Can You Leave Blue Shampoo In Your Hair Overnight?

The time that actual consumers leave the blue shampoo in their hair to tone brown hair differs. Some prefer 3-5 minutes, while others believe it requires 15-20 minutes.

Also, some individuals let it stay in their hair for 30 minutes to deal with resistant brassy brunette hair. Even several desperate souls risk it all by leaving it on for an hour or overnight.

So let’s find out whether you can keep blue shampoo in your hair overnight and learn about the basics of this shampoo in this post.

What Is Blue Shampoo?

Blue shampoo is a specialized shampoo that is used to remove undesirable brown hair reflections.

Just like purple pigments in purple shampoo wipe out brassy undertones in blonde hair, blue pigments in blue shampoo neutralize the undesired red, copper, and orange tones that brunettes, particularly color-treated brunettes, frequently struggle with.

So, whether you like to brighten up your brown hair with nice caramel highlights or a stylish balayage, you can consider using blue shampoo.

However, blue shampoo should not be used on blonde hair since it will turn greenish if you dye your yellow hair blue.

How Does Blue Shampoo Work?

Blue shampoos are designed to remove brassiness from color-treated brunette hair. 

In fact, every brunette has underlying red and orange pigments that combine to create the hair color, which ranges from dark chocolate brown to golden brown.

After several weeks of heat styling, sun exposure, and shampooing, the underlying colors in brunette hair might show through. To remove them, you must fight them with a different hue.

A color wheel will show you that each color may be neutralized by its polar opposite. Because blue is the polar opposite of orange, a blue shampoo will remove brassiness from lightened brunette hair and return it to a neutral or cool tone.

Can You Leave Blue Shampoo In Your Hair Overnight?

It is not recommended to leave the blue shampoo in your hair overnight or for only one hour. 

Since blue shampoo is also a special kind of shampoo, you had better use it according to the manufacturer’s instructions for perfect results.

What Happens If You Leave Blue Shampoo In Your Hair For Too Long?

If your hair is brassy orange and you let the blue shampoo on for an hour, you should not be concerned, but do not hope for a miracle neutralization either.

Blue shampoo contains blue molecules, which are used to neutralize the color. This shampoo, like purple shampoo, will permeate into the hair and provide a neutral blue pigment while removing the coppery orange color. 

Yet, if the color is kept on the hair for an extended period of time, it will soak into the hair fiber, resulting in discoloration and patchy hair. Furthermore, if the blue shampoo is kept on the hair for a prolonged time, it can cause dry, brittle hair.

On the other hand, as this shampoo functions superficially, it is only temporary. As a result, you will still acquire approximately more brassiness neutralization but will only be able to partially tone your orange hair. 

Blue shampoo, with a formula similar to a toning hair product, is not ideal for remaining on the hair overnight. 

If you are overly enthusiastic, you may wind up with too-ashy hair or a bluish hue to it. When you leave the blue shampoo on blonde hair for too long, blue streaks become more visible. Green is more likely to show in hair that turns yellow a lot.

How To Use Blue Shampoo For The Best Results?

Here is a step-by-step guide on using blue shampoo correctly to counteract brassy tones and maintain the cool brunette hue you desire.

Wash your hair

To eliminate all excess grease and dirt, you should wash your hair with your regular shampoo first. Then, wash the shampoo out and squeeze the hair using a towel to eliminate any extra water.

In this stage, wet your hair with warm water to gently open up the cuticles before using blue shampoo. Doing so will ensure that the pigments enter your hair strands more effectively.

Apply blue shampoo

Distribute the blue shampoo liberally throughout the hair, but avoid excessive rubbing to prevent activating the foam. Rather, use your hands to disperse it gently.

Indeed, apart from the inclusion of color pigments, there is little distinction between blue shampoo and conventional shampoo.

Thus, you can use this kind of shampoo in the same manner you would any other shampoo. Nevertheless, you must use the blue shampoo on both the ends and roots of the hair. This ensures that the blue pigment covers the hair effectively. 

Wait for some minutes

Another distinction between blue shampoo and your ordinary one is that blue shampoo must be left on the hair for a period of time before being washed away.

Most shampoos have varying recommendations, but typically, you can leave it on for 5 to 15 minutes.

This duration is also affected by your hair’s porosity. Blue shampoos can be left on for 3-5 minutes and yet still work perfectly for individuals with high porosity hair.

Because of the positioning of the cuticles on strands of hair, these hair types take colors faster than others.

Nevertheless, colors cannot easily enter the cuticles of low-porosity hair. If you have this type of hair, you should give it additional time.

Rinse it off

Now, it is high time to wipe off the blue shampoo once you’ve kept it on for the specified amount of time!

To remove the shampoo, wash your hair using cool water, which will seal your hair cuticles, leaving it frizz-free and smoother.

