Are you thinking about going blonde? It can be exciting to try a new look, but what about the upkeep? How do you keep your newly bleached hair looking fresh weeks after a salon trip?
With this in mind, many people think about using purple shampoo as a toner after bleaching.
While purple shampoo can be used as a toner after bleaching, it is important to consider the potential risks and benefits before making the decision.
Read on to learn the ins and outs of using purple shampoo to tone your hair.
Can I Use Purple Shampoo to Tone Hair After Bleaching?
Yes, you can use purple shampoo as a toner after bleaching. This shampoo contains violet pigments, perfect for neutralizing yellow or orange undertones in bleached hair.
However, do not apply purple shampoo too soon after bleaching. Bleaching is a harsh process so your hair needs some time to recover from the damage.
If you bleach your hair at a salon, they will tone it to remove any brassiness. Products like purple shampoo are a great way to maintain a toned look.
If you bleach your hair at home, purple shampoo should help cancel out yellow tones over time.
After bleaching your hair any shade of blonde, it becomes more susceptible to fading from UV rays, chlorine, and even regular hair washes.
Risks of Using Purple Shampoo After Bleaching
While purple shampoo is a great hair toning tool, it has a few mild risks. These risks are increased if you over-use the product.
Over-Toned Hair
Since purple and yellow are complementary colors, purple shampoo works well at combating brassy tones in bleached hair. Sometimes, it can even work too well.
Most brands do not design their purple shampoos for daily usage. You should only use the violet shampoo a couple of times a week alongside traditional shampoo.
When you use it too frequently, you might begin to see a blue or purple tint to your hair. This tint happens because you have canceled out too much yellow from your hair.
While it can be frustrating, this tint is not permanent. It should fade after a few regular washes.
Further Hair Damage
Purple shampoos are not like traditional shampoos. Each serves different functions.
Regular shampoos can have multiple functions, like cleansing oil and debris from your scalp, supporting hydration, and strengthening your hair. Most purple shampoos (on the other hand) have only one purpose — toning hair.
Because purple shampoo works instead as a toner, you should not use it very often. That is especially true when using the product on bleached hair, as your hair is already in a weakened state.
Using too much purple shampoo risks damaging your fragile hair even further.
Benefits of Using Purple Shampoo as a Toner After Bleaching
As long as you use purple shampoo properly, its benefits far outweigh its risks. Here are some of the most enticing positives, specifically for bleached hair.
Convenient Hair Toning Option
Out of all the possible at-home toning options, purple shampoo is one of the best in terms of cost-effectiveness and convenience.
Utilizing purple shampoo when necessary allows for longer gaps in between salon appointment times, saving you money and time.
Applying purple shampoo is a quick and easy at-home process. Simply lather and apply a small amount in the shower as you would with regular shampoo. Leave the shampoo sit for two to three minutes before rinsing.
Neutralizes Yellow Tones
Purple shampoos expertly correct yellow and brassy tones in bleached hair.
This product works because of color theory. Purple and yellow are across from one another on the color wheel. What does this mean? When mixed, these two colors neutralize each other on a canvas and neutralize in your hair!
Bleached hair is also more prone to tone discoloration from many places, including:
- Pool chemicals like chlorine
- UV rays from the sun
- Minerals in hard water
- Shampoos with sulfates
- Heat styling tools
The purple shampoo will combat these external factors and maintain your desired blonde shade.
So, consider using purple shampoo as a toner after bleaching if your hair has yellow or brassy tones and is in good condition. Use it about once or twice a week, to maintain a cool blonde without over-toning or damaging your hair.