while brunettes will benefit more from blue shampoo to cancel unwanted brassiness.

Choosing the shampoo that directly counters your hair’s undertone will help keep color vibrant between salon visits.

Blonde Hair and Purple Shampoo

If you have blonde hair, you’ll want to opt for purple shampoo to keep your color looking vibrant and cool.

Purple shampoo is specially formulated to neutralize yellow tones in lighter hair, making it perfect for maintaining the brightness of your blonde locks. Whether you have dark blonde hair or gray strands, purple shampoo can help maintain their natural beauty.

It’s also a great choice if you have balayage, ombré, or highlights as it helps keep those colors looking fresh and free from unwanted brassiness.

Brunette Hair and Blue Shampoo

However, if you have darker brunette hair, you’ll likely want to use a blue shampoo instead.

Formulated with blue-violet pigments, blue shampoo combats orange hues by depositing tone-correcting colorants onto strands. It keeps brunette hair with balayage, ombré highlights, or even conventional foils looking shiny and vibrant by counteracting oxidation and preventing fading between salon visits.

For best results, lather blue shampoo into your locks for 2-4 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

How Long Should You Leave Blue or Purple Shampoo in Your Hair?

When it comes to using blue or purple shampoo, proper application and rinse time are key.

To get the best results, lather up the shampoo in your hands and work it into your scalp using gentle circular motions.

Leave the shampoo on for two to four minutes depending on how much brassiness you want to neutralize in your hair.

After rinsing with cool water, always follow up with a conditioner for colored hair to seal in moisture and maintain vibrancy.

Proper Application and Rinse Time

How long should you leave blue or purple shampoo in your hair?

Avoid over-application. Apply to wet hair, lather, and leave on for 2-4 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

Leaving blue or purple shampoo on too long can lead to an overly ashy or violet hue. Rinsing thoroughly prevents residue buildup. Using a conditioner helps lock in tone and maintains soft, vibrant strands.

Frequency of Use

You’ll want to use blue or purple shampoo every couple of washes to maintain your hair color’s vibrancy.

As a licensed cosmetologist, I recommend using it once a week to once every two weeks.

Using it too frequently, like every wash, can make hair dry or dull.

For blondes, target yellow tones weekly.

Brunettes should use blue shampoo once monthly to cancel brassiness.

Adjust frequency as needed, from weekly to monthly, depending on color upkeep goals.

Monitor hair health and skip use if locks become parched.

Tips for Using Blue or Purple Shampoo

When using blue or purple shampoo, it’s crucial you follow directions to avoid residue.

To maintain vibrancy between coloring services, apply to wet hair and leave on 2-4 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

Checking for buildup and using a clarifying shampoo occasionally will also help these products work their best.

Removing Shampoo Residue

When rinsing out blue or purple shampoo, using cool water helps seal your hair cuticle and prevent residue buildup.

It’s important to rinse with cool water as it closes the cuticle and locks in the color.

To further remove any shampoo residue, consider shampooing twice with a clarifying shampoo followed by a deep conditioning treatment.

Look for sulfate-free products to avoid stripping your hair of its natural oils while still maintaining vibrant color.

Maintaining Color and Vibrancy

To maintain the vibrancy of your color-treated hair, it’s important to follow these tips for using blue or purple shampoo:

• Use only high quality, color-safe styling products and hair masks to protect color from fading.
• Check out hair care products that boost shine.
• Look for formulas that enhance vibrancy.
• Try deep conditioning treatments to reduce frizz.
• Always follow with a moisturizing conditioner to add moisture.

Common Misconceptions About Blue and Purple Shampoos

You may have heard that purple and blue shampoos can damage hair. However, when used properly and not over-used, these pigmented shampoos are actually quite gentle. Let’s talk about some myths regarding potential side effects of tone-correcting shampoos.

Effectiveness on Different Hair Types

Despite their effectiveness on blonde and brunette hair, blue and purple shampoos aren’t as effective on other hair types.

They may not work well on gray, black, or brown hair, and they can actually make highlighted or balayage hair look unnatural.

Potential Side Effects or Risks

There are no known side effects or risks associated with using blue or purple shampoo.

However, it’s important to note that these products can dry hair, so it isn’t recommended to use them every day.

Additionally, blue shampoo can stain skin, so it’s important to avoid contact with the eyes and skin.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)