Does Purple Shampoo Actually Work on Brown Hair? Tips to Cancel Brassiness (2024)

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Ever wondered if you can use purple shampoo on your brown hair? You’re not alone.

Purple shampoo is typically used to tone blonde and gray hair, but it can also be used on brown hair to cancel out brassiness.

In this article, we’ll explore whether purple shampoo actually works on brown hair and provide tips on how to use it effectively.

We’ll also discuss alternatives to purple shampoo for brown hair and offer recommendations for maintaining healthy brown hair with purple shampoo.

Get ready to uncover the secrets of purple shampoo and unleash your brunette beauty!

Using Purple Shampoo on Brown Hair

You may be wondering if purple shampoo actually works on brown hair.

While traditionally used on blonde hair, purple shampoo can help tone down brassiness in brown hair with highlights or lighter brown shades.

Let’s explore how purple shampoo addresses unwanted brassiness in brunette tresses.

Effectiveness of Purple Shampoo on Brown Hair

How effectively can purple shampoo address brassiness in brown hair?

• You’ll find it works well on highlighted, balayaged, or color-treated brown locks by neutralizing unwanted warm pigments.
• Eliminates yellow and orange brass tones
• Brightens highlighted strands
• Maintains depth of brown color
• Restores cool tones
• Helps balance overall hair color

The violet pigments in purple shampoo cancel out the yellow and brassy tones that can develop in brown hair due to environmental factors.

Using it 1-2 times weekly helps refresh color-treated hair and keep brown locks free of brassiness.

It brings out the cool undertones for brighter, shinier strands.

Addressing Brassy Tones in Brown Hair

When your brown hair develops brassy yellow or orange tones, you can use purple shampoo to neutralize them.

As a toning technique, purple shampoo offsets undesired tones by depositing purple pigments that counter brassy hues.

Using purple shampoo sparingly will help maintain highlighted hues and contribute to overall color maintenance without over-toning.

It’s a balancing act, so adjust frequency based on results.

How to Use Purple Shampoo on Brown Hair

When using purple shampoo on brown hair:

• Wet your hair thoroughly.
• Work the shampoo through to the ends.
• Leave on for 5-20 minutes, depending on the brassiness level.
• Rinse and follow with a hydrating conditioner.

Tailor the frequency and leave-on duration to your hair’s needs for optimal results without overtoning.

Proper Application of Purple Shampoo

Applying purple shampoo on brown hair involves:

• Wetting your hair thoroughly.
• Working the shampoo through the strands from roots to ends.
• Letting it process for 5-20 minutes based on the level of brassiness you’re looking to neutralize.
• Massaging the purple shampoo into your hair, ensuring even coverage from root to tip.

The longer you leave the shampoo in, the more it will deposit color-neutralizing pigments, though don’t exceed 20 minutes to avoid over-toning.

Rinse thoroughly, follow with conditioner, and incorporate into your routine once a week or as needed to prevent brassiness.

Using proper application techniques will refresh your brown hair’s color and prevent unwanted warm tones.

Duration of Leave-in Time

Having massaged the purple shampoo throughout your brown hair, you’ll want to leave it in for about 5 to 20 minutes depending on the intensity of brassiness you’re trying to neutralize.

• For subtle brassiness, 5 minutes is sufficient to refresh your highlights.
• To address intense yellow tones, leave the shampoo on for 15-20 minutes for optimal application.
• Exceeding 20 minutes risks an undesirable purple tint. The slight discoloration will fade after one wash, but leaving it on too long negatively impacts efforts towards color maintenance.

Choosing the Right Purple Shampoo for Brown Hair

When using purple shampoo on brown hair, it’s crucial to select the right formula and shade to effectively neutralize brassiness.

Opt for a rich, deep-purple pigmented shampoo to combat the intensity of warmer tones in darker brunette shades.

Finally, to avoid over-toning, alternate your purple shampoo with a clarifying or moisturizing shampoo.

Effectiveness on brown hair

How well does purple shampoo work on brunette locks?

You’ll find it effectively addresses brassiness in highlighted or color-treated brown hair, but isn’t as useful for neutralizing red tones in darker shades.

This table summarizes purple shampoo’s effectiveness on different shades of brown hair:

Brown Hair Shade	Addresses Yellow Tones	Addresses Red Tones
Light Brown	Yes	Partially
Medium Brown	Partially	No
Dark Brown	No	No

Proper application techniques

You’ll want to wet your hair thoroughly.

Work the shampoo through strands from roots to ends, leaving it on for 5-10 minutes depending on the level of brassiness you need to cancel.

When applying purple shampoo to brown hair, massage it gently but thoroughly from roots to tips.

Let it sit for 5-10 minutes based on brassiness, then rinse completely.

Using purple shampoo once or twice weekly helps prevent brassiness in brown hair.

Alternatives for brassy tones

Certain shades require alternatives to effectively address the brassiness in your brown hair.

