So you want to preserve that platinum color you love so much.
Which is why you’re wondering how to use purple conditioner for blonde hair to the max, huh?
You’re on the right track. Such conditioners often help tackle unwanted brassiness head on. While keeping your locks deeply hydrated.
Some feel the ultra-purple pigment is the perfect toner for blonde that’s turned dull and yellow.
Even better some find they can purple condition after every wash to tone their hair. Which works to keep their color consistently cool and ashy.
Others can get by with doing so less frequently while still keeping their blonde blonde.
Now you pretty much use like you would any other conditioner. So don’t over think this.
- Apply thoroughly to wet, freshly washed hair
- Give it two or three minutes to work its magic
- Rinse thoroughly
Those that tried applying to dry hair found it was harder to distribute thoroughly. They usually ended up adding some water which is why this may be best to start on damp hair.
When done your mane will be deeply moisturized. It should feel soft and luxurious.
Not bad, right?
This should be no surprise given the reality here. This is nothing more than conditioner that is pigmented. Which is what gives it some super powers against brassiness.
And in case you’re wondering “Can I use just purple conditioner instead of shampoo?” you’ll want to check out the companion post to this one on our site. It answers that question plus reveals two ways to turn your favorite conditioner into purple conditioner.
A quick click of that link will have you getting even more answers.
Getting back to conditioning, as mentioned the other way to approach this is by applying to it to dry hair.
This next video shows a first timer to this routine. You can see she’s not 100% on what to do.
She encountered problems with application, had trouble covering all her hair and is unsure how long to leave it on. But that doesn’t stop her.
And she rocked it. The before and after color difference is pretty dramatic.
It also shows hitting every strand of hair with conditioner may not matter.
So that pretty much covers the two ways to use purple conditioner – either on damp or dry hair.
With that answer in hand maybe you have other questions about purple conditioner? Let’s get deeper into some of the details by answering
Here’s 6 More Questions Answered
- How Long Should I Leave Purple Conditioner In My Hair?
- Does It Work The Same As Shampoo?
- Does Purple Conditioner Lighten And Tone Brassy Hair?
- How Often Should You Use It?
- Is Purple Conditioner Necessary?
- Does This Dry Out Your Hair?
How Long Should I Leave Purple Conditioner In My Hair?
For starters try what the label recommends.
Radical thought I know. 🙂 But always a good plan until you know how your hair will react.
Then adjust from there based on the level toning you get.
Usually that means leaving it on longer. I’ve seen some report going as long as 15 minutes. Some more like 30. Some even longer.
Bottom line? Leave it in long enough to do the job with your hair.
That will vary because everyone’s hair is different.
You know, different porosity.
Different degrees of damage.
Plus there are different results to be had from different conditioners.
Just take it in steps. Adding a minute or two longer each time.
Then when, like the three bears, you find the period of time that is just right, VIOLA! You’ve got the answer to the how long question as it applies to your hair.
Does Purple Conditioner Work The Same As Shampoo?
If by “work” you mean tone – as you’ve seen (or will see here shortly) sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t.
Either way the shampoo is going to be harder on your locks. Because it has to be formulated to let a difference making amount of pigment be deposited. That means it has to open the cuticles at least a crack.
Scientifically speaking this usually means altering the pH.
Taking a trip down memory lane back to high school chem class you’ll recall the pH scale runs from 1-14.
7 is neutral. Above that is considered alkaline. Below it is acidic.
Many purple shampoos fall in between 5 and 6 or slightly acidic.
That lets them gently lift the cuticles so the magic brass fighting violet pigment can be slipped into the hair follicle. But doing so can also leave your hair feeling a bit ruffled and not smooth.
Solution? Follow up with a conditioner. Preferably one with a lower pH to help snap the cuticles shut.
Not only will that trap the purple pigment it will leave your hair feeling smoother, softer and more touchable too. And who doesn’t want that?
Now if you want to really get deep into the weeds of shampoo pH this article from the Journal of Trichology is for you.
Regardless, the effect purple conditioner alone will tend to be short lived. More so than the shampoo. Maybe only until your next wash.
Which leads us to back to needing to know how to get yellow out of blonde hair fast using the more robust toner – shampoo. But I digress.
Does Purple Conditioner Lighten and Tone Brassy Hair?
At the risk of repeating myself sometimes it brightens and tones your color. Others times not so much.
We just saw an example of where it did. Here’s an example of the latter.
She applied the product to dry hair a section at a time. And then left it in for an hour. (60 minutes!)
Now for the great unveiling.
Will Purple Conditioner Tone Brassy Hair?
From the side by side before and after shots towards the end of the clip not so sure it made ALL that much difference.
Yeah, it does seem to be less buttery. But compared to other videos seen in this and our other post on using purple conditioner there honestly wasn’t a profound change.
She noted it made her hair super soft which is about what you’d expect.
How Often Should You Use Purple Conditioner On Bleached Hair?
Some use it every time they lather up. You can get away with this given it’s not a hard on your hair as its shampoo companion.
Others only focus on their ends to keep them cooled down.
Others still use it as a co-wash of sorts.
How often also depends on how often you need to cool down your blonde.
Is Purple Conditioner Even Necessary?
It’s not optional only if you don’t want your hair to feel and look like dry tumbleweed.
Okay maybe you don’t have to use purple conditioner exactly.
But you will want to condition every time you squeeze product from your bottle of purple shampoo.
If not that then a deep conditioner or a hydrating mask.
Reason being, as you know by now, purple shampoo tends to dry out your hair over time. So you want to replenish any moisture sucked out of your parched strands by conditioning.
And while purple conditioner may not be absolutely necessary it can take the tone cool down one step beyond what shampoo alone can do.
Does Purple Conditioner Dry Out Hair?
Most likely not.
By its nature conditioner is hydrating. So even making it a bit pigmented shouldn’t affect its ability to keep your hair feeling soft and lush.
That’s also the beauty of using this over the sister shampoo.
Yet this will cool down warm tones but it’s not a toner per se. Although some do turn to it to tone their mane.
So that’s your quick guide on how to use purple conditioner to get your blonde back!
If you want more help keeping your salon color turning heads be sure to follow our hair color Pinterest board for the latest tips, hacks and things to know about hair color.
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