Do you have natural red hair, or hair that looks red right now, and you want a brighter purple shade? If yes, you may ask, “Can I put purple over red hair?”
Yes, you can. The key question is what shade you will get.
If you’re serious about joining the purple movement, read this simple guide before adding purple dye to your red hair.
Can I Dye Purple Over Red Hair?
Yes, but it may not look truly purple. Purple over red often turns more magenta or burgundy. The result depends on how strong your red is and whether your purple dye is blue based or red based.
If you use a warm purple with a pink base, you may get a berry tone or burgundy. If you use a cool purple with a blue base, it can look dull or brown because blue and red orange can cancel each other out.
So yes, you can dye purple over red hair. For a true purple, you often need to lighten first.
How to Dye My Red Hair Purple?
If you want a true purple shade, there are two ways to dye your red hair purple.
Safety Notes
- Do not use 30 or 40 vol on your scalp. It can burn.
- If lightener may touch your scalp, use 20 vol max.
- Stop and rinse if you feel burning, strong itching, or swelling. Get help if it does not stop.
- Do a strand test and a patch test first.
First, decide which shade of purple you want, considering your skin tone. Here’s a simple guideline:
- For women with cooler or lighter skin tones, a pastel or more vibrant shade of purple is recommended. To achieve these shades, Method #1 is the way to go.
- For women with darker skin tones, a deeper purple can look rich. If you want this, use Method #2.
Method #1: How to Dye Red Hair Purple with Bleaching
If you’re going for a vibrant purple shade, or a lavender or lilac color, you must remove most of the red tone first. Lightening is the usual way to do this.
With that said, here are the steps you can take:
Step 1: Assess your hair condition.
We all know that the bleaching process can be damaging to your hair. That’s why you should examine your hair strands first to ensure they’re free of damage like breakage, dryness, and dullness.
If your hair fails this test, delay the bleaching session for a few weeks. Use natural oils or deep conditioning treatments to nourish and hydrate your hair.
If your hair doesn’t show these signs, you can proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Prepare the bleaching mixture.
Get a plastic bowl and mix the bleaching powder with a 20-volume developer.
Step 3: Bleach your red hair.
Using a brush, apply the bleaching mixture to your hair lengths. Leave around 1cm away from the roots. Work from the mid lengths to the ends.
For roots and scalp work, it is safest to see a professional.
Let the bleach sit for around 30 to 40 minutes, but check on the color every 10 minutes.
Step 4: Rinse off the bleach.
Once the red tones have lifted and your hair has shifted to yellow, rinse off the bleach. You can do this using a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner, or a rinsing cream.
Step 5: Apply the violet dye.
Dry your hair first before applying the new color. Then follow the instructions on the packaging to keep your hair looking healthy and your new color as vivid as possible.
Method #2: How to Dye Red Hair Purple without Bleaching
If you’re going for a darker shade of purple, you may not need to lighten first because deep purples sit closer to red.
But one issue remains. You may not get a true purple. You may get a red-violet shade instead. If that’s okay with you, follow the steps below.
If you want a true purple without lightening, a professional stylist can help you mix the right formula for your hair.
Important: If your purple dye is semi permanent, do not mix it with developer. Apply it straight from the jar or tube. Only mix with developer if the product says permanent or demi permanent.
Step 1. Prep your hair for the dyeing process.
A few days before your coloring session, wash your hair well to remove dirt and buildup.
But on the day of the session, don’t wash your hair. This helps keep your natural oils in place.
Step 2. Prep the dye.
If you are using a permanent or demi-permanent dye, mix the color and developer based on the package directions. If you are using a semi-permanent dye, skip the mixing and use the dye straight from the tube or jar.
Step 3. Section your hair and apply the dye.
Use a clip to divide your hair into multiple sections. The more sections, the better.
After that, apply the dye to your hair using a brush. Make sure all your strands are well coated. Check your head from all sides to make sure you did not miss any spots.
Cover your hair with a plastic cover or shower cap, and let the dye sit for around 20 to 30 minutes.
Step 4. Rinse off the dye.
Rinse your hair using warm water and a rinsing cream, or a color-protecting conditioner.
The Bottom Line
Can you dye purple over red hair? Yes. You can do it with bleaching or without bleaching.
Without bleaching, purple over red often turns into burgundy or a red-violet tint. It is not usually a true purple. With lightening first, you can reach a brighter and truer purple shade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, purple dyes last for about 4 to 6 weeks. However, since the purple dye is highly pigmented, there’s a high chance that it will fade a little every time you wash it.
When prepping your hair for the coloring process, focus on two things. Cleaning and hydrating your hair.
To help the color look vivid, you need to remove dirt and buildup. Washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo can help.
Follow it with a nourishing and hydrating conditioner to keep your hair healthy.
Here are a few tips to make your purple hair last longer:
1. Use shampoo every other day and conditioner every day.
2. Look for sulfate-free color-depositing hair products.
3. Minimize your hair’s exposure to heat and the sun.
4. Shower with lukewarm or cold water and avoid hot water.
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