The Final Showdown: Purple vs Blue

Hey hair enthusiasts!

Lets talk shampoo. I've been hearing a lot of chatter these days concerning toning shampoos, so I thought I'd set the record straight.

Purple vs Blue? Which one is right for you?

For years, purple shampoo was hair colors BFF when it came to maintaining blonde, silver or gray hair. Why purple? Because purple and yellow are opposites on the color wheel, and the pigments in purple shampoo cancel out unwanted yellow tones in the hair. Without fail, a few weeks into a color service blonde hair will start to turn yellow.

Don't worry, this is normal. Hair is exposed daily to a plethora of environmental toxins such as sun exposure, bad products and chlorine that break down the hair turning it yellow and brassy. When this happens, purple shampoo steps up to neutralize unwanted tones leaving a cooler, more vibrant color.

But what if your hair is darker?

Thanks to trending cool-toned brunettes allover Pinterest, blue shampoo is now the cool kid on the block. Just as purple is to yellow, blue is opposite to orange on the color wheel and will neutralize brassy tones in brown hair. Just like blondes, brunettes will also notice their rich color fading after a few weeks and taking on a brassier appearance. When this happens, blue shampoo is needed to neutralize the brassiness and achieve cooler tones.

How do you use toning shampoos?

Purple and blue shampoos can be used 1-2 times a week to neutralize unwanted tones. However, the shampoos are highly pigmented and can deposit more color than intended if overused. If this happens, dilute with normal shampoo to soften the intensity. Due to the heavy pigmentation, the hair may feel a little dryer than normal after using a toning shampoo. For extra conditioning and color protection, use a leave-in conditioner or a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Your hair will thank you for it!

So, which shampoo is right for you?

The difference between purple and blue shampoo lies in which colors they neutralize. Purple neutralizes yellow for blonde tones while blue neutralizes orange and brassy tones on brunettes. Which tone are you seeing in your hair?

Whichever you choose, both shampoos are fantastic at maintaining a flawless, salon-fresh look right from your own bathroom.

For questions on which toning shampoo is right for you, drop me a comment below.