The best purple shampoos for blonde hair, according to hairstylists
Purple shampoo can brighten your blonde hair (and limit your visits to the salon).
Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo with Centaury
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$22.00
To keep your hair toned and bright, whether it’s blonde, gray or white, experts recommend considering the following:
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This Amika shampoo, which is suitable for cool blondes, platinum blondes, grays, silvers and textured blondes, has ingredients like plant butters and quinoa protein to strengthen the hair and tone down its brassy appearance, according to the brand. It also works to strengthen hydrogen bonds in your hair. (You have the most of these types of bonds in your hair, but they are also the most prone to damage, according to the brand.) With this formula, you’ll not only preserve your desired color, but also prevent and repair any damage to those hydrogen bonds.
Reviewers say that, unlike other purple shampoos, this one leaves their hair feeling soft after cleansing and smells great post-shower. It has a 4.6-star average rating from over 700 reviews on Amazon.
Recommended frequency: every wash for silvers and grays; every two washes for color-treated, platinum and textured blondes; every four washes for natural blondes | Scent: warm vanilla, spicy sweet clover, and fresh citrus
New York City-based hairstylist Jasmine Burnside recommends this Oribe shampoo to manage brassiness. Brassiness occurs when your hair either oxidizes or hard water and pollutants contaminate it, says Byrd. The formula has lemon, ginger root and chamomile extract that work together to brighten the color, according to the brand.
Recommended frequency: daily or as needed | Scent: notes of Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine and sandalwood
This sulfate-free shampoo is gentle enough for all hair types and leaves hair shiny, vibrant and soft, according to the brand. It has centaury (a violet flower) that neutralizes unwanted yellow and copper tones in blonde, silver or gray hair, says New York City-based trichologist Shab Caspara.
Recommended frequency: daily or as needed | Scent: n/a
This purple shampoo has a lighter color deposit (meaning it doesn’t add a ton of purple pigment to the top of the hair shaft) and is one of the most affordable options on this list. “It’s for somebody that wants the occasional maintenance without a huge investment,” says Byrd. Keep in mind that this shampoo might be drying, so use a conditioner in conjunction with it, according to Byrd.
Recommended frequency: twice a week or as needed | Scent: n/a
With ingredients like hyaluronic acid and edelweiss flower, this option prevents breakage and protects hair from daily damage. Reviewers say this formula is one of the least drying purple shampoos on the market, and although it is one of the more expensive options, a little goes a long way. The shampoo is highly rated with a 4.6-star average rating from over 9,700 reviews on Amazon.
Recommended frequency: as needed | Scent: n/a
R+Co’s Sunset Blvd has more of a lavender color, making it a great option for daily use without causing your hair to turn purple, says Munoz. It removes the brassiness, adds shine and helps the hair retain moisture using humectants like glycerin and emollients like sunflower sprout extract, according to the brand. If you want a shampoo that’s a bit more powerful, Munoz recommends R+Co’s Bleu Blonded Brightening Shampoo, which is more moisturizing and has a darker violet pigment.
Recommended frequency: daily or as needed | Scent: notes of juniper berries, blood orange, rhubarb, violet, leather accord and dark woods
This deep purple shampoo, which has a 4.6-star average rating from 2,400 reviews on Amazon, helps repair damaged hair while neutralizing unwanted warm or brassy tones, according to the brand. The formula includes plant-based proteins to strengthen the hair and prevent future damage, while other ingredients help repair and soften the hair, according to the brand.
Recommended frequency: as needed | Scent: floral with notes of rose, pear and sandalwood
You can use this shampoo daily to brighten, tone and protect your color from fading when exposed to the sun’s rays. You can pair it with its matching conditioner to help moisturize your hair, according to the brand. Reviewers say the shampoo doesn’t turn their blonde hair purple over time, which can happen if you overuse a purple shampoo, experts say. If you notice any purple residue, the color will rinse out with your standard shampoo after one to two washes, according to Sun Bum.
