Blue Versus Purple Shampoo Which Saves You From Brassy Hair?

Worried about keeping your color from going from bright and sun kissed to a brassy orange or dingy yellow?

Unsure how to do an at home color refresh to avoid the expense of a trip to the salon?

You’ve heard about blue and purple shampoo. But you’re wondering if they will turn the skin around your hairline or the back of your neck some weird color? Blue Man Group being so 90s and all.

Any of that sound familiar?

It’s true. To keep hair, whether blonde or brunette, bright and free of brass some turn to pigmented shampoos.

Because hair color should be fun. It shouldn’t leave you feeling anxious or worried about having to rush back to the salon for an unexpected (and costly) color refresh.

Obviously the title here, “Blue Versus Purple Shampoo Which Saves You From Brassy Hair?”, is a bit of a trick question. Because they both do.

Blondes have had purple shampoo to fall back on for ages.

While blue has been more like a red headed step sister – ignored and neglected. But of late it’s been coming into its own because it too is brass killer in a bottle.

So why not take in the insights from this mini quick guide on pigmented shampoos to heart? That way you can get up to speed on which, blue or purple, is best for you.

Then you’ll know which you need to start using to keep your color looking vibrant and fresh as the day you stepped out of the salon.

Quick Section Navigation

• Should I Use Blue Or Purple Shampoo?
• What’s The Difference Between Blue Shampoo And Purple Shampoo?
• Is It Blue Or Purple Shampoo For Grey Hair?
• Which Is It – Blue Vs Purple Shampoo For Brunettes?
• Can You Mix Blue And Purple Shampoo?
• Is Blue Shampoo Better Than Purple?

Should I Use Blue Or Purple Shampoo

Okay so which one should you use?

Both blue and purple shampoos have one purpose in life. To neutralized unwanted warm undertones in your hair.

Or the brassy tones that creep in due to nothing more than washing your color treated hair.

Or too much exposure to sunlight.

Or hot tool styling.

Or simply a fading away of your color treatment.

Now the answer as to which of the two partners-in-pigment is a must-have depends on the undertone you’re trying to get rid of. And it comes down to your basic color theory.

Purple, sitting as it does opposite yellow on the color wheel, knocks out unwanted yellow tones in blonde locks.

Blue on the other hand sits across from orange. So it cools any stubborn warm, orangey hues that have cropped up in brunette hair.

So again, the best answer for which to use is simple. You need to use the pigmented shampoo that contains the right color for the job.

Of course some strands are more prone to soaking up the pigments than others. So depending on your hair’s health or porosity situation some extra TLC may be required during rinsing. That is unless you like blue streaky hair.

Tip: Rinsing takes on added importance when going either blue or purple. So be sure not to rush and to rinse thoroughly.

What’s The Difference Between Blue Shampoo And Purple Shampoo?

So we’ve covered how toning shampoos are brass neutralizers. They rid your hair of the undesired warm brassy shades while enhancing desired cooler ones.

Blue and purple pretty much work the same. They just are used on different colored hair.

To review…

Purple shampoo cancels out the annoying yellow tones bottle blonde hair is prone to as the color fades. The whiter your blond the more you need the purple to keep your color fresh and alive. Almost making this a weekly must do.

Blue, on the other hand, fends off the orange.

Once you understand that the rest is easy.

Using one or the other can postpone salon toning or freshening up your color for maybe a week or so.

Either way some prefer wearing gloves when using heavily pigments products like these. That is unless you don’t mind hands and nails with distinct purple or blue cast to them. (Although blue is felt to stain more than purple.)

Okay so if your new balayage or highlighted brunette colored hair has taken a turn for the brassy you now know which color shampoo to pick up.

Tip: Since these shampoos can be drying it’s not a bad idea to deep condition after use.

Now that we’ve settled that let’s set our sights on another often asked question.

Is It Blue Or Purple Shampoo For Grey Hair?

It’s no sin to not realize your gray is more dull and dingy than delightful.

Still it’s one thing to be gray but another entirely to dull, dishwater gray. Ugh!

Yet some feel yellowish gray, most often caused by UV rays, is the worst.

So if you want your gray to be a silvery hue with more dimension, brilliance and life which is it, blue or purple?

Based on the color wheel if the you’ve got more yellow tones than anything else you’ll want to go purple for sure. Maybe something like highly rated Matrix Total Results So Silver Shampoo. (and I do mean highly.)

Another factor? What was your pre-gray color? Some former brunettes find they tone down their grays better with blue shampoo.

Yeah no clear cut answer.

So it may be time for a little trial and error to see what works best for your hair.

Which Is It – Blue Vs Purple Shampoo For Brunettes?

If you’re down this far and are still wondering which pigment shampoo brunettes should be using you haven’t been paying attention.

Since warm oranges are the problem the answer would blue.

And just so you know blue shampoo isn’t a tint.

It isn’t a cure all.

It won’t cover grays.

But the right one can cancel out unwanted orangish tones in your brown locks.

Tip: Unlike regular shampoo you have to do more than simply focus the product on your scalp. With blue or purple infused suds you’re going for an even coating over the entire length of your strands. It takes total coverage to deep six the brass.

Can You Mix Blue And Purple Shampoo?

So you’re seeing both yellow AND orange tones in your hair, huh? (Like orange in your lightened hair and yellow in the highlights?)

To fix that can you mix these two pigmented shampoos together at home and be happy with the outcome?

You can. But doing this at home is probably not advisable.

Reason being you may end up with uneven results. Or not get enough blue where it’s needed or purple where it is.

Instead here’s another idea. Maybe you can switch things up by alternating the two on wash days?

So two or three times a month you lather up with blue if orange undertones are the bigger problem.

Then may once or twice you go for the purple is brassy yellows are a lesser issue.

Or visa-versa.

Obviously you’ll want to play around with how often you use which color shampoo. But this may be a better solution than trying to mix the two. Although some do.

Another option for less severe cases would be to alternate adding some purple or blue to your regular shampoo.

Is Blue Shampoo Better Than Purple?

If you’re asking better as in does one do a better job you’re asking the wrong question.

The thing to remember is one works better on yellow undertones. One is better at neutralizing oranges.

Use the one wrong to fix your particular brassiness and you won’t get the results you were hoping for.

So in that sense yes one is better. Better suited to offset orange or yellow – whichever is plaguing your hair.

Like these ideas for dealing with brassy lightened or highlighted brunette hair? Then be sure to follow our Popular Pins Pinterest board for more smart hair care moves. Or a jolt of inspiration when you need it most.