What Will Purple Shampoo Do To Red Hair ?

Wondering what will purple shampoo do to red hair? Uncover the myths with this article and learn the right way to use this product in your hair care routine.

You may have heard of purple shampoo as a popular toner for blonde hair, but does it have the same effect on other hair colors? Can red hair benefit from purple shampoo? 

In this article, you will find the ultimate answers to these burning questions, along with a detailed guide on using purple shampoo at home.

Let’s dive into it!

What Is Purple Shampoo? 

As its name implies, this shampoo is termed purple since it genuinely is that color. If you pour some on your palm, you’ll see that it’s a deep purple, blackberry-like tint!

Well, purple shampoo is a popular shampoo for people who have dyed their hair a vibrant hue. It is a shampoo that contains purple pigments to reduce undertones dramatically.

Because of its ability to de-oxidize and reduce yellowing, it is also known as anti-yellow shampoo.

To know what purple shampoo can do to your hair, move on to the following part!

What Does Purple Shampoo Do?

Purple shampoo was made initially for neutralizing brassiness on blonde or bleach hair. Brassiness refers to unwanted warm tones that appear as the hair color starts to fade.

But how does purple shampoo work? The process is based on color theory. The principle is when you mix two contrasting colors, they will cancel each other out.

If you look at a color wheel, you’ll see that every color has an opposing force that can be used to balance it out. Purple is the color wheel’s polar opposite of yellow; hence, purple pigments will cancel out yellow tones.

The purple shampoo also supports light dyes such as highlight, ombre, or bleach on dark hair.

Purple shampoo neither harms nor damages your hair. However, it should be used with reasonable frequency and a moderate dose for the best results. Purple shampoo is a good substitute for salon appointments.

See also: What does purple shampoo do to natural blonde hair?

Can You Use Purple Shampoo On Red Hair?

Although purple shampoo isn’t required for red hair, it can work well with your red hair’s brassy locks.

The purple molecule will not influence the red color if the hair is naturally red. If you dye red hair, you can use purple shampoo to deal with the parts that have turned orange.

What Does Purple Shampoo On Red Hair Do? 

Referring to this question, it is worth considering two situations: your hair is dyed red or naturally red.

The reason is that purple shampoo’s effects will differ on each type of red hair.

Dyed red hair

If you are not born with red hair, you can still be a redhead “by choice.” In a nutshell, if we use purple shampoo on your dyed red hair, it will get rid of the unsightly brassy that appears after a time when your hair is colored red.

Shampoo with purple pigments is applied to brassy strands to neutralize the orange tones, as well. As a result, the red color will be restored without harming your dyed red.

Natural red hair

If you’re a natural redhead with no hair dye, the purple shampoo will probably have little influence on your hair color. In case you have a lot of lighter red/blonde/orange and highlights in your hair, removing some of the yellow tones can assist you in keeping your hair looking redder and less bronzy.

However, don’t expect much difference since purple shampoo isn’t designed for natural red hair.

Or else, if you have red hair, we suggest you use color depositing shampoos instead. They are designed specifically for redheads and will produce a better result.

How To Use Purple Shampoo On Red Hair?

Many people may be confused when it comes to using purple shampoo on their hair. In fact, knowing how to use purple shampoo correctly is essential if you don’t want to end up with messed-up hair and a destroyed color.

Then follow the steps listed below:

• First, pour enough shampoo on your hand to cover your hair’s length, then lather it on damp hair.
• Apply purple shampoo abundantly from the roots to the tips of your hair. Coat your strands entirely from the scalp to the ends to guarantee that the purple pigments reach all of your hair.
• Allow the shampoo to stay on your hair for 2 minutes after massaging it to activate the purple pigments.
• Next, rinse the shampoo with lukewarm water once the colors have settled in the cuticles.
• Apply a deep conditioner to prevent breakage.

• Allow the conditioner to penetrate the strands for 3 minutes. Now, thoroughly rinse your hair with lukewarm water. This procedure keeps the pigments in the cuticles, protecting the red tint.
• After that, pat your hair dry with a clean, dry towel.
• If you still possess brassy strands after the first rinse, use the purple shampoo regularly to neutralize these strands.

How Often Should Purple Shampoo Be Used On Red Hair?

For the best results, we recommend using the purple shampoo once to twice weekly.

To avoid changing the color of your hair to lilac purple, use purple shampoo at the frequency recommended by the manufacturer.

After a few uses, you can adjust the time according to your preferences. To lessen the quantity of pigment in dark purple shampoo, dilute it with water or regular shampoo.

How To Maintain Beautiful Red Hair Color? 

Avoid over-washing your hair

Over shampooing is the leading cause of red hair fading and turning brassy. When you wash your hair too soon after dyeing it, the cuticle lifts, and the color seeps out, leading the color to fade immediately.

So, after you’ve colored your hair, the colorist advises waiting three days before shampooing to allow the dye to penetrate the strand and prevent the color from fading.

If your roots become oily while waiting, you may spray them with a bit of dry shampoo to help them look cleaner.

After that, apply the purple shampoo once to twice per week and use dry shampoo in between washes to prolong the time.

Use a shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair

Alcohol and sulfate-free products created for treated hair are incredibly delicate to help protect your hair color. They may also include vitamins and antioxidants that nourish and protect the hair.

You may use a shampoo or conditioner designed to deposit additional color onto the hair each time you wash it if you prefer. They will have color-protect ingredients with color molecules to penetrate the hair to add color.

Plus, avoid anti-dandruff and clarifying shampoos, which may strip your hair’s color.

Rinse your hair with cold water

It is critical to rinse your hair in cool water after washing it to keep your beautiful red hair color.

Hot water encourages your hair to expand, allowing water and shampoo to enter deeper into the hair and remove more color with each rinse. The cuticle is sealed, and moisture is locked in using cool water.

For this reason, rinsing your hair with cold water will make it look shinier as well as preserve the color.

Moisture your hair

Dyed hair is dehydrated and brittle, making your hair color look faded and dull. In addition, dry hair does not hold color as well.

Keeping your hair hydrated is, thus, the most crucial thing you can do to keep your color looking vivid for a longer time.

A deep conditioner, like a hair mask, will hydrate and nourish your hair, keeping it looking strong, healthy, and brilliant. It also softens and smooths the frizz. If your hair has been bleached, this is necessary.

Besides, consider using a leave-in conditioner, hair serum, etc., to add moisture and nutrients to your red hair.

Protect your red hair from saltwater or chlorinated pools

Swimming in fresh water is acceptable but swimming in a chlorine pool may bleach out your hair and change the color dramatically, while saltwater is extremely drying and may dull your hair’s fiery sheen.

For this reason, if you must swim in chlorine or saltwater, wear a swimming cap or avoid submerging your head.

You might also wet your hair in the bath before going into the pool. After that, apply conditioner to wet strands without rinsing. The hair conditioner functions as a barrier, keeping chlorine away from the color.

If you have chlorine on your hair, you’ll need to use a clarifying shampoo to remove it, which will fade your color.

Limit the use of heat

Heat damages your hair, causing the color to fade faster than it would if the hair were not damaged.

So, instead of using a hairdryer, let your hair air dry to keep the color from fading. If you usually curl your hair with curling irons, consider using heatless curlers to reduce the danger of fading your hair color.

Unless you can live without a hair dryer or curling iron, put a heat protectant on the hair before using it to prevent the red hair color from fading.

Protect your red hair from the sun

UV radiation can cause hair damage and red color fade. Therefore, wearing a hat to protect your face from sun damage is a brilliant idea. Also, covering your hair might help keep your color appearing newer for longer.

If you know you’ll be out in the sun, you can also spritz your hair with a UV-protecting spray before leaving the house.

If you like the red color o your hair and want to keep it as long as possible, we recommend you watch this video for more information:

FAQs

What are some color shampoos to use on red hair?

In addition to purple shampoo, you can go for other kinds of color shampoos. However, avoid green shampoos since they will cancel out your red hair pigments.

Below are three redhead-friendly color shampoos you can choose from instead of purple ones:

Red shampoo

Red shampoo is most recommended for dark red hair because it enhances the red pigments and boosts vibrancy. Red shampoos also include a UV protection effect.

Pink shampoo

Pink supports red hues because they stand next to each other on the color wheel. The extra tint is best suited for light red hair.

However, if you have highlights on red hair, consult your stylist before using this product if you have highlights on red hair since the shampoo may alter the highlights with pink hues.

Non-tinted shampoo (Clear shampoo)

The non-tinted formula is commonly found in color-treated hair shampoo. This product is ideal for all shades of red hair because it preserves vibrancy without significantly impacting the shade.

See also: What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Purple Shampoo?

What color does red fade to?

Red tones are stunning and highlight your own identity. That’s a compelling incentive to go for it, isn’t it?

However, because of their high pigmentation, they are tones that fade quickly. When you shampoo your hair, that excellent color will gradually fade away.

Although it depends on the exact shade you started with, red often fades to pastel pink. It may turn more peachy if you start with a more orange-toned dye. The red tint can fade into a pink, coral-y blonde over medium-dark blonde hair.

Can you sleep with purple shampoo in your hair?

According to experts, sleeping with purple shampoo in your hair overnight is not a good idea.

The first reason is that purple shampoo includes harsh elements (like sulfates) that, if left on for a lengthy period, will dull the hair.

Furthermore, the purple shampoo contains color molecules. If left on the hair for an extended time, too many color molecules may penetrate, causing your hair to become a lilac or purple hue.

As a result, leaving the purple shampoo on your hair overnight does not make it look healthier and may cause dandruff.

Conclusion

After reading this article, we hope you know what purple shampoo your red hair can benefit from so you can make a decision to use purple pigment in your hair care routine.

Overall, purple shampoos keep the red hue looking fresh and stay for a long time. Since you can use this shampoo right at home, you will save costs better than visiting the salon.

In order to keep your red hair healthy and beautiful, remember to use shampoo that comes with moisturizing conditioner and effective hair care methods to nurture healthy hair for an effortless beautiful look.