If you have brassy blonde, brunette, highlighted or gray hair, this natural and organic purple shampoo review is for you. I’ve found the best natural purple shampoos for blondes (and best blue shampoo for brunettes) you can buy. And I have the before and after photos to prove it! Brighter blonde, ashy brunette and silver gray hair days are ahead.
Organic purple shampoos (and blue shampoo for orange hair) have been missing in clean beauty for a long time, until recently. As a balayage addict, I have been battling orange and yellow hair my entire adult life. Plus the salon use-only toners that hairstylists use are semi-permanent, meaning they start to wash out with the first hair wash. Since everyone has red undertones in their hair, no one is immune to developing brassiness. Because I have black hair I have the strongest red tones. Our hair is exposed to external aggressors everyday and the more you are out in the sun or wash your hair, the faster your hair color will fade.
Why choose a clean option over conventional brands
Hair toner shampoos work based off basic color principles and the color wheel. For the longest time, I had to use conventional purple and blue shampoos because there just wasn’t a clean version available. But before I get into my results, before and after photos and application tips, I wanted to discuss why you should even choose a clean option versus Redken or Joico purple shampoo. Redken contains both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate AND Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which are detergents used in cosmetics to make them foam. Why is that a concern? The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies ethylene oxide as a KNOWN human carcinogen and 1,4-dioxane as a possible human carcinogen. 1,4-dioxane is also toxic to the environment and it doesn’t easily degrade and can remain in the environment long after it is rinsed down the shower drain. There are numerous other ingredients that raise red flags are known to be insanely toxic to our health. Fragrance, which is disturbingly high up on the list of ingredients, is one that should be avoided entirely. Fragrance is a HUGE red flag. There have been many studies done where fragrance in products were tested and were found to have dozens of secret chemicals that are known for hormone disruption, allergies or just plain haven’t even been tested for safety in personal care products.
Clean, natural options and what to expect
For a clean and vegan purple shampoo that’s healthier and works, there are now various options at various price points thankfully. First you have to decide whether you want a clean shampoo with artificial or natural dyes. The intensity of the toning effect will be stronger with shampoos using artificial colorants. Natural dyes from plants will have a milder effect, but if you want to stay away from all questionable ingredients, there are some pretty good new products.
Organic Purple Shampoo with Natural Dyes For those of you who are looking for a milder purple shampoo that is 100% natural including the color. Flourish Beauty Lab 2021 Cert Clean Award winning new all-natural purple shampoo product fights yellow or brassy tones in blonde, silver, gray and white hair. Color comes entirely from berries, fruits and veggies. You can purchase a Purple Perfecting Clarifying +Toning Booster product which is concentrated powder you can add to the purple shampoo to increase its intensity and remove buildup (hard water, styling products, grime) in hair. Violet UV spray launching in July 2022 so you can protect your hair while outdoors. Discount code OBL saves 15% on the purple shampoo and purple toning products at Flourish.
If you don’t need strong color correction, then Flourish Purple Perfecting Clarifying + Toning Booster may be optional. But if you have major brass to tone down, the Violet Booster is highly recommended. Flourish is also the only natural purple shampoo making brand in the US that offers eco-friendly refill pouches, helping reduce packaging waste. Ethique also makes a natural purple shampoo using beetroot for color instead of synthetic dyes. This budget purple shampoo is a solid bar that comes packaged in compostable paper and is good for up to 80 uses. Solid shampoo bars require some getting used to as you need to keep it as dry as possible so it doesn’t disintegrate quickly sitting in the shower. To use the shampoo bar you add water to activate the product.
To get the most accurate before and after photos, I tested the blue and purple shampoos on one half of my hair so that there wouldn’t be a shrivel of doubt when comparing the results. Needless to say, I was very impressed by the results. If you are a bronde or dark blonde, I would suggest trying the blue shampoo instead of purple. The left shows how brassy I was, and the right shows how clean blue shampoo transformed my hair into an ashy cool toned blonde. My hair after blue shampoo looks brighter, healthier and multi-dimensional too.
