Both brunettes and blondes can achieve stunning hair color with the help of toning shampoos. But with blue and purple options available, choosing the right one can be confusing. This article looks at the difference between blue shampoo and purple shampoo.
The key difference between blue shampoo and purple shampoo is their function. Purple shampoo deposits purple pigments onto the hair to neutralize yellow tones, while blue shampoo deposits blue pigments to neutralize orange or brassy tones.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Purple Shampoo
3. What is Blue Shampoo
4. Similarities – Blue Shampoo and Purple Shampoo
5. Blue Shampoo vs Purple Shampoo in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Blue Shampoo vs Purple Shampoo
7. FAQ – Blue Shampoo and Purple Shampoo
What is Purple Shampoo?
Purple shampoo is a toning shampoo specially formulated for blonde hair, bleached hair, or silver hair. It contains crushed violet pigments that can neutralize style-ruining brassy and yellow tones. Purple can typically cancel out yellow and brassy tones because it’s the opposite of yellow in the color wheel. Hair stylists often use purple shampoo to neutralize orange and brassy yellow tones on bleached hair.
You can also use this shampoo at home. All you have to do is wet your hair, lather the purple shampoo on the hair, keep it in the hair for 2 – 3 minutes (depending on the brassiness of the hair), and rinse it out. You can also use a purple conditioner to nourish hair and prevent hair breakage.
Purple shampoo is ideal to achieve a bleached blonde look. It’s also suitable for darker shades of blonde and natural blondes.
What is Blue Shampoo?
Like purple shampoo, blue shampoo is designed to prevent brassiness in color-treated hair. However, purple shampoo is typically used for blonde and gray hair, while blue shampoo is more suitable for brunettes with brassy hair. Blue shampoo is made for lightened or highlighted brunette hair. It puts blue pigments in your hair to get rid of brassy tones. Even if you dye your hair cool-toned colors, it can still turn brassy over time, with red and orange showing up. Blue cancels out those colors because it’s opposite on the color wheel.
If you’re a brunette with natural hair, using blue shampoo every so often can make your hair shinier and more vibrant. However, if you have blond hair, you should stay away from this shampoo, as it can turn your hair a bit muddy or even blue-tinted.
Similarities Between Blue Shampoo and Purple Shampoo
- Both blue shampoo and purple shampoo are designed to combat brassiness in color-treated hair.
- They deposit pigments onto the hair to neutralize unwanted tones.
- You should apply the shampoo from hair tips to roots because pigments should work on all of your hair equally.
Difference Between Blue Shampoo and Purple Shampoo
Definition
- Blue shampoo is a shampoo containing blue pigments designed to neutralize orange or brassy tones in lightened or highlighted brunette hair.
- Purple shampoo, on the other hand, is a shampoo containing purple pigments designed to neutralize yellow tones in blonde or lightened hair.
Pigment Deposits
- Purple shampoo deposits purple pigments onto the hair to neutralize yellow tones.
- Blue shampoo deposits blue pigments to neutralize orange or brassy tones.
Hair Color Compatibility
- While purple shampoo is mainly suitable for blondes.
- Blue shampoo is suitable for brunettes who have undergone lightening or highlighting treatments.
Color Wheel Opposites
- Purple shampoo works by neutralizing yellow tones, as purple is the opposite of yellow on the color wheel.
- Blue shampoo counteracts orange tones, as blue is the opposite of orange on the color wheel.
Summary – Blue Shampoo vs Purple Shampoo
Blue shampoo and purple shampoo are hair products made to fix different color problems in dyed hair. Purple shampoo is for blondes or lightened hair to get rid of yellow tones, while blue shampoo is for brunettes with lightened hair to tackle orange or brassy tones. They both add color to your hair to cancel out unwanted tones, but they’re for different hair colors and problems.
FAQ: Blue Shampoo and Purple Shampoo
1. Should I use blue shampoo or purple shampoo?
- The color of shampoo you need depends on the unwanted tone in your hair. If you have blonde, highlighted, or silver hair with yellow brassiness, use purple shampoo. If you have brunette hair with orange brassiness, use blue shampoo.
2. What happens if I use blue shampoo on blonde hair?
- Using blue shampoo on blonde hair might not damage hair. The blue pigment can counteract the orange it targets in brunettes, but in blonde hair, it can leave an ashy or dull cast.
3. Does blue shampoo lighten hair?
- Blue shampoo acts as a toner, not a lightener. It contains blue pigments that target and neutralize unwanted orange and red tones in hair. This is particularly helpful for brunettes who experience brassiness after coloring or lightening their hair.
4. Is blue shampoo permanent?
- Blue shampoo offers a temporary color correction. It deposits blue pigment to neutralize unwanted orange tones in brunette hair. This blue pigment washes out gradually with regular shampooing, typically lasting a few washes at most.
Reference:
1. “What Does Blue Shampoo Do?” L’oreal Paris USA.
2. “Purple Shampoo 101: Everything You Need To Know About Using Purple Shampoo.” Nexxus.
Image Courtesy:
1. “A Hair Dresser Servicing a Customer” (CC0) via Pexels
2. “Blue Glass Bottle Beside White Towel” (CC0) via Pexels