To give some background on my hair history, I started coloring it approximately 2 years ago. I started with black Asian hair that had never been colored before. The first two times I colored my hair, I requested an ombre / balayage coloring with brown and honey blonde highlights. I figured this coloring would be the easiest to grow out (it is) and low maintenance (it was).
Then about two months ago, I decided to go (mostly) blonde with silver highlights on a blonde base but kept my roots dark so I wouldn’t be constantly coloring my roots. Because I had previously bleached my hair (due to the blonde balayage highlights), those pieces turned out beautifully ashy silver, but I had to go in for a second session to tone the rest of my hair. The results were amazing! I’m loving the new color and my tanner complexion (lighter hair = less contrast with your skin, thus making you look tanner #ProTip).
However, even as the results are amazing, proper care and maintenance of silver hair is required to keep the integrity of the color. Colored blonde hair usually will start to get brassy and dull if left untreated, especially on dark Asian hair. Purple shampoo and purple conditioner is the perfect solution to brassy hair. I started playing around and testing purple shampoos when I had balayage / ombre hair.
I recently colored my hair again, this time myself (will do another post on this process, as it was easier than I had imagined), and now my hair is mostly blonde. Ideally, I would love silver hair or platinum hair, but the upkeep is too much for me right now.
My usual routine is to leave the darker purple liquid in my hair for up to 20 minutes, like you would a hair mask, once a week. This allows the formula to really soak into the cuticles of and stain your hair. You are getting the most bang for your buck by leaving in purple treatments that long.
Clairol Shimmer Lights 16 oz. Shampoo + 16 oz. Conditioner (Combo Deal)
The first purple shampoo I tried and probably the most famous one out there. It’s extremely affordable and accessible, as it’s available at the drug store. This shampoo is very effective at preserving blonde/silver hair and cancelling out brassiness, but always leaves my hair dry due to the sulfates. If you are going to use this shampoo and conditioner, I recommend using it once a week along with a hydrating mask as a conditioner and oil to nourish your hair.
Shu Uemura Color Lustre Cool Blonde 6.8 oz
My favorite and most effective purple treatment – it’s pricey but worth it. Shu Uemura’s Purple Conditioner format is a little different as it’s a purple conditioner, rather than a purple shampoo or purple shampoo and conditioner duo. The smell is very nice and light and the liquid feels hydrating. Personally, I think this is the best format for purple liquids as conditioners are much more moisturizing and nourishing for your hair versus a shampoo. I like to leave this conditioner in my hair for around 20 minutes after shampooing. I still follow up with a hair mask for a few minutes to really condition the ends. But that step isn’t necessary as my hair feels much more hydrated after using this vs a purple shampoo.
DP Hue Cool Blonde Shampoo and Cool Blonde Conditioner
This is my usual shampoo and conditioner routine at least once every two weeks (interchanged with the Shu conditioner). The formula is sulfate-free, which is ideal for purple shampoos. The shampoo is a deep violet color (toning step) and the conditioner is a lighter lavender (toning & moisturizing step). Both the shampoo and conditioner aren’t too drying on my hair, but again, I do follow up with a hair mask after for a few minutes as well.
Klorane Shampoo with Centaury 200ml
Klorane Dry Shampoo is my HG dry shampoo and something I use every day when I don’t wash my hair, but their purple shampoo did not impress me. The first red flag was that the shampoo liquid was white and not purple. Purple sits opposite yellow on the color wheel, thus it is able to tone blonde hair that has become too brassy or yellow. The liquid is nice and feels gentle, but leaves my hair feeling dry. The formula is not as effective as Shu or DP Hue. This shampoo would be better suited for those with gray hair looking to preserve the gray.
In conclusion, my favorite and best purple shampoo and purple conditioner I have found so far in my testing and research are the Shu Uemura Color Lustre Cool Blonde 6.8 oz