Additional natural options and experiences
Having been a purple shampoo user for many years, I have found what works best for me. Innersense Bright Balance holds the line for a clean option that tones hard, especially if you leave it on for the full five minutes. The formula is a deep, inky purple and deposits color using the same combo of Basic Red and Basic Blue dyes that you’ll find in brands like Overtone. This plant-based shampoo is tinted with beet extract, bilberry extract, rhubarb extract and more to get its purple hue, with a Violet Booster available for a more pigmented experience. The product is created from certified organic, wild harvested and Ecocert ingredients, and is designed for those who want to avoid synthetic dyes.
EverEscents Organic Berry Blonde Shampoo is another 100% natural option that is not designed to neutralize brassy tones in gray hair, but it performs exceptionally well as a clean shampoo that cleans as well as conventional products. It is not available in the US, which is a consideration for some readers. Ethique’s Tone It Down purple shampoo bar is a sustainable option with pigment transfer lighter than liquids, which can impact its brass-busting capability. Kavella uses Acid Violet 43 and Acid Red 33 as colorants in a cleaner base with pigmented results, though some find it too thin and runny. SCHAMPO N24 is packaged in plastic and uses naturals with synthetics as pigment to neutralize brassiness, offering a mild but effective toning experience suitable for daily use.
UV exposure and heat are major factors in hair yellowing and brassiness. Research highlights that UV can cause yellowing by impacting keratin proteins, and heat tools raise the need for good heat protection. Davidson’s insights emphasize that choosing shampoos with plant antioxidants can help reduce yellowing caused by UV. For those who want extra protection, LolaVie’s heat protectants are highly recommended for their light feel and ability to glide through hair without altering texture. When you pair a purple shampoo with a hair glaze for gray hair, you can achieve additional shine and smoothness. If you are aiming for brighter results, you can consider leaving the shampoo in for a few minutes, depending on your hair type and how often you wash.
Purple shampoos are designed to counteract brassy tones, but it’s important to distinguish between purple and blue shampoos. Purple cancels yellow, blue cancels orange tones, and using the wrong color can worsen the effect. Suppliers often use a combination of natural extracts, botanical pigments, and synthetic dyes-yet the best options are those that emphasize safety and transparency. If you want to achieve optimal results, experiment with different brands and find a routine that works for your hair’s level and porosity.
Practical usage tips
To maximize results, apply purple shampoo to damp hair and leave in for a few minutes before rinsing. If your hair is very porous, a clarifying shampoo can help remove buildup after using purple shampoo for brassy tones. For first-time users, start with once-a-week usage and gradually increase as needed. Avoid overprocessing by balancing purple shampoo with a regular color-safe shampoo on other wash days. If your color turns too purple, rinse with a clarifying shampoo to dull the tone.
Before and after visuals and notes
Before and after photos show noticeable toning effects on both blonde and gray hair. The left side of hair might show brassiness before using purple shampoo, while the right side demonstrates the toning impact, revealing a cooler, more muted hue. In some cases, blue shampoo delivers stronger results for brassy brunettes, while purple shampoo shines for blondes and silvers. The overall takeaway is that natural and organic purple shampoos can deliver meaningful toning without compromising hair health.
How To Do The Perfect Toning Shampoo Treatment on blonde hair
In summary, blue shampoo may be a better option for brunettes with orange tones, while purple shampoos tend to be more effective for blondes and silvers seeking to neutralize yellow tones. When choosing a product, prioritize formulations with natural dyes or certified organic ingredients and avoid harsh synthetic fragrances. Consider packaging and sustainability, such as refill pouches, as part of your decision. Remember to test a small section of hair first to confirm the toning level matches your desired shade and adjust usage accordingly.
- Identify your hair color level and brassiness severity.
- Choose a clean, natural or organic purple shampoo with appropriate dyes.
- Follow application guidelines and avoid over-processing.
- Incorporate heat protection and UV-aware practices to reduce yellowing.
- Monitor results with before/after comparisons and adjust routine as needed.
What is Purple Shampoo? Purple shampoo is a toning shampoo specially designed for blonde hair, silver hair, bleached hair, or brassy hair. It features crushed violet pigments that neutralize style-ruining brassy and yellow tones. Hair stylists often tone bleached or blonde hair to neutralize brassy yellow and orange tones on bleached hair with a purple color. Purple shampoo is a great at-home solution for toning hair and preventing brassiness. This cult product is designed to counteract any pesky brassy or yellow tones, leaving you with a dazzling, fuss-free blonde. If you’re new to purple shampoo, check related guides for effects and usage to optimize results.