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The 8 Best Purple Shampoos to Neutralize Brassiness and Brighten Blonde Hair

 

Vital for blonde or silver hair.

Anyone who bleaches their hair knows it's a serious commitment if you want to keep it looking good and healthy—from regular salon visits to repairing treatments. Since bleached hair naturally develops yellow and golden tones, those who prefer a cool-toned, ash-blonde shade must also fight to keep brass at bay. That's where purple shampoo comes in—an at-home solution to keep your hair looking freshly toned. "Purple shampoo works by neutralizing any unwanted yellow or warm tones to your blonde or gray hair," says hairstylist Carolyn J. Gahan. Yes, that's right, even those who are naturally blonde or silver can benefit from using purple shampoo.

Finding a purple shampoo that complements your hair type and color isn't straightforward. So, to help you narrow the results, we conducted hours of research and tested dozens of picks ourselves. We used each purple shampoo multiple times over six weeks, noting how well they lifted brassy tones, hydrated the hair, and more. We then consulted multiple stylists and color experts for professional insight and recommendations to compile this list.

Best Overall
Nexxus Blonde Assure Shampoo

What We Like

• Cleanses buildup well without over-drying or causing irritation
• Saw noticeable results with each use
• Nourishing formula

What to Consider

• Chemical-like smell

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Citrus | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This formula gets top honors from us for its rich, hydrating formula—and, of course, the fresh blonde shade it leaves behind. Formulated with keratin protein for softer hair and violet pigments to balance brassiness, this pick from Nexxus checked all of our boxes while testing. It has a perfect lather and is easy to spread on the scalp, and it didn’t stain our hands at all while washing. Our tester, Ciara, loved that it cleansed thoroughly but didn’t leave her hair fine feeling dry and lifeless (as many purple shampoos are guilty of doing). In fact, she noticed her hair felt even more nourished and healthy than it did with her standard shampoo. Ciara saw a noticeable difference with each use—her hair color felt brighter and lighter without becoming too cool or purple. Brassy and yellow shades that were present before completely disappeared.

Ciara, tester with fine hair bleached blonde highlights: "I'm due for a highlight refresh, and this shampoo made me feel more confident by making my highlights look lighter in the last couple of weeks before my hair appointment."

Best Budget
Kristin Ess The One Shampoo

What We Like

• Affordable
• Washes out easily, doesn’t leave any residue
• Works on both blonde and brunette tones

What to Consider

• Can be a little drying

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Amber, magnolia, and pear | Size: 10 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you frequently lighten your hair blonde, it’s pretty easy to make your way through bottles of purple shampoo—so you’ll want one that you don’t have to budget for. We recommend this one from Kristin Ess, which you can get for under $15. It can be used on both blonde and brunette shades to keep the color fresh and is a great pick if you like to stick to an ashy tone. Our tester, Alicia, loved that it didn’t stain her hands or leave an unpleasant smell behind. Best of all, it gave her a light and bright shade of blonde without any brassiness. While it did feel a bit drying, she counteracted it with a nourishing hair mask.

Alicia, tester with wavy hair and bleached blonde highlights: "I am thrilled with the bright and light shade of blonde my highlights have now since using this purple shampoo. It definitely helped to counteract the brassy tones my highlights were having."

Best Hydrating
Amika Bust Your Brass Shampoo

What We Like

• Made hair moisturized and shinier
• Repairs and strengthens
• Also tones gray and lavender shades

What to Consider

• Scent may be too strong for some

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Amber vanilla | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Purple shampoos aren’t always the most hydrating products—many options are known to strip the hair of its natural oils. However, this nourishing pick from Amika is just what bleached or damaged hair needs—our tester, Elise, was shocked at how soft her hair felt after rinsing it out, thanks to ingredients like quinoa protein and plant butters (mango and shea). While the shampoo itself is very pigmented, it never stained or turned Elise's hair purple. It’s a great shampoo choice if you want your color to look cool and frosty, especially if you have silver or lavender tones. Our favorite part of using this shampoo was that our shade seemed to get brighter and brighter each day after washing—leaving Elise with hair that looked fresh and healthy.

Elise, tester with long, bleached gray/blonde hair: "I can confidently say that this shampoo is worth the splurge. It leaves my hair cooler-toned, softer, and more moisturized than all the others; it's easier to wash out and doesn't stain."

Best for Gray Hair
Better Not Younger Silver Lining Purple Brightening Shampoo

What We Like

• Brightens gray hair without making it purple
• Made hair feel more silky and manageable
• Adds volume and shine

What to Consider

• Bottle is difficult to twist open

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Floral | Size: 8.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Purple shampoo isn’t only for blondes—it’s a great way for those with natural grays to keep brassiness at bay. Better Not Younger’s sulfate-free shampoo was formulated with aging hair in mind, containing ingredients that will hydrate and strengthen the hair (including biotin and bamboo extract). Our tester, Holly, loved its smell and soft lather. She left it in for four minutes so the formula could absorb into her hair, and it didn’t leave any staining or purple tints behind. With continued use, Holly saw that her naturally gray hair was softer, smoother overall, and even looked thicker and more voluminous. The best part? The yellow tones in her hair have noticeably faded, leaving behind color that looks vibrant.

Holly, tester with thick, naturally gray hair: "Much to my surprise, this shampoo reversed the brassiness I noticed in my hair color. After weeks of use, my hair feels more silky and manageable, too."

Best Shine-Enhancing
dpHUE Cool Blonde Shampoo

What We Like

• Imparts noticeably shinier finish
• Salon-quality results
• Great smell

What to Consider

• Could be more hydrating

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Clean | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you want to look like you just left the salon every time you wash your hair, you’ll love this purple shampoo from dpHUE. After use, our tester, Grace's, hair was smooth, soft, and shiny with a luminous color. The paraben- and sulfate-free formula has violet pigments and silk proteins to nourish and tone brassiness, and it didn’t strip her hair even after two shampoos. It also has a great, clean scent, enhancing the user experience. Grace loved that it evened out the tones of her hair without a purple tint. Also nice: It's great for those with fine, delicate hair since it cleanses gently without stripping the scalp.

Grace, tester with 1C hair and blonde highlights: "This was by far the best purple shampoo I have tried for the price. Others I have tried in a similar price range did not lather as well or left your hair with a purple hue. This product lathered great and you only have to use a small amount and perfectly evened out the tone of your hair."

Best for Highlights
IGK Blonde POP Shampoo

What We Like

• Safe and effective for chemically treated hair
• Hydrates for hair that looks smoother overall
• Cleanses the scalp well

What to Consider

• Can slightly stain the shower

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Unscented | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have blonde highlights and think you can get away with using a regular shampoo only, think again. Adding a toning purple shampoo into your wash day routine can extend the life of your color, so you can add some time between salon touch-ups. We tested this shampoo from IGK on highlights, and we saw a noticeable difference each time. There were no instructions about leaving it in for a certain time period, so we just washed it out immediately—and it was still able to lift brassiness with each wash. It has a hydrating formula that doesn’t irritate the scalp, but it still cleans as well as your standard shampoo. After multiple uses, our tester, Cara, noticed that her hair felt softer and less dry.

Cara, tester with wavy, highlighted hair: "I really like how clean my scalp feels after using this and how bright my blonde looks. My hair looks like it did when I first got it done."

Best for Thick Hair
Kérastase Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo

What We Like

• Only need a little bit to wash thick hair
• Hydrating
• Doesn’t leave a residue

What to Consider

• Have to follow up with a normal shampoo if you have a lot of product buildup

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Unscented | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Thick hair needs hydration more than anything, and this purple shampoo from Kérastase has hyaluronic acid to do exactly that. It’s also formulated with antioxidant-rich flower extracts to protect the hair from damage. Our tester, Sarah, loved that it was easy to spread around the hair and the scalp, so she didn’t need to use an excessive amount to cover her long, thick hair. It also did an amazing job of cleansing without overdrying or leaving a residue behind. Sarah left the shampoo on for five minutes and it gave her bleached color an icy finish. While you can use it as a standalone shampoo, we recommend following up with your standard shampoo if you have a good amount of scalp buildup or do intense, sweaty exercise.

Sarah, a tester with thick, bleached blonde hair: "I like my hair really icy, and this did a great job of achieving that. Plus, a little goes a long way, ensuring the bottle lasts a while."

Best for Sensitive Scalps
Pureology Strength Cure Blonde Shampoo

What We Like

• Cleanses thoroughly without irritating or drying out the scalp
• Effective on all hair types and textures
• Able to protect hair from damage

What to Consider

• Has a great smell that we wish lasted longer

Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Pear, rose, and sandalwood | Size: 9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Purple shampoos are infamous for causing irritation and dryness, so finding one that caters to sensitive scalps is not always easy. However, this pick from Pureology was one of the least irritating options we tested—it didn’t make our tester Danielle's scalp tingle. The sulfate-free formula has a rich lather that cleanses deeply without leaving a residue, and Danielle said her hair felt clean for a while after using it. It lifted the brassiness as promised, and the great scent was another bonus. Danielle loved that it came with so much product (you can get around 75 washes—depending on length and texture, of course—in a single bottle).

Danielle, tester with wavy, highlighted hair: "I like how my hair looks. I would recommend this to someone looking for a staple purple shampoo."

What to Look for When Buying Purple Shampoos

A good purple shampoo will keep your blonde hair bright sans brassiness. To determine which purple shampoo is right for you, keep the following factors in mind.

• Purple Tone: Purple tones and violet pigments aren't all the same, so they can have varying effects at neutralizing unwanted warmth. Ultra dark violet shades are better for completely canceling out any warm tones while shampoos with a light purple shade are a safer bet for those who want to slightly tone their hair without making it too cool or ashy. "If your hair is more of a brassy orange or warm brunette, purple is too light," says colorist Sabrina Yamani Yamga. "So you'll want to opt for a blue shampoo."
• Your Blonde Shade: Your particular shade of blonde matters, as does whether you dye or bleach your hair or have naturally light-colored locks. For instance, very light blondes will want to look for something that minimizes yellow and brings out cool tones. When it comes to silver or gray hair, pro hairstylist Shelly Aguirre says to look for something that promises an icier finish.
• Ingredients: As Yamga notes, purple shampoos can be drying, so look for products containing hydrating ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, and keratin amino acids. These ensure hair is soft, smooth, and shiny after washing.

How We Tested Purple Shampoos

We evaluated purple shampoos over the course of six weeks to determine our top picks. Below are the elements we kept in mind while testing each formula:

• Application: Purple shampoo should be easy to apply to work efficiently. We took note of how well each product lathered and spread onto our hair and scalp, paying attention to how much time it took to deliver results. We also observed any remaining residue or smell, docking points if a shampoo stained our showers or hands purple.
• Cleansing Ability: While purple shampoo’s primary purpose is maintaining hair’s blondeness, it must also cleanse effectively. As such, we noted how clean our hair and scalp felt after using each product, paying attention to how easy (or difficult) it was to wash out. We also disqualified options that seemed to strip our hair’s natural oils or cause irritation.
• Effectiveness: Purple shampoo has the primary purpose of toning blonde hair, so it’s essential to select one that gets the job done. We noted how happy we were with the look of our hair after using each product, tracking if the shampoo corrected any brassiness or yellow tones. We also noted when products worked a little too well, removing options that left our hair tone looking too cool or purple.
• Overall Results: We observed each purple shampoo’s effects on naturally light and dyed blonde hair. We tracked additional benefits each shampoo offered, such as added nourishment and shine. For those of us with dyed hair, we also considered when a particular shampoo caused our color to fade prematurely.

FAQ

What are the benefits of purple shampoos for blonde hair?

Purple shampoo is best for those who prefer keeping their blonde hair on the cool side with no yellow or golden tones. "Purple sits directly across from yellow on the color wheel, which means it will correct and cool down the hair with the slight purple pigment in the shampoo," says Gahan. Purple shampoo offers a brightening effect while bringing out a cooler hue, allowing you to potentially go longer between salon color treatments.

However, if you prefer warm blonde or strawberry blonde shades, you may want to skip purple shampoo or use it very sparingly, as it cancels out the golden and red tones in your hair.

How often should you use purple shampoos for blonde hair?

This depends on the specific formula, as well as the current color and condition of your hair. Some purple shampoos can be drying, and if you use them too often, you can risk over-toning. "Overuse can cause the hair to look dull or purple in appearance," says Gahan.

For these reasons, lathering up with a violet-pigmented once a week is best. However, some formulas are gentle and can be used more frequently.

What is better for brassy hair: blue or purple shampoo?

It depends on the color of your hair and what tones you want to get rid of. For light blonde, platinum, or silver hair with unwanted yellowish tones, purple shampoo is best. As noted, purple counteracts yellow because it's directly opposite on the color wheel. If you have darker blonde, ombré, or balayage hair and want to remove orangey, brassy, or reddish tones, go with blue shampoo.

Do I need both purple shampoo and conditioner?

Probably not. There's no shortage of purple hair care products to fight brassiness and yellow tones, but you don't need to use them all. A purple shampoo should be enough to achieve the desired results, and if you still feel brassy after using it, that usually means you didn't leave it on long enough (most bottles recommend keeping it on your hair for several minutes). We recommend to follow it with a non-pigmented deep conditioner to replenish lost moisture and nourish your chemically-treated strands.

What is the difference between toner and purple shampoo?

If you lighten your hair at a salon, your stylist will typically use a toner to "tone down" yellow or orange tones that occur during the bleaching process. A toner is more powerful than a purple shampoo and needs to be mixed with a developer. While the results last longer than those from a purple shampoo, the toner gradually fades as you wash and style your hair. Purple shampoo is meant to be used as a maintenance product to replicate the effects of a toner in between salon appointments.

Will purple shampoo lighten hair?

Purple shampoo doesn't lighten hair—that can only be done with a bleaching agent. In fact, using purple shampoo too frequently can actually make blonde hair look darker by creating a buildup of purple pigments in the hair. That's why some hairstylists recommend first trying a clarifying shampoo if your blonde hair is looking dull (often from a buildup of products, pollution, and hard water) and only using purple shampoo when it is really brassy.

Meet Our Experts

We talked to several experts to ensure we're recommending the best purple shampoos, including:

• Carolyn J. Gahan is a creative colorist with extensive blonde and hair-lightening experience.
• Sabrina Yamani Yamga is an award-winning colorist and extension specialist at Space by Alex Brown in Chicago.
• Shelly Aguirre is a professional stylist who works in Chicago's Maxine Salon. Aguirre has over a decade of experience teaching at salons and tradeshows.

 

Why Trust Byrdie

Shannon Stubbs is a writer at Byrdie, where she covers beauty. She’s frequently trying new skincare, makeup, and hair care products to recommend the best of the best to readers. Theresa Holland updated this list with additional buying tips and expert insights. Associate editor Caitlyn Martyn updated this story in 2024 with fresh testing insights.