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Does Purple Shampoo Work Best Before or After Regular Shampoo?

Natural or bottle blonds sometimes find themselves with a bit too much brassiness in their hair. Purple shampoo is a great way to cut through the yellowish tones, but you might wonder, do you use purple shampoo before or after regular shampoo?

The short answer is before your regular shampoo, but there’s a little more to it than that, including how long you should apply your purple shampoo and how often you should use it.

Do You Use Purple Shampoo Before Or After Regular Shampoo?

Use purple shampoo before your regular shampoo to combat brassiness. It’s far less potent if you use it on freshly washed hair. It would help to let purple shampoo or purple conditioner sit on your hair for a few minutes to soak into the follicles.

While a purple shampoo is technically labeled a “shampoo,” it’s not designed to replace the regular stuff. Don’t swap out regular shampoo for purple shampoo unless you want wet, unclean hair.

purple shampoo before regular shampoo

Purple shampoo acts as a toner, not a cleanser, removing yellow tones from your hair and making it more neutral overall.

Everyone is different, so talk to your salon professional about what’s suitable for you and your locks in terms of purple shampoo.

For example, people with really light bleached hair should avoid leaving the purple shampoo on their hair for extended periods because it could stain it.

Similarly, depending on your hair shade and the porousness of your follicles, you might want to opt for a more lilac-colored purple shampoo rather than a deeply saturated one.

It’s probably not a good idea to use purple shampoo every day unless specifically directed by your salon professional.

Most people will need to use purple shampoos a few times a week at the very most, although you can also move a purple shampoo into the rotation when you notice your hair looking brassier.

Once you’ve lathered up your purple shampoo, leave it on your locks for a few minutes. Doing this will allow your hair to soak in the shampoo and let the active ingredients work.

If you have darker blond hair, you could also go for a purple hair mask, although people with lighter locks risk staining their hair with masks.

Can You Mix Regular Shampoo With Purple Shampoo?

Can You Mix Regular Shampoo With Purple Shampoo?
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You can mix the purple shampoo with regular shampoo. It might even be beneficial to do so, especially if you’re new to working with this product. Mix a bit of your regular product with the purple shampoo, then apply, leave on, and use as normal.

Consider mixing the product in your hands before applying it to your hair for the best results. That way, you’ll avoid having clumps of unfiltered purple shampoo in with your regular shampoo and be working with a harmonious blend of both.

Over-toning hair or using too much purple shampoo can give you darker locks. If you’ve just dyed your hair blonde or wish to retain your natural lightness without the brassiness, mixing regular and purple shampoo can help you cut back on the possibility that you’ll go a shade too dark.

Is It Safe To Use Regular Shampoo With Purple Shampoo?

Is It Safe To Use Regular Shampoo With Purple Shampoo?

It’s safe to use regular shampoo with purple shampoo and even mix the two if you want less of a toning effect.

Since the purple shampoo and regular shampoo don’t perform the same functions, you can use both on the same day as long as you remember to use the purple one before.

Not all purple shampoos are created equal. If you have damaged or overly porous hair, you’ll want to get a little bit gentler purple shampoo that doesn’t damage your locks further.

Generally speaking, salon products are the best, but you can also get a good drugstore find. Many exceptional drugstore brands come in a variety of different shades and offer ultra-hydration and balanced toning.

Talk to your salon professional about your budget and needs, and they should be able to direct you to a good brand.

If you have a good relationship with your salon professional, you can also talk to them about any questions you might have about the product.

Wrapping Up

Use purple shampoo before your regular shampoo and not as a substitute for your regular shampoo. You can also mix the two to cut back on the purple shampoo’s potency and give you more control over your hair toning.

Use purple shampoo once or twice weekly, and adjust the frequency if you notice your hair getting a bit too dark or taking on a purple or bluish hue. If the purple shampoo stains your hair, wash the unwanted color out with a clarifying shampoo.

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