Fight brassiness, brighten your tone, and keep blonde locks vibrant.
Keeping blonde hair bright, fresh, and free from brassiness can be a real challenge. Whether your shade is icy platinum, sun-kissed honey, or soft ash blonde, unwanted yellow or orange tones often appear due to washing, heat styling, hard water, and environmental exposure.
That’s where purple shampoo becomes a blonde’s best friend. Formulated with violet pigments, these shampoos neutralize warm undertones on the color wheel and restore a cool, salon-fresh finish—while helping hair stay shiny and healthy.
With so many options on the market, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. To make it easy, we’ve rounded up three of the best purple shampoos for blonde hair, each offering effective toning without excessive dryness, so you can maintain vibrant, brass-free blonde hair between salon visits.
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TOP PICKS
Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Shampoo
Why We Love It:
Amika Bust Your Brass Shampoo is specially formulated for chemically treated blonde hair. It neutralizes brassy tones while strengthening and repairing weakened strands. The color-safe formula cleanses gently without stripping moisture, leaving hair soft, shiny, and vibrant. Its subtle amber-vanilla scent is a bonus.
Key Benefits:
Neutralizes yellow and brassy tones
Strengthens hair damaged by bleach or color
Gentle, non-stripping formula
Key Ingredients:
Color-safe strengthening agents
Best For:
Chemically treated blonde hair, brass control, strengthening, maintaining vibrant color
Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Purple Toning Shampoo
Why We Love It:
Olaplex No. 4P is a powerhouse for blondes who want both toning and repair. It neutralizes brassiness while strengthening hair with Olaplex’s patented bond-building technology. The formula is gentle, color-safe, and hydrating—making it ideal for damaged, lightened, or gray hair.
Key Benefits:
Brightens blonde and gray hair
Repairs and strengthens damaged strands
Enhances shine without drying
Key Ingredients:
Purple toning pigments, Olaplex bond-building technology
Best For:
Blonde, lightened, or gray hair; brass neutralization; repair and hydration
Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo
Why We Love It:
A longtime favorite, Clairol Shimmer Lights delivers powerful brass-fighting results at an affordable price. Its purple pigments effectively cancel yellow tones while enhancing brightness and shine. It works well for blonde, silver, gray, and highlighted hair.
Key Benefits:
Strong toning for stubborn brassiness
Brightens blonde and silver tones
Budget-friendly and effective
Key Ingredients:
Purple toning pigments
Best For:
Blonde, silver, gray, and highlighted hair; neutralizing brassiness; maintaining bright color
FAQ
1. What does purple shampoo do for blonde hair?
Purple shampoo neutralizes brassy, yellow, or orange tones in blonde, silver, gray, or highlighted hair. The purple pigments counteract warm tones on the color wheel, helping your blonde stay bright and cool between salon visits.
2. How often should I use purple shampoo?
It depends on your hair and how warm your tones are:
Light blonde or white hair: 1–2 times a week
Brassy or highlighted hair: 2–3 times a week
Gray hair: As needed
Tip: Overuse can make hair look slightly lavender or dull — start with once per week and adjust.
3. Can I use purple shampoo on chemically treated hair?
Yes — most purple shampoos on the market are color‑safe and formulated for color‑treated hair. They cleanse gently while depositing toning pigments.
4. Do purple shampoos dry out hair?
Some can if they’re very clarifying. Choose formulas with moisturizing ingredients (like oils or conditioners) if your hair is dry or damaged. Always follow with a conditioner.
5. How long should I leave purple shampoo on?
Timing depends on how strong your brassiness is:
Mild toning: 1–2 minutes
Stronger toning: 3–5 minutes
Watch the color — if it’s taking on a purple tint, rinse sooner.