Purple vs Blue Shampoo: Which One Does Your Hair Need?
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Quick answer: Use purple shampoo if your hair turns yellow: blonde, highlighted, bleached, grey or white hair. Use blue shampoo if your hair turns orange, which is typical of lightened brown or dark blonde hair. For red tones on dark brunette hair, use a green toning product. Use toning shampoo once or twice a week instead of your normal shampoo, not every wash.
Why it works: the colour wheel
Toning products deposit a small amount of the opposite colour on the colour wheel, which cancels out the unwanted warm tone:
| Unwanted tone | Usually seen on | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Light and pale blonde, highlights, bleached, grey and white hair | Purple / violet shampoo or conditioner |
| Orange | Lightened brown and dark blonde hair, balayage on dark Asian hair | Blue shampoo or conditioner |
| Red / copper | Dark brunette and brown hair | Green toning mask |
Not sure which you have? Look at your hair in daylight. If it looks lemony or straw-coloured, choose purple. If it looks brassy, copper or rusty orange, choose blue. Many Asian hair lightening services lift through orange first, so blue shampoo is often the one you need, even if you think of your hair as "blonde".
How to use toning shampoo
- Once or twice a week, in place of your regular shampoo. Joico, for example, recommends its Color Balance shampoo 2–3 times a week.
- Leave it on for a few minutes as directed on the pack. Longer means more toning.
- Watch porous ends. Very bleached, porous hair grabs pigment fast and can turn slightly lilac or grey. Start with a shorter time.
- Follow with conditioner or a mask, especially on lightened hair.
- Wear gloves if the product is strongly pigmented. Rinse the bath and basin straight away.
Toning products NX stocks
Purple / violet (for yellow tones)
- Kobo Yellow Out Pure Violet Shampoo: a vegan purple shampoo for bleached, streaked, grey and pale blonde hair, with Argan.
- Schwarzkopf Professional Goodbye Yellow Shampoo: a highly pigmented, sulphate-free neutralising wash for blonde, lightened and grey hair.
- Joico Color Balance Purple Conditioner: neutralises yellow and warm tones in blonde hair.
- Also stocked: L'Oréal Professionnel Silver Shampoo, Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet, and Suose Color Balance Purple Silver Shampoo.
Blue (for orange tones)
- Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo and Blue Conditioner: made for lightened brown hair that has turned orange or brassy.
Green (for red tones)
- Kérastase Masque Vert Chroma Neutralisant: a colour-depositing mask that neutralises red and copper undertones on dark brunette hair.
Prevent brassiness in the first place
- In the salon, lift far enough and tone after lightening. Venash Blondve Premium Lightener 9+ has an anti-yellow neutralising effect built in.
- At home, use a colour-care shampoo between toning washes, such as Venash Treatment Shampoo. Wash in lukewarm water, and protect your hair from sun and chlorine. See why hair colour fades fast in Malaysia.
- Book a toner refresh at the salon when the tone has faded too far for shampoo alone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use purple shampoo on brown hair?
It won't do much on orange tones. Lightened brown hair usually needs blue shampoo. Purple works on yellow, which shows up on lighter blonde levels.
Can I use purple shampoo every day?
It isn't recommended. Daily use can leave hair dull or slightly lilac, especially porous blonde hair. Once or twice a week is enough for most people.
Why did my hair turn purple after purple shampoo?
Very porous, bleached hair absorbs pigment quickly. Leave it on for less time, mix it with your regular shampoo, or skip a week. The tint usually washes out after a few normal washes.
Does purple shampoo work on grey or white hair?
Yes. It's commonly used to remove yellowing from grey and white hair and keep it bright.
Where can I buy purple and blue shampoo in Malaysia?
Browse the Shampoo collection at NX Hair & Beauty Supplies, visit our showroom at T-063, 3rd Floor, Sungei Wang Plaza, Kuala Lumpur, or WhatsApp +60 16-297 6299 for salon trade pricing. We deliver nationwide.
