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 haircare 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 using purple shampoo on brown hair can also be a game-changer—especially if you have balayage or highlights.

While the best color shampoo for brunettes typically leans more blue, purple shampoo can help neutralize brassiness, brighten your mane, and ensure your hair color looks its best. But there are caveats. So below, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about purple shampoo for brunettes, including how to use it in your hair care routine.

What Does Purple Shampoo Do for Brown Hair?

If you've ever wondered, "Can brunettes use purple shampoo?", the answer is yes. Purple shampoo helps to neutralize unwanted warmth on brown hair the same way that it does on blonde hair. But before we get into further detail, it’s important you understand why purple shampoo is used in the first place.

If you look at the color wheel, purple sits directly across yellow. This makes them complementary colors. According to color theory, complementary colors effectively cancel one another out when mixed together. So using a purple shampoo over brassy brunette hair can help neutralize those yellow tones to reveal a more neutral or cool-toned hair color.

Purple hair treatments are especially beneficial for those with highlights (including balayage, ombré, or babylights), or who’ve lightened their hair—for example, from a dark brown to a light mushroom brown. They’re less useful for those with natural light or dark brown hair. That’s because brassiness primarily develops when you lighten your hair. The bleaching process allows the underlying warm tones in your hair to peek through, resulting in that telltale yellow tinge. So those with virgin brown hair typically don’t have to worry about brassiness. If you want to enhance your natural hair color, consider opting for a toning treatment, gloss, or demi-permanent dye designed for brunette hair.

How To Use Purple Shampoo on Brown Hair

If you are dealing with unwanted warmth and have determined that a purple shampoo may suit your needs, using one is very straightforward—you just swap it into your routine as needed to help keep brassiness at bay.

How to choose the right purple shampoo

You’ll want to start by choosing a purple shampoo that’s deep in color to ensure the shampoo is able to correct brassiness in your hair. We suggest opting for a color-depositing formula with purple pigments, such as the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Purple Shampoo for Toning Bleached Hair, which is sulfate-free and designed specifically for bleached and lightened hair. To maximize its benefits, you’ll always want to pair your purple shampoo with a coordinating conditioner. In this case, that means reaching for the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Purple Conditioner for Toning Hair for added moisture.

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 after shampooing, then leave it on for up to five minutes. Rinse thoroughly, and continue with your usual shower routine.

How to apply purple shampoo on brown hair

You don’t need to—and in most cases, shouldn’t—use purple shampoo every day. Instead, it’s best to reserve it for once-weekly usage, or reach for your purple shampoo (and conditioner) anytime you start to notice brassiness creeping in.

As for using it, it’s incredibly simple. Hop into the shower and saturate your strands as you normally would. Then, use your purple shampoo in place of your regular shampoo, working it into a lather from roots to ends. Depending on the shampoo you’re using, you may want to leave it on for a few minutes to let it “work.” Take a close look at the package instructions and leave it on your strands for the recommended amount of time. When you’re ready, you can go ahead and rinse it out, then replenish your strands with your purple conditioner. From there, you can dry and style your hair as usual.

How long should you leave purple shampoo on brown hair?

Most purple shampoos are designed to be left on the hair for anywhere from one to five minutes. Any longer than that and you may risk the shampoo actually tinting your strands purple—which is not a bad hair color choice, but there are better ways to achieve lilac locks. For detailed guidelines on how long to leave your shampoo in and how often to use it, refer to the package instructions on your chosen product.

Is Blue or Purple Shampoo Better for Brunettes?

If you have brown color-treated hair, you may be deciding between using a blue or a purple shampoo, but really, it depends on the specific tones you're looking to neutralize. Blue shampoos are a better choice for dark brown strands or hair that pulls in more orange or red tones due to the hair's underlying pigments. It's also a good option if your hair has developed orange tones over time, whether it be due to natural color fade or exposure to heat or UV rays.

On the flip side, a purple shampoo is better suited for brunettes with lighter highlights, ombré, or balayage that have developed a yellow tone over time. It's also a great option if you're looking to maintain a cooler, ashier look in your brown hair, especially when it comes to the lighter sections.

So, while blue shampoo is great for neutralizing orange or red tones in darker brown hair, purple shampoo is ideal for lighter brown hair that tends to turn brassy. Depending on your hair's specific needs, you may even find yourself switching between the two.

Next Up: Should You Wash Your Hair Before Dyeing It?

Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris