Purple Shampoo: Your Questions Answered

Luxury haircare begins with understanding your hair’s unique needs - and that includes the art of tone correction and purple shampoo. In this blog,  Laura Elliott, Head of Education at Neäl & Wølf guides you through what purple shampoo is, how it works, how often it should be used and who should be using it (it's not just for blondes!).

1. What is purple shampoo?

Purple shampoo is known for containing a purple or violet tone. This purple pigment is distributed across the hair when washing to neutralise brassy, yellow tones. If you have blonde, silver or white hair that tends to get yellow, purple shampoo can be your new BFF! It can also be used on brown and even red hair to rid the shades of warm tones.

Neäl & Wølf BLONDE Purple Brightening Shampoo does exactly what it says; keeps your hair beautiful, clean and bright. What more could you ask for? Oh, wait… Our shampoo is also vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, sulphates-free, parabens-free, TEA & DEA free, meaning that it is kinder to your hair and won't strip your colour. Read more about our ethos: Our Commitment

2. What does purple shampoo do?

Purple shampoo enhances blonde or lightened hair, as well as natural grey or white hair, and brown hair. Purple is used because, if you take a look at the colour wheel, it is the direct opposite colour of yellow, meaning that purple and yellow cancel one another out. When using purple pigment on brassy, yellow tones it colour corrects your hair's hue, restoring it to its former bright, cooler colour.

This purple pigment isn’t just for purple shampoo! It can also be found in conditioners like our BLONDE Purple Brightening Conditioner to compliment the use of shampoo. In the same way, violet can be used in products such as our MIRACLE Rapid Blow-Dry Mist which tones hair whilst drying it fast.

3. Will purple shampoo work on other colours than just blonde?

Yes, purple shampoo works to tone more hair colours than just the traditional blonde! It can bring results to brown, white, grey and even red locks. Our BLONDE Purple Brightening Shampoo contains a unique blend of wheat proteins and glycerine, which strengthens the hair whilst retaining its moisture, and guess what? It can be used on other hair colours too! Below, we’ve detailed how it can be used on each hair colour:

Brown hair

Purple shampoo can help to nurture the cool tones in brunette hair, preventing it from becoming overly warm and orange. The product tends to work best on light brunette shades, highlights and balayage, rather than much darker tones. Find out more: Can You Use Purple Shampoo on Brown Hair?

White and grey hair

Sometimes when hair loses melanin (i.e. colour pigment) and turns white or grey, there’s still a residual tone of yellow left in the hair. This can leave hair looking dull and drab, so using purple shampoo can help to neutralise these unwanted tones. View more of our solutions: Grey Hair Products

Red hair

Just because hair is red, doesn’t mean it needs to be orange! Purple shampoo works well on red hair. It helps keep the colour vibrant and stops any brassy tones creeping through as the colour fades. Read more about how to maintain one of our favourite red shades: Is Strawberry Blonde Hair Ginger?

Silver hair

Coloured silver hair is renowned for its cool hue, which can be maintained with purple shampoo. This works by toning and keeping away any natural brassy tones that may try to creep through into the shade.

4. How to use purple shampoo, and how often?

We recommend starting with once per week, and then building up as needed. Alternate with a colour safe shampoo to make the best impact. If you start to notice a purple tone in your hair or your hair feels drier than normal then you’re using purple shampoo too much - so give your hair a rest.

To get the best results simply massage into wet hair and leave for 1-2 minutes, and then rinse. Repeat with our BLONDE Purple Brightening Conditioner. When not using purple shampoo, you could use another solution such as our DAILY Cleansing Shampoo which uses a blend of wheat protein and liquid shea butter to boost moisture. This can be used between purple shampoo washes to keep hair feeling fresh.

5. Can you put purple shampoo on dry hair?

Contrary to popular online beliefs, it is not recommended to use toner shampoos, such as purple shampoo, on dry hair. Despite the notion that dry hair, being more porous, would yield better results, the truth is that purple shampoo should only be applied to wet hair. The application of purple shampoo on dry hair may lead to uneven distribution and create a patchy appearance. Wet hair offers a smooth and consistent surface for absorption, ensuring a more even coverage and superior end result.

6. Does purple shampoo work on natural hair?

Yes, purple shampoo can be used on natural hair - whether it is brown, blonde, grey or red. The violet pigments help to enhance the coolness of your natural colour and add a brightening boost. If you have dark brown or black hair, you’re less likely to see a noticeable effect.

7. Do you use purple shampoo before or after regular shampoo?

Purple shampoo is usually used in place of your regular shampoo, not before or after it. You can however alternate with different shampoos in different washes - e.g. purple shampoo on one hair wash day, another colour-safe shampoo on another, to avoid overuse. One colour-safe shampoo you could use is our HYDRATE Moisture Shampoo, which uses a blend of betaine, argan oil, panthenol and shea butter to keep hair nourished.

8. Does purple shampoo damage hair?

When used correctly, purple shampoo does not damage hair. However, overuse can lead to dry or dull locks, especially if the formula is not enriched with hydrating ingredients. At Neäl & Wølf, our BLONDE Purple Brightening Shampoo is carefully crafted to tone and cleanse without compromising the hair’s integrity - delivering professional results while keeping your hair silky, healthy, and luminous.

9. Does purple shampoo work on damaged hair?

Purple shampoo can, however, counteract damaged hair. Shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays, waxes, aerosols and more can leave a yellowish deposit on the hair. This does not only happen on light hair, but it’s harder to detect in dark hair. 

Even applying too much heat from a hot tool can create a yellowish tone. Always use a heat protection spray when styling and invest in good hot tools that won’t damage your hair during use. Our MIRACLE Rapid Blow-Dry Mist contains the same violet pigment in purple shampoo, whilst also offering thermal protection.

Pollution, smoke, and chlorine from swimming can also all contribute to yellow tones in the hair. Wear hats to prevent sun damage and protect your hair from environmental pollution. If you are a swimmer, opt for a swim cap to protect your blonde hair for longer.

10. Can purple shampoo be used as a toner?

Absolutely, purple shampoo can be used as an at-home toner. In fact, one of our favourite ways to use this shampoo is to pre-tone hair. Leave the shampoo as a thick gel and apply to the roots. You will notice as you emulsify the shampoo it gets lighter in colour, so by leaving it as a gel, the colour is rich and will neutralise any unwanted yellow tones and give the perfect clean canvas to work on.

11. How long should you wait to use purple shampoo after highlights?

We’d recommend waiting 48 to 72 hours after having your highlights done before using purple shampoo. This lets the cuticle layer close and allows the colour to set, preserving the vibrancy of your fresh highlights. Once this period has passed, incorporating a purple shampoo into your routine can help prolong the brilliance of your blonde and prevent brassiness. 

12. Does purple shampoo make your hair lighter?

Purple shampoo doesn’t make your hair lighter, so don’t expect to go from mousy blonde to platinum! It can create the illusion of a brighter, cooler and more luminous shade, nourishing and maintaining your locks. If you’d like to lighten your hair, we’d recommend asking your colourist about the best options for you.

13. Is there a difference between silver shampoo and purple shampoo?

In short, no; it's the same product. Some people refer to the product as a silver shampoo because of the cool tones it creates in hair, but most people will know it as purple shampoo because of the colour of the product.

14. Are blue shampoo and purple shampoo similar?

No, although they are both toning shampoos designed to correct unwanted undertones, they are slightly different. Blue shampoo counteracts orange and red tones, contrasting to purple shampoo which neutralises yellow or brassy hues.

15. What is the best purple shampoo?

Naturally we're going to say the Neäl & Wølf BLONDE Purple Brightening Shampoo is the best one to choose, and here's why:

• It's sulphate and paraben free, and safe to use on coloured hair

• The violet pigment effectively neutralizes warm, yellow and brassy tones

• It features our heavenly signature fragrance

• It contains Pro Vitamin B5, wheat proteins and glycerin to keep hair looking and feeling great

• It's suitable for vegans

Purple shampoo before and after

See the results of Neäl & Wølf BLONDE Purple Brightening Shampoo for yourself with our un-retouched before & after imagery

Purple shampoo isn’t just a colour-correcting tool—it’s a beauty essential for maintaining the cool, clean tones you love. With Neäl & Wølf BLONDE Purple Brightening Shampoo, you can indulge in a salon-worthy finish from the comfort of home. Discover our full collection of related products: Brightening Hair Products