Why blondes love purple shampoo
As colourists, no one knows the difficulties of achieving the perfect ice blonde hair colour more than you. The last thing you need is for your gorgeous colour creation to fall victim to dreaded yellowness! That’s why picking the best purple shampoo for your clients is an absolute must.
What is purple shampoo used for?
If you’re not already familiar with purple shampoo and conditioner, never fear; we’re here to share all. One step on from neutralising silver shampoo, purple toning shampoo uses intense, violet pigments to expertly target and eliminate yellow tones. These unwanted tones are prone to appear in blonde, silver, or grey hair – they might exist naturally in the hair, or clients might notice yellowing as colour pigment begins to break down after lightening services. While we love a warm, golden blonde, when brassiness forms in this way, it can leave hair looking dull and lacklustre.
Well not anymore! Armed with a professional purple shampoo, you (and your clients) can take blonde hair from brassy to classy in an instant. Also known as anti-yellow shampoo or no yellow shampoo, most salon brands now offer a tailored shampoo and conditioner range specifically designed to breathe new life into blondes.
By taking hair colouring knowledge of the colour wheel, you’ll see that yellow’s opposite is purple. This means that using a toning shampoo infused with purple dye will expertly counteract brassy, yellow tones. Not only this, but purple shampoo for blonde hair also enhances the cool tonal direction of your client’s hair, leaving blondes super clean, crisp and luminous.
How to use purple shampoo
Because it’s so effective, clients should only need to use a purple toning shampoo once a week. Simply apply and lather as you would a regular shampoo, paying close attention to the brassiest areas. If hair is particularly discoloured and clients want an super-cool results, toning shampoo can be left on for a few minutes to really get that neutralising action going. However, be warned! Leaving purple toner shampoo on for too long can result in hair absorbing some purple tones. Make sure clients check the information of the professional brand being used for how long to leave purple shampoo on to get the best results.
If hair needs an extra boost of cool, or more intense nourishment, follow with a purple hair mask. These pigmented hair treatments will intensify the neutralisation while providing deep conditioning for hair that’s as soft and manageable as it is radiant.
Toning shampoos, conditioners and masks are also a great add-ons to lightening services. Used at the backwash, a professional purple shampoo works as a blonde hair toner, helping to really enhance those cool tones and leave your client’s blonde looking crystal clear.
Check out some of our favourite purple shampoos, conditioners and masks.
A.S.P System Blonde Anti-Yellow Shampoo
A super gentle, sulphate-free colour-correcting shampoo that neutralises unwanted warmth and adds a hint of silver to grey and white tones.
This pH-balanced toning shampoo blends supercharged violet pigments with antioxidative blueberry extract to fight brassiness and banish free radicals.
OSMO Super Silver No Yellow Duo
This twin pack does it all! Intensely-pigmented No Yellow Shampoo and Mask leave blondes soft and manageable with stunningly cool tones.
What about brunettes?
Brassiness doesn’t only affect blondes. That’s why over the last few years we’ve seen more and more toning shampoos specifically formulated for brunettes. Warm tones on brown hair are more likely to appear as orange or red hues. Going back to the colour wheel, that means blue or green pigments are your best bet for neutralising reds and oranges. Blue shampoo works in exactly the same way as purple, combining professional cleansing properties with bright blue pigments to correct unwanted tones.
Looking for the best blue shampoo for brown hair? Look no further.
Schwarzkopf Goodbye Orange Shampoo
Vegan-friendly and sulphate free, this no orange shampoo is infused with Fibreplex Bonding Technology to strengthen hair as it neutralises.
A.S.P System Blonde Anti Orange Shampoo
Like its anti-yellow counterpart, this sulphate-free blue toning shampoo uses intense colour-correcting pigments to brighten natural blonde and pre-lightened hair while cooling tones in darker brown hair. A.S.P also produce a multi-use Anti-Yellow/Anti-Orange Conditioner for extra smoothness and shine.
Great for natural or dyed brunettes, this toning shampoo with green pigments and green tea extract counteracts redness while conditioning and maintaining the hair colour.
How to prevent brassiness?
So we know how to fight brassy tones with a purple or blue shampoo, but how do we prevent brassiness from forming? The answer? It’s all in the haircare.
Keeping hair healthy, strong, and conditioned is a great way to ensure locks look bright and full of life.
Pick the right shampoo. When your clients aren’t using their anti-yellow or blue toning shampoo, make sure their daily routine gives them the care they need. Extra colour protection? Try the specialised Wella ColorMotion+ regime, formulated to defend against colour fade and leave hair super strong. Fragile or damaged hair? Choose a deep-repairing shampoo. We love the Kadus Fiber Infusion range; enriched with keratin to leave hair up to 95% stronger.
Avoid chlorine. A known coloured hair aggressor, chlorine strips hair of its natural oils leaving it dry, brittle, and more prone to brassiness. If clients don’t want to opt for a swim cap, make sure they have the best hair care products to tackle the damaging effects. Why not give them a Wella Invigo Sun Care Gift Set to try. This trio of goodness includes a shampoo, conditioner and sun protection spray to defend against sun and chlorine damage, leaving locks vibrant and shiny.
Heat protection. Nothing dulls hair like heat damage. Prevent fade and promote radiance with a salon-quality heat protection spray. ghd bodyguard is our ultimate fave when it comes to heat protection – plus it smells so divine you’ll be wanting to use it as a body spray too!
1 Comment
I am hair colorist and now I have blonde hair. nice advise. thanks