Recommended frequency: daily, once a week or as needed | Scent: n/a
Nak has multiple blonde shampoos that come in various purple pigment concentrations, which can help you dial in the perfect tone depending on your specific hair washing frequency and level of blonde, says Byrd. With hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, this option is great for natural blondes, bleached blondes and grays. The brand also has other shampoos, including Blonde Plus for very yellow blondes, Platinum Blonde Anti-Yellow Shampoo for platinum blondes and Blonde Cleanse for blondes who want to double cleanse their hair.
Recommended frequency: as needed | Scent: n/a
This Redken shampoo comes recommended by Burnside, who uses it on her clients. It not only manages to maintain their desired blonde, but it also helps repair damage, strengthen hair and increase hair elasticity. Reviewers say they love the shampoo’s effectiveness, but recommend only using a little at a time to avoid overuse. Many reviewers also recommend going in with another shampoo or conditioner after to soften the hair and get a more in-depth cleanse of the hair and scalp.
Recommended frequency: two to three times a week | Scent: citrus
Reviewers, which include platinum blondes, color-treated blondes, silvers and grays, say this shampoo makes the fastest and most noticeable difference in removing unwanted undertones. They say a little goes a long way, and you don’t need to let the product sit on your hair for more than a few minutes for it to work. This shampoo, which has a 4.6-star average rating from over 13,100 reviews on Amazon, also conditions the scalp and strengthens the hair, according to the brand. If you want to target the same concerns but in a less-pigmented formula that’s more suited for daily use, consider the brand’s light formula, which only has 50% of the violet pigment seen in the original.
Recommended frequency: as needed | Scent: notes of blueberry, blackberry and raspberry
Burnside recommends this Davines option, which is especially great for platinum blondes and cool, silver-toned hair. Reviewers say this shampoo lathers well when mixed with water and leaves their gray hair brighter, shinier and less dry than other options. That’s because the shampoo’s formula has vitamin B, glycerin and panthenol, all of which add moisture to the hair, according to the brand.
Recommended frequency: as needed | Scent: n/a
In addition to her standard hair-washing routine, NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson uses this purple shampoo to tone her blonde hair. “This Olaplex one is gentle on my fine hair and still does a solid job of bringing the brassiness down,” she says. “I typically leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing, but on particularly brassy, yellow days, I’ll let it saturate for several minutes.” She also recommends following up with a second cleanse and a moisturizing conditioner to combat any dryness and thoroughly clean her hair.
Recommended frequency: two to three times a week or as needed | Scent: citrus
This purple shampoo neutralizes brassy yellow and orange tones, making it great for all blondes, grays and highlighted brunettes, according to the brand. Reviewers say the shampoo itself is gentle on their hair and scalp, doesn’t strip it of too much moisture, and improves the vibrancy and tone of their hair after a few uses. Some say it’s slightly drying (depending on their hair type), so they recommend using its matching conditioner and a hair mask. The shampoo has a 4.5-star average rating from over 25,500 reviews on Amazon.
Recommended frequency: one to three times a week | Scent: notes of violet and thyme
Although this isn’t necessarily a shampoo, you can use this hair mask during every wash, according to Byrd. “It’s a conditioner, so it bathes your hair in nourishing [and] hydrating ingredients [to help] your blonde get some pampering,” she says. “It’s also great because it’s very sheer, so it’s hard to go overboard.”
Recommended frequency: as needed | Scent: n/a
When shopping, the experts I spoke to recommend taking a product’s consistency and your hair type into account.
Look for hydrating ingredients to prevent your hair from drying out. Consider options with humectants like hyaluronic acid and emollients like shea butter because they can counteract the drying element of purple shampoos, says Byrd.
Generally, purple shampoos at salons tend to have a thick consistency, while drugstore options have a more liquid consistency, according to Byrd. “I actually tend to like those [liquid options] because clients don’t go as overboard with them,” she says. Runnier shampoos tend to distribute a lot easier, and they usually have less concentrated pigment, so there’s less chance for user error, says Byrd.
Unlike other shampoos and hair products, you have a little more flexibility when it comes to choosing a purple shampoo for your specific hair type and texture.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I’m an associate reporter at NBC Select covering beauty and wellness, including roundups of the best heat protectants and detangling sprays. For this story, I interviewed four hairstylists and shared their recommendations, plus I researched highly rated purple shampoos that met their guidance.
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