In this quick guide, we will go over the basics of what purple shampoo is, its role in correcting orange hair, and how it differs from blue shampoos.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Bleached hair is generally more prone to things like fading and yellowing, which can make your hair look brassy, dull, and lifeless. Of course, numerous factors can contribute to this, such as too much exposure to the sun’s UV rays, using hard or chlorinated water, among many others.
When this happens, the most common advice you’ll hear is to use purple shampoo to remove the brassy tones in your hair and make it look more lively again.
However, can purple shampoo really fix orange hair? Moreover, how does it differ from blue shampoo?
Let’s find out.
What Is Purple Shampoo?
Before we can discuss whether or not purple shampoo can fix orange hair, let’s discuss what purple shampoo is. Simply put, purple shampoo is a regular shampoo that’s been infused with some purple pigments.
It’s designed to spruce up bleached or blonde hair by eliminating the brassy tones in the strands. It uses the concept of complementary colors to neutralize these brassy undertones, which leaves your hair looking livelier, more vibrant, and more natural-looking.
However, purple shampoo is more suitable for banishing yellow tones in your hair, so it might not work as well for addressing orange tones. For that, you will need blue-toned shampoo.
Blue vs. Purple Shampoos: Which One to Use?
Both blue and purple shampoos are pigmented shampoos, and the two use the concept of complementary colors in color theory to address specific hair issues. However, which one should you use?
Purple Shampoo
As mentioned, purple shampoos cancel out brassy or yellow tones in the hair, which is why they are perfect when you want to maintain that cooler hue for your blonde hair. They work best if you’re trying to maintain platinum or silver locks.
Using purple shampoo once or twice a week can effectively cancel out those yellow undertones in your hair and keep it looking vibrant, fresh, and cool.
Blue Shampoo
Blue shampoos are designed to neutralize orange or red tones in the hair.
Because of this, blue shampoos are excellent for maintaining brunette hair since they give it a cooler undertone that can look amazing on darker locks.
Why use Blue Shampoo to Fix Orange Hair instead of Purple Shampoo?
Blue shampoos are specially formulated to counteract red and orange tones in brunette hair. So, if you want to bring out the best from your brunette locks, using blue shampoo can be an excellent idea.
Moreover, a blue shampoo also helps keep your hair looking vibrant, natural-looking, and cool, similar to how purple shampoos address brassy tones in blonde hair.
So, it can be a good idea to use blue shampoo if you want your brunette hair to look more lively and vibrant.
How Do I Use Blue Shampoo to Get Rid Of Orange Hair?
While shampoos are quite intuitive to use, when it comes to blue shampoos, there may be a few guidelines to keep in mind.
Firstly, you don’t have to rinse it off immediately. Since the blue pigment will have to dispel the orange or red tones in your hair strands, it is best to leave them on.
In this case, it’s best to leave the shampoo in around two to three minutes before rinsing it out. Doing so will leave your once-orange hair looking cooler, less brassy, and more vibrant.
However, you should keep in mind that blue shampoos have a harsher formula than your typical shampoos. This is why it’s best to only use it once or twice a week to get the best results.
Alternatively, you can also mix it in with your regular shampoo if you want to have more control over the color change when using blue shampoos.
What To Look For In A Blue Shampoo?
Not all blue shampoos are formulated the same, and different products work for different hair types. Moreover, blue shampoos can have harsher formulas than regular shampoos, which is why it’s best to consider several factors when choosing the right product for you.
With that said, here are some of the things you need to consider when looking for blue shampoos:
Sulfate-Free
This goes for almost every product you put on your scalp and hair. Opting for a sulfate-free blue shampoo reduces dryness and frizz on your hair, and it also frees your scalp and skin from irritation.
Another great thing is that sulfate-free products maintain the health and integrity of curly and wavy hair while keeping it nourished and bouncy.
Natural Plant-Based Extracts
We can’t deny how much we love shampoos that already smell good. However, don’t be fooled by synthetic perfumes and essences that may harm your hair in the long run, especially when you expose your hair to bleaching, perming, and coloring.
At this point, your hair already needs tender loving care to recover, and natural extracts like essential oils may just be the thing to keep it rejuvenated.
Consistency
If you’re thinking of quality, an essential aspect to look for in blue shampoo is the thickness of the consistency.
The viscosity of the product indicates the richness of the pigment, thus proving how effective it will be in removing the brassiness from your hair strands.
Also, going for watered-down blue shampoos may give you a mild formula, but it won’t give you your money’s worth.
How to Avoid Orange Hair: Some Helpful Tips
Of course, as helpful as blue shampoos are, it’s better if your hair didn’t turn orange in the first place. So, how to avoid orange hair, especially when dyeing or bleaching your hair? Check out some helpful tips below.
Choose the right color
If you want to avoid orange or red tones in your hair when dyeing it, it might be best if you go for dyes that are less likely to turn orange once you apply them.
In this case, cool-toned dyes like the ones that have “ash” in their names are less likely to turn orange since they typically don’t contain warm undertones.
Tone after dyeing
Toning your hair after dyeing it can help neutralize the warm tones in your strands and leave it looking more vibrant and cooler.
Like blue and purple shampoos, toners typically contain a small amount of pigment that’s designed to cancel out these brassy tones. However, make sure you pick the correct toner to avoid disastrous results.
Avoid too much sun exposure
Too much exposure to the sun also exposes you to its harsh UV rays, and these can impact how well the dye stays in your hair. The sun’s harsh UV rays can make your hair color fade more quickly, and this can lead to the brassiness becoming more apparent.
Avoid the pool
It may sound like a good idea to go to the pool and show off your new hair color, but this can actually affect how your hair looks.
The water in pools is usually treated with chlorine to keep it clean and free from germs and bacteria, but this chemical can make your hair fade more quickly, making the brassy orange tones more visible.
Moreover, chlorine can also leave your hair looking drier and more susceptible to damages like breakage. So, if you want to prevent your hair from turning orange, it might be best to skip the pool for now.
Conclusion
When it comes to fixing orange hair, purple shampoos may be the initial go-to product, but they may actually leave your hair looking worse than before. This is because purple shampoos are designed for counteracting yellow hues instead of orange.
So, if you want to address your orange hair, you should opt for blue shampoos instead. These shampoos are similar to purple shampoos but are specifically formulated to counteract orange and red hues. This makes them perfect for maintaining brunette hair.
Of course, like purple shampoos, you should be careful about how frequently you use blue shampoos. After all, they’re designed to correct orange hair, not replace your regular shampoo.
With that said, we hope this article has helped you learn more about whether or not purple shampoos fix orange hair, and why blue shampoos are better for it instead.
