Blue vs. Purple Shampoo: What’s the Difference? | John Frieda (2024)

WHAT IS BLUE SHAMPOO?

Both blue and purple shampoos are used to color-correct dyed or lightened hair.

You may be familiar with purple shampoo, which counteracts the yellow tones that create a brassy look in color-treated blonde hair. Blue shampoo

achieves a similar purpose but for brunette hair.

After a month or so of shampooing, heat-styling, and sun exposure, that gorgeous color you left the salon with often begins to fade. What you’re left with are the brassy undertones. For blonde hair, those undertones will often be somewhere between yellow and oranage while for brunette hair, they will be somewhere between orange to a coppery red.

Blue shampoos are designed to counteract orange tones in brunette hair, while

purple shampoos

are used to banish brass in blonde hair. If you make the leap from brunette to blonde hair, make sure to switch to a purple shampoo to counteract the yellow tones that often appear in color-treated blonde hair.

Blue shampoos are designed to counteract orange tones in brunette hair, while purple shampoos are used to banish brass in blonde hair.

BLUE VS. PURPLE SHAMPOO: WHICH ONE SHOULD I USE?

You know why to use blue or purple shampoo, but how do you know which one to use? The answer lies in the color wheel.

Shades of yellow and even light orange sit directly across from purple and violet hues on the color wheel. This means purple cancels out yellow. Seeing bright yellow where your cool blonde highlights used to be? A purple shampoocan help restore your color to cool blonde magnificence once again.

Orange and red hues, on the other hand, are opposite blue on the color wheel. This means—you guessed it!—blue cancels out orange. So if your brunette locks are suddenly showing a garish orange or even a dull coppery red, using a blue shampoo a blue shampoo can tone them back to brilliant brown.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Frieda US (@johnfriedaus)

How to Use Blue and Purple Shampoo

So how do you use blue or purple shampoo to keep your brown or blonde locks looking glossy and luminous? With these pigmented toning shampoos, less is definitely more. Here’s how to use blue or purple shampoo properly to keep your color cool and fresh.

1. Decide how often to use toning shampoo. Blue and purple shampoos work by coating the hair shaft, canceling out brassiness, and adding shine. For best results, use these special shampoos daily until you achieve your desired color result. To maintain your ideal shade, try alternating with your regular shampoo as needed.

Blue and purple shampoos work by coating the hair shaft, canceling out brassiness, and adding shine.

1. Use blue and purple shampoo together! Seeing both yellow and orange tones in your mane? Try alternating your toning shampoos. If you see more orange, use purple shampoo once for every two or three times you use the blue. Vice versa for more prominent yellow tones.
2. Let it sit for more toning power. To help achieve a cooler tone, let your blue or purple shampoo sit in your hair for 2-3 minutes after you suds up. If you’re experiencing extreme brassiness, you may want to leave the formula on for longer.
3. Follow up with a blue or purple conditioner. Dyeing and bleaching your hair can lead to dry and damaged locks. Purple and blue conditioners are designed to restore and moisturize dyed hair. Nourish stressed out hair by using a purple conditioner for blondes or a blue conditioner for brunettes after shampooing.
4. Experiment with blue or purple shampoo on virgin hair. Even virgin, un-dyed hair can benefit from a blue or purple shampoo every once in a while. Sun exposure and even chemicals like chlorine can turn your beautiful brunette or blonde locks brassy. Blue and purple shampoos can subtly tone down those unwanted shades to cooler, brighter hues.

Buh-bye brassiness! Check out more of our hair care tips for color-treated hair