Purple Shampoo Turned My Hair Purple

Purple Shampoo Turned My Hair Purple

Well, to be perfectly honest, you're not the first person to visit this page and you're certainly not going to be the last! Purple shampoo can most definitely turn your hair purple, especially if you've really overdone it. It happens, no worry. You'll be pleased to know that your hair isn't going to be purple forever. Purple shampoo will slowly wash away, and when this happens we always advise our clients to just wash their hair a few times with regular shampoo until some of the pigment starts to come out. Then maybe lay off the purple shampoo for just a little while until more of it washes away.

Why does purple shampoo turn my hair purple?

Purple shampoo, violet shampoo, and blue shampoo can all leave their mark on your hair, and by no means should you be worried that these products are going to colour your hair permanently. This very rarely happens and in most cases it's usually down to overuse of the product. Everything in moderation, isn't that what they say? Purple shampoo is no exception to the rule!

Some of these shampoos are very highly pigmented, especially ones such as the Fanola No Yellow Shampoo — it's one of the most intense on the market and it works brilliantly, but you do need to be careful with it. We would always advise you to use a professional brand of purple shampoo rather than wasting your money on supermarket versions that simply do not work as well.

The reason your hair has turned purple is because of the violet pigment contained within the shampoo. The violet, purple, and blue pigment is what neutralises the yellow and brassy tones in the hair. If you look at the colour wheel you'll see that purple sits directly opposite yellow and orange. The opposite colours on the colour wheel are what we use to neutralise the colours we no longer want. The same would apply to those of you who have dyed your hair green — you'd want to apply a warm red or warm brown to neutralise it. This is exactly the same principle as purple shampoo neutralising your yellow and brassy tones.

Purple Shampoo Results

Results of using purple shampoo will always vary from person to person. Everybody's hair is different and one person's hair may be far more porous than another's, particularly if that person's hair has just been bleached. You may find that after bleaching you're more likely to pick up these blue and purple tones, especially on the ends of your hair where there's more damage and more porosity.

Hairdressers have exactly the same issue but with their hands. Washing so many clients' hair day in day out really takes a toll, and when we wash a client's hair with blue or purple shampoo it really does stick to the skin. That's a good sign it's working, but it's also a reminder of why timing matters!

How Can I Get Purple Shampoo Out?

Honestly, the best advice we can give to get your purple-stained hair back to normal is to just wash it a few times using regular shampoo. If you have an anti-dandruff shampoo to hand then that will actually work even better as a clarifying wash. We would also strongly advise that you don't do anything drastic. We've seen blogs suggesting all sorts of home remedies and honestly, if you're not a qualified hairdresser, you may just be opening yourself up to more trouble.

If it's really bothering you and you simply must get your blonde hair back to its former glory, give your hairdresser a call and explain what happened. You won't be the first client to call about it and you certainly won't be the last! If you're local to Wolverhampton, you're always welcome to pop into Revive Hair Artists in Codsall and have a chat with us.

Advice On Using Purple Shampoo

The best advice we can give is to just take it easy. Don't buy a litre bottle of purple shampoo and then leave it on for an hour while you watch the TV — it will stain your hair, and it may even stain your skin after that length of time! Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines and don't go overboard.

Think of purple shampoo as a toning treatment rather than a daily cleanser. Use your regular shampoo for everyday washes and bring the purple shampoo in once or twice a week when you notice brassiness creeping back in. That's really all it needs.

If you find that even a short application time is giving you unwanted tones, a colour depositing shampoo can be a much gentler alternative. They deposit colour more gradually and are a lot harder to overdo.

Purple Shampoos We'd Recommend

If you're looking for a purple shampoo that does the job without going overboard, here are a few of our favourites from the range we stock:

Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo is one of the most popular we sell. It's a gradual toner so it's far less likely to cause the kind of over-pigmentation that leads to purple hair. Great for regular maintenance.

Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo tones and repairs at the same time. Because it's repairing the hair while it tones, it's a brilliant choice if your hair has been through the bleaching process recently.

Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Shampoo is a brilliant all-rounder that's available in multiple sizes. Effective, smells amazing, and easy to control.

Fanola No Yellow Shampoo is the most powerful one we stock. It is highly pigmented so you do need to be careful with timings, but if you have very stubborn brassiness it's incredibly effective. Just don't leave it on for too long!

Browse the full purple shampoo collection to see everything we stock.

Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Shampoo

Can purple shampoo turn your hair purple?

Yes, it can — but it's almost always caused by leaving it on too long or using it too frequently. Purple shampoo contains violet pigment designed to neutralise yellow and brassy tones, but if your hair is particularly porous (especially after bleaching) it can absorb that pigment more readily. The good news is it isn't permanent and will fade with regular washing.

Does purple shampoo make your hair purple?

Purple shampoo won't make your hair purple if you use it correctly. It's designed to deposit just enough violet pigment to cancel out brassiness, not to colour your hair. Problems usually arise when it's left on too long or used every single wash. Follow the instructions on the bottle and you'll be fine.

How do I get purple shampoo out of my hair?

The simplest fix is to wash your hair several times with a regular clarifying shampoo. An anti-dandruff shampoo works particularly well. Avoid doing anything drastic like bleaching at home. With a few regular washes the purple tones will gradually fade. If it's really stubborn, visit your hairdresser rather than attempting DIY fixes.

How long should I leave purple shampoo on?

For most people, 3 to 5 minutes is plenty. If your hair is very yellow or heavily bleached you can extend this to 10 to 15 minutes, but keep a close eye on it. The more porous or damaged your hair, the faster it will absorb the pigment. Never leave it on to soak while you do other things — that's the most common reason hair ends up with an unwanted purple tint.

Why did purple shampoo turn my hair purple?

Most likely one of three reasons: you left it on too long, you used it too often, or you used a highly pigmented formula on bleached or porous hair. Very light blonde and freshly bleached hair are especially susceptible because the hair shaft is more open and absorbs colour faster. Reducing how long you leave it on will usually solve the problem.

Can purple shampoo dye your hair purple permanently?

No. Purple shampoo is not a hair dye and cannot permanently colour your hair. The pigment sits on the outside of the hair shaft rather than penetrating the cortex the way a permanent colour would. Any purple tint it leaves behind will wash out within a few shampoos.

How often should I use purple shampoo?

For most blonde or colour-treated hair, once or twice a week is ideal. Using it every day is one of the quickest ways to end up with an unwanted purple cast. Think of it as a toning treatment rather than a daily cleanser — use a regular shampoo for everyday washes and bring the purple shampoo in when you notice brassiness creeping back in.

Which purple shampoo is best for blonde hair?

It depends on how brassy your hair is and how quickly it picks up tones. A professional-grade purple shampoo will always outperform a supermarket alternative — the pigmentation is more consistent and the formula is better balanced. Browse our purple shampoo collection to find the right one for your hair type.

Will purple shampoo fix orange hair?

Purple shampoo is most effective on yellow and pale brassy tones. If your hair has gone more orange than yellow, you'd actually be better off with a blue shampoo — blue sits opposite orange on the colour wheel, so it's more effective at neutralising those deeper brassy tones. Purple shampoo on strongly orange hair may not make much visible difference.

Is purple shampoo safe to use on all hair types?

Yes — purple shampoo is safe for most hair types, but it's most useful for blonde, silver, grey, or highlighted hair where brassiness is a concern. If you have dark brown or black hair it won't have any visible toning effect. Be a little more cautious with very fine or chemically treated hair, as these tend to be more porous and pick up pigment more easily.