How Does Purple Shampoo Work For Gray Hair

Purple shampoo: the product your gray hair needs to look its best

The true value of a purple shampoo should never be underestimated. If you’ve never used one as part of your regular hair-washing routine before, then the idea can be quite scary – what benefit can applying a bright violet shampoo really have?

The answer is that purple shampoo can have an almost endless amount of benefits for your hair color. Purple shampoo has been used for decades by hairdressers, mostly to help tone and neutralize blonde and gray hair, getting rid of brassy or yellow tones for an overall more cool-toned look.

While it’s arguably a more popular product for all shades of blonde hair, purple shampoo is also a great product for gray hair – whether it’s natural or dyed – here’s exactly why.

How does purple shampoo work?

First, let us give you a little bit of an art lesson: remember at school when you learned about the color wheel? If not, don’t worry – essentially, in color theory, purple is opposite to yellow, so by using purple-toned shampoo, it helps to neutralize the unwanted yellow or brassy tones that can appear in gray and blonde hair. If you have your hair professionally dyed in the salon, chances are your colorist will use a toner as part of your treatment. However, the results of that won’t last as long as the color itself, which is why it’s a good idea to invest in at-home solutions so you can keep those fresh salon results for as long as possible.

Products, such as Nexxus Blonde Assure Color Toning Purple Shampoo work by depositing purple pigments into hair. This formula specifically combines those violet pigments with keratin protein to balance hair color while also ensuring it’s smooth, soft and healthy looking. It’s best used in tandem with Nexxus Blonde Assure Color Toning Purple Conditioner, which also features the same keratin protein and violet pigments, which work to inject hydration into strands while also reducing overall brassiness.

Does purple shampoo work on gray hair?

The short answer to this is yes – purple shampoo does work on gray hair. Gray hair can actually turn brassier and yellow more quickly than blonde hair because it clings onto particles found in the air that cause that unwanted discoloration. So, even though purple shampoo is something that’s marketed towards blondes, it’s something worth investing in if your hair is gray or silver. That way you can ensure your hair stays looking bright and fresh without any of the dulling brassiness or yellowing that can occur.

The best way to use purple shampoo on gray hair

There isn’t a set schedule for using purple shampoo on your hair. Instead, it’s an entirely personal decision that depends on what shade you want your strands to be, along with a little bit of trial and error. Some hair types are more porous than others, meaning that if you use a purple shampoo too often, you could end up with a slight purple hue to your hair. So, with that in mind, we would suggest using it once or twice a week and slowly building up from there if needs be.

Another important point to note is that purple shampoo should always be left to soak into hair for a few minutes. Regular shampoo can be washed in and out fairly quickly, but the key here is to let it sit for a little while – this ensures your locks are getting the full benefit of that violet product. You don’t want to leave it on for too long, as it can be drying for hair, which is also one of the reasons why it's best to follow up with a purple-toned conditioner, as they are formulated to offer hydration specifically for purple shampo-treated hair. Leave the shampoo on for three to five minutes – this is plenty of time to help boost the color without risking dehydration.