Can You Use Purple Toning Shampoo On Brown Hair?

 

When it comes to getting rid of brassiness, purple shampoo is the most valuable player in your hair care routine. You may have thought purple-colored products were only reserved for your friends with silver and blonde tresses, but we’re here to tell you that purple shampoo, conditioners and masks can also be helpful at neutralizing unwanted tones in some brown hair and black tresses too. 

Not only can it help tone color treated hair, but the right routine can also give you brighter, healthier-looking strands. But there are caveats. So below, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about purple shampoo for brunette hair, including how to use it in your hair care routine.

What Is Purple Shampoo for Brown Hair?

Purple shampoo for brown hair is the same product as purple shampoo for blonde hair. The color purple is used because purple sits across orange on the color wheel, so purple hair treatments will neutralize any brassy hair tones and help your strands look fresh.

How to Use Purple Shampoo on Brown Hair

You can use purple shampoo on darker hair colors, but the shade of your strands will make a difference. If you have a full mane of dark hair, using purple shampoo on dark brown hair won’t be particularly effective. However, if you have dark hair with highlights or lightened strands, using purple shampoo on light brown hair will tone and color correct your strands. 

Everything from UV rays and excessive heat styling to the minerals in your water can turn your brunette hair brassy with unwanted orange or yellow undertones just weeks after coloring. When you use a purple shampoo on highlighted brown hair or light brown hair, you’ll be left with hair that’s shinier, richer, and more vibrant while eliminating brassiness or muddy tones.

To incorporate a purple shampoo into your routine, just swap out your regular shampoo for a purple option. It’ll still clean your hair and scalp like a traditional shampoo, but it has an added toning factor that will balance out color treated strands. 

How to Apply Purple Shampoo on Brown Hair

Generally, you won’t need to use purple shampoo every day. You can use it one to two times per week in place of your regular shampoo or once you start to notice brassiness creeping in.

Grab your purple shampoo, and massage it in your strands. Some purple shampoos will instruct you to leave the product on for one to three minutes, while others will tell you to rinse it out right away. With either method, you should continue with conditioner after rinsing out the shampoo.

How to Choose the Right Purple Shampoo

You’ll want to choose a purple shampoo that’s deep in color, so you know the shampoo is really going to help correct brassiness in your darker hair. 

A good place to start is with the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo, which is formulated with hibiscus and purple dye, and without parabens and harsh salts. To maximize its benefits, you’ll always want to pair your purple shampoo with a purple conditioner like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Conditioner for added moisture. Just follow the instructions on the product to let the purple pigments do their thing. 

If you really want to up the ante, incorporate a purple hair mask, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Anti Brass Purple Mask Treatment, into your routine. It’s a once weekly treatment that works to deeply nourish your strands and neutralize brassiness in just minutes. Apply it to damp hair, then leave on for five minutes before rinsing. To avoid over-toning, use a purple hair mask no more than once a week.

How Long Should You Leave Purple Shampoo on Brown Hair?

You should leave purple shampoo on your brown hair for as long as your shampoo label says, but most purple shampoos are safe to leave on your hair for up to 15 minutes. Any longer than that and you may risk the shampoo actually turning your strands purple — which is not a bad hair color choice, but we have great hair dyes for that.

Next: Is It Okay to Use Purple Shampoo Every Day?

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