Opt for a blue-violet toner or clarifying shampoo to neutralize orange and red undertones.

Color-depositing conditioners boost cool brunette tones between purple shampoo applications.

Also try moisture-rich masks or leave-in treatments specifically formulated for color-treated hair when brassiness persists in highlighted brown strands despite using purple toning products.

Alternatives to Purple Shampoo for Brown Hair

While purple shampoo can help cancel brassiness in brown hair, it does have its limitations.

You may want to try blue shampoo specifically designed for brunette tones.

Or, try other hair products that moisturize and nourish to improve hair health and shine.

Using alternatives like blue shampoo or hydrating masks can effectively combat brassiness in brown hair when purple shampoo alone doesn’t give you the results you want.

Blue Shampoo for Brown Hair

In lieu of purple shampoo for brown hair, you’d opt for blue shampoo to target unwanted brassy tones instead.

Blue shampoo helps banish the Brunette Blues and win the Brassiness Battle by neutralizing reddish and orange hues that can arise in darker brown tresses.

Blending blue and purple pigments, it delivers ideal Tonal Taming across the Shampoo Spectrum to restore the glossy Brown Beauty of your hair.

Rely on blue shampoo weekly to keep brown hair vibrant, negate brassiness, and maintain the depth and dimension of your color.

It’s an effective alternative when purple shampoo alone fails to fully cancel out brassiness in brown hair.

Other Hair Products for Addressing Brassiness

Four hair products you can use as alternatives to purple shampoo for addressing brassiness in brown hair are:

Clarifying shampoos

Apple cider vinegar

Vitamin C treatments

Gloss treatments

Clarifying shampoos remove product buildup and mineral deposits to refresh hair color.

An apple cider vinegar rinse closes the cuticle for added shine.

Weekly vitamin C treatments boost moisture and brighten highlighted strands.

Clear gloss treatments act as a conditioning toner to neutralize brassiness and deeply nourish for optimal hair health.

Employ toning alternatives like these for maximum color vibrancy between purple shampoo applications.

Frequency of Using Purple Shampoo on Brown Hair

When determining how often to use purple shampoo on your brown hair, it’s recommended to start with once-a-week applications.

This allows you to gradually assess its effectiveness at targeting brassiness without overloading your strands.

While some recommend using purple shampoo every two to three washes, limit yourself to weekly use initially.

The vibrancy it restores to highlighted brown hair can be maintained with a once-weekly toning schedule.

The crucial aspect is observing how your hair responds and increasing frequency accordingly.

If brassiness persists between washes, gradually use purple shampoo more regularly.

However, for those with dry or fragile hair, once a week provides ideal brassiness control without compromising moisture.

Overall, frequency management depends on your hair’s needs – its thickness, porosity, color maintenance requirements, and sensitivity.

With mindful observation and adjustment, the ideal toning schedule for controlling brassiness emerges.

Through strategic purple shampoo incorporation into your hair care regime, you can successfully cancel brassiness while maintaining healthy, nourished strands.

Potential Effects of Overusing Purple Shampoo on Brown Hair

While purple shampoo can effectively address brassiness in brown hair, overusing it comes with risks.

Using purple shampoo too often on brunette strands can result in potential hair damage and undesirable color changes.

When overused, the pigments in purple shampoo can build up on brown hair over time. This leads to dry, brittle strands that lack moisture and appear dull or lifeless.

Additionally, excessive purple shampoo use alters your hair’s color, imparting noticeable violet or purple tones.

Furthermore, some users experience scalp irritation from overusing purple shampoo. The scalp may become itchy or flaky. Skin sensitivity and reactions are possible even if you haven’t had issues with other hair products.

To prevent damage, only use your purple shampoo once or twice a week. Pay attention to any color changes or dryness issues.

While purple shampoo tackles brassiness in brown hair, moderation is key to maintain healthy, bouncy locks.

Recommendations for Maintaining Healthy Brown Hair With Purple Shampoo

By pairing purple shampoo with nourishing conditioners and hair masks, you’ll tackle brassiness without sacrificing hair health.

To retain moisture balance, use a hydrating conditioner after purple shampoo rinses to restore lipids and proteins.

For deeper nourishment, apply a hair mask once weekly when combatting brassiness in darker hair or highlights.

Look for formulas with oils and butters like argan, coconut, or shea which penetrate strands with vitamins and antioxidants.

This maintains hair’s elasticity to prevent drying and breakage, which purple pigments can sometimes cause.

Strategically incorporate moisture-rich hair products while reaping purple shampoo’s benefits for brassiness control and color vibrancy.

Healthy hair can better hold onto dye molecules for richer brown tones.

Using a sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo for your regular wash also helps maintain moisture balance important for color longevity and preventing unwanted warmth in darker hair.

With the right haircare regimen, brown hair stays glossy and vibrant while keeping brassiness at bay.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)