Not everyone with coloured hair needs a purple shampoo—here’s why

Hair experts around the globe have been positioning a purple shampoo as the go-to product to maintain colour-treated hair. But, is it a must for every coloured mane?

Getting hair coloured is on most people’s wish list. While a colour refresh can breathe new life into your countenance, the treatment does come with a side of guaranteed damage, no matter how expensive a colour you invest in. What’s worse? The colour—if anything lighter than rich chocolate brown or a jet black touch-up—begins to fade off sooner than you’d imagine. In the process, the natural lustre, colour and bond health of your locks go for a toss. That’s precisely why hair care brands develop separate ranges for coloured hair, with products that include and exclude ingredients in favour of your treated locks. Speaking of which, hair experts around the globe have been positioning a purple shampoo as the maintenance MVP for colour-treated hair. But, is purple shampoo a must for every coloured mane? We ask the experts.

What is purple shampoo all about?

As the name suggests, purple shampoo comprises violet-hued dye pigments that render the shampoo the colour—from a pastel lilac to a deep, rich purple. Hair professionals vouch for purple shampoo’s efficacy in preserving the look, quality and freshness of your hair colour. Explaining how that works, Priya Kasthuri Rangan, education head