The Best Blue and Purple Shampoos to Combat Brassy Hair
If you want to go blonde or lighten up your natural color, but are stressed about how high maintenance it can be, then look no further. We turned to NYC-based colorist and blonde expert, Ryan Pearl, and Miami-based blonde specialist and owner of Mane Tropic Salon, Natalie Peacock, for some expert tips and product recommendations.
What is purple AND BLUE shampoo?
Think of color-depositing shampoo and conditioners like color-correcting makeup, the pigments help to neutralize unwanted tones in your hair. “Blue pigment will cancel out orange tones in darker hair, while purple pigments will cancel out yellow tones in blonde hair,” says Pearl. While they can’t restore the color you left the salon with, they will lay a casting over the hair to reduce the visibility of the brassiness.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I BE USING PURPLE/ BLUE SHAMPOO?
Peacock suggests using a color-depositing shampoo once a week to maintain your color. She also recommends using a clarifying shampoo like Redken’s Detox Shampoo ($22) twice a month, to remove buildup from your hair that could be disturbing the color.
Proper maintenance means choosing quality products to keep your hair healthy and the color fresh, here are eight purple and blue shampoos that will keep your hair looking salon fresh!
When Natalie’s clients want to maintain their cool-toned blonde at home, she recommends Amika’s Bust Your Brass Shampoo and Conditioner ($52), it’s also what she uses at her salon. The super-pigmented formula is ultra-violet to protect ultra-light shades of blonde and is great for both natural and bottle blondes.
Ryan suggests shampoo and conditioner duo from Redken to neutralize unwanted yellow shades and brassiness. This tone-correcting duo is formulated with citric acid to help repair damaged hair from the core.
It’s important to keep your hair hydrated, but it’s particularly important for processed hair. This formula is infused with sunflower seed extract, which prevents color from fading and delivers moisture to dried-out strands. It's also made with olive, linseed, and jojoba oil to keep hair strong and prevent breakage.
A tried and true favorite, Joico’s Color Balance Purple Shampoo ($16) is formulated with deep purple pigments that neutralize yellow tones in blonde hair. This shampoo is packed with hydrating ingredients that will give your thirsty hair an extra boost of moisture.
Pearl recommends Redken’s Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo ($23) to any dark-haired beauties who want to keep their hair cool-toned. The blue-violet pigment will keep brassiness at bay and also add depth to deeper hues.
This blue shampoo is a favorite in our Mixed Makeup Facebook group and is also my personal go-to for keeping my caramel highlights brass-free. It can be a little drying so I always follow up with one of my favorite hair masks to keep my hair moisturized!
This budget-friendly blue shampoo is perfect for brunettes with highlights or lightened hair who want to neutralize warm tones. The only downside is that it's formulated with sulfates which can strip color over time, so you want to make sure you’re not using this more than once a week.
Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo ($57)
Yes, this blue shampoo is quite the splurge, but the bottle is huge and will last you forever. The gentle and hydrating formula has aloe juice and soybean oil to moisturize your hair, while the color-correcting blue pigment minimizes brassy tones in your brunette hair.
Have you tried a purple or blue shampoo? Comment your favorites below!
