Purple shampoo is a powerful tool to keep in your hair care arsenal for those with blond, bleached, silver, and brassy hair. Like most things in life, you can have too much of a good thing, though.
If you’ve experimented and now need to get purple shampoo out of your hair, don’t panic. We’re going to discuss what it is, how long it will take to come out, removal methods, and more. We’ll also cover what happens if you use too much so you’ll be prepared to use the right amount of purple shampoo and look your best!
What is purple shampoo?
First, let’s go over what purple shampoo is and what it is used for. Purple shampoo is a shampoo with purple dye pigments in it. When you wash your hair with it, these pigments are deposited along the hair shaft.
It’s used to counteract brassy tones in blonde hair. Brassy tones are unwanted warm tones; think yellow and golden tones. It’s the opposite of ashy and cool tones. If you look at a color wheel, you’ll see that purple is on the opposite side of yellow.
Purple and yellow are complementary colors. This means purple is needed to neutralize warm tones and give the hair more of an icy-toned blonde instead. It’s similar to using green makeup to neutralize redness in the skin – red and green are also on opposite sides of the color wheel.
How long does it take for purple shampoo to come out?
If you’ve overdone it with purple shampoo, don’t worry! It WILL eventually come out. Exactly how long that will take depends on the condition of your hair.
If your hair is very light and highlighted, it is more porous and can soak up more dye. In this case, it would be better to head back to the salon to safely remove the pigment from your hair. This can remove the excess pigment in one session
If your hair isn’t that light, or if you can be patient, purple shampoo will come out with time. You’ll have to cleanse with a clarifying shampoo instead. Washing it twice will strip out most of the color. The rest will come out in the next week or two if you stop using purple shampoo and use a regular shampoo instead.
What methods can you use to remove purple shampoo?
We mentioned going to a salon to remove the purple shampoo from your hair, and that is the fastest (yet most expensive) option.
If you’d prefer to treat your hair at home, there are a variety of methods to try. We’ll go over the methods starting with items you may need to purchase, and ending with products you might have at home.
Color Remover
Making a mistake with hair dye is so common that there are specially formulated products to tackle this very issue. Color removers do just as they say – remove excess pigment from your hair. Since they are stripping your hair, which may be fragile from the bleaching process already, we recommend doing a test patch first. This way you’ll be sure that your hair can handle the remover without breakage.
Clarifying Shampoo
This is a special type of shampoo that is designed to remove stubborn product residue or oils from your hair. Wash your hair twice to remove the purple shampoo. Since it is a stronger type of shampoo and bleached hair is already drier than virgin hair, make sure you follow up with a deep conditioning mask. Clarifying shampoos can be found at all price points, at the drugstore, beauty supply stores, and at salons.
Baking Soda
Regular baking soda is a great natural cleanser that can also remove purple shampoo from your hair without bleaching it. To use, mix a teaspoon of baking soda with your regular shampoo. Wash the areas that are the most purple and leave the foam on for five minutes. Then wash with your regular shampoo and rinse well.
Dish Soap
Dish soap, like a clarifying shampoo, is a stronger type of cleanser. It is even stronger than clarifying shampoo, so while it will work to strip the purple dye out, it will also dry your hair. Do not use it more than once and follow it with a deep conditioning treatment.
What happens when you use too much purple shampoo?
Now that you know what purple shampoo is and how to remove it, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. What exactly happens if you use too much? We’re going to discuss the four dangers of overusing purple shampoo below.
Hair Turns Purple
The most obvious danger to using too much purple shampoo is that it may turn your hair . .. purple! This doesn’t happen often but is possible if you use purple shampoo frequently and/or leave the product in for too long. To avoid this, do not leave it in for longer than 15 minutes. Also, do not apply it to dry hair – make sure your hair is damp first.
Too Ashy
Since purple shampoo is used to counteract brassy tones, you could go too far and end up with hair that is too ashy for your liking. After all, hair color is on a spectrum and you want to get the right balance of warm and cool tones to suit your skin color and personal preference.
To avoid going too ashy, use purple shampoo every other time you shampoo. Then assess your tone after a week of usage. If it’s still too brassy, you can use it every time you shampoo. Some people use it once a week, and some people use it every time they shampoo, so experiment and find the right schedule for you.
Uneven Hair Color
If you’re using too much purple shampoo in the wrong areas, you’ll be left with uneven hair color. Your hair at your roots is undamaged by heat tools and the sun, so it will not dye in the same way. The ends of your hair are older, drier, and more porous, so they will absorb more dye.
Make sure to concentrate purple shampoo at the top of your hair. Then, let the shampoo run down the hair to the ends, instead of saturating the entire length with color.
Hair Isn’t Cleansed Properly
Purple shampoos are great at depositing color and might not be so great at cleansing or treating your scalp. If you’re using too much purple shampoo and not other shampoos, your hair won’t get the care it needs.
If you need to deep clean your hair or use a medicated shampoo for your scalp, cleanse twice. Use your treatment shampoo first, and follow up with purple shampoo.
How do I remove purple shampoo from my shower/tub?
The best way to remove purple shampoo from your shower/tub is to wipe or rinse the area before it has a chance to dry.
It’s harder to remove purple shampoo after it has dried, but not impossible.
Bleach
Bleach is great for removing stains. Mix the bleach and water. Apply it to the stain and let it sit for approximately 10 minutes. Remember to ventilate the area by opening doors and windows, and by running a fan. Rinse with water.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
For a less toxic option, try the classic mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Fill the tub until the water just covers the stain. Mix one cup of vinegar with a half cup of baking soda and add this to the water. Allow to soak for 10 minutes, and then rinse with water.
Acetone
You may have a bottle of acetone for removing nail polish. If not, this is available at most drugstores. Soak a rag with acetone and apply it to the stain. The dye should come off immediately.
How to Avoid Purple Shampoo Stains?
Since purple shampoo contains dye to help tone your hair, it can stain anything it comes in contact with. For this reason, we recommend applying it only in the bathroom. Don’t let it come in contact with clothing, towels, or bath mats.
If you’re worried about the product staining your skin, apply a layer of petroleum jelly around your hairline and on your ears. Remember to wear gloves to prevent purple shampoo from staining your fingernails.
Saturate your hair and scalp with water before applying purple shampoo. Using purple shampoo on dry hair will cause it to pick up more of the dye.
