Purple Shampoo Vs. Blue Shampoo: What Do They Do And Which One Should You Use?

I get asked about this A LOT from my clients, so let's break it all down.

Purple Shampoo

It's literally what it sounds like: shampoo that is purple in color. It deposits a sheer layer of purple onto your hair, which counteracts brassy tones. It comes down to the basic color wheel. Purple is the complimentary color (or opposite on the color wheel) of yellow, so when you put purple on top of yellow, it "cancels" it out, making your hair color look more neutral. This means, it is best used on light blonde hair that has a yellow tone. If your hair is a darker blonde or brown, purple shampoo won't usually work correctly.

Blue Shampoo

Blue shampoo is very similar to purple shampoo, except that... you guessed it... it's blue. Going back to the color wheel, blue is the opposite of orange, so blue shampoo is best for neutralizing hair that has orange or gold tones. If you have dark blonde, light brown, golden, or caramel hair, you'll want to use blue shampoo to combat the brassy tones.

How To Use Purple Or Blue Shampoo Correctly

It's important not to overuse these toning shampoos, because the more you layer the purple or blue color, the more dull your hair can appear over time. The best way to use them is every 3-4 washes. I suggest shampooing with a clarifying shampoo first, followed by the purple or blue shampoo. You can leave the colored shampoo on for a couple of minutes or rinse it out right away, depending on how brassy you hair is, and then finish with a hydrating conditioner. On the wash days in between, make sure you're using a good quality, color-safe shampoo.