Apply a conditioner

Many people use a blue conditioner instead of a regular one in this step because they desire a better result. Typically, you can use either blue shampoo or blue conditioner since both contain blue pigments and are considered toning.

If your hair is overly pigmented, you should apply both. If not, applying a deep conditioner at this stage to rehydrate the hair is sufficient.

How Frequently Should You Use Blue Shampoo?

In general, using blue shampoo once to twice per week should be sufficient to prevent any red or orange tones from coming through. Keep in mind that utilizing too much blue shampoo on a regular basis can result in a darker tint than desired.

Specifically, if your hair is brunette or dark brown, utilize a blue shampoo only 2-3 times a week.

Lower this frequency to once per week if you have bleached, light blonde hair since the blue pigment is more likely to be deposited on lighter hair colors.

Importantly, the blue shampoo must be used with regular shampoo alternatively and should not be used in place of it. It is because blue shampoo is a treatment solution, which means overusing it will result in dry and lifeless hair. 

Also, its cleaning ability is not as good as a conventional one, so it cannot be used in place of regular shampoo.

Is Blue Shampoo Harmful to Your Hair?

To tell the truth, blue shampoos are not harmful to your hair if you use the right product and apply it properly. Nevertheless, you must exercise caution when choosing the best blue shampoo for your hair.

Blue shampoos, like ordinary shampoos, should be avoided if they contain harsh surfactant components like sodium Laureth or sulfate sodium lauryl sulfate. In addition, a good blue shampoo should also contain ingredients such as keratin, oils, and moisturizing agents,… which help nurture your hair.

However, there are a few milder varieties on the market. Have a look at our recommendations below:

Redken Color Extend Brownlights Blue Shampoo is a sulfate-free shampoo for brunettes, either their hair is color-treated or natural. 

It looks great on orange hair since it makes it appear ashy and glossy. Furthermore, Redken’s protein technology helps repair the hair and keeps it feeling healthier with each wash.

Our other suggestion for a good blue shampoo is Not Your Mother’s Triple Threat Brunette Shampoo and Conditioner. Both products are devoid of sulfate surfactant, paraben, silicone, phthalate, and other potentially harmful ingredients, making them suitable for use on your hair.

Blue toning shampoo washes and hydrates gently, with deep blue pigments that assist in toning and retaining the color and highlights of the brunette hair. Likewise, blue toning conditioner softly nourishes and moisturizes your hair.

The last product that we highly recommend you use is ProVoke Blue Shampoo and Conditioner Set. 

Blue pigments help brunette hair appear deeper and richer and also lighten blonde hair, making them the ideal choice for people who have dyed balayage, brunette, or ombre hair tones. 

Pro:blue Voke’s set, both enriched with Inca inchi oil, perform nicely together to make hair soft, silky, and naturally shiny. Notably, they are sulfate-free solutions that are gentler on your hair, allowing it to retain its vivid color for a longer period of time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the distinction between purple and blue shampoo?

You can easily find the answer when coming back to the color wheel. Purple is the opposite of yellow. Because lighter natural hair colors seem to yellow when they lift, hairstylists advocate applying purple shampoo to counteract the unpleasant yellow tones. 

For this reason, purple shampoo is ideal for blondes. Meanwhile, as discussed earlier, blue shampoo is ideal for brunettes who wish to keep their hair brass-free and cool.

Can blue shampoo get rid of orange?

You may need to have a blue toner if your hair turns orange. To remove the orange and tone down the brassiness, using a blue shampoo is an excellent idea. Blue shampoos, which include blue pigments, assist in correcting orange tones in your hair. 

Because they are opposite one other on the color wheel, these pigments may counteract orange tones, which implies that if your brunette locks have turned a bright orange or even a drab coppery red, a blue shampoo may restore them to a gorgeous brown.

How long does it take for blue shampoo to be effective on your hair?

You should keep the blue shampoo on your hair for 5-10 minutes and then rinse it. If your brunette color has not faded to such a brassy orange that no level of blue shampoo would assist, the effectiveness of the blue shampoo should be nearly instant.

Despite that, if your brassiness is resistant, you ought to use the blue shampoo for at least 6-8 weeks to remove it entirely.

Is it necessary to use standard conditioner after using blue shampoo?

Based on the needs of your hair, you may use a conventional conditioner after blue shampoo. However, if you wish to tone the hair twice, consider following up with a blue conditioner. 

Looking for one that is silicone-free and meets your hair’s moisture requirements is the key.

If you feel interested in this topic and would like to discover more about it, this video will be a good source of information:

Final Words

Finally, if you do not want your hair to be excessively ashy or blueish, avoid leaving the blue shampoo on it overnight. In addition, consider our recommendations to obtain a high-quality product because if you choose a low-quality blue shampoo, the pigments may cause your hair to appear more greenish than usual, or it may simply dry out the hair without providing any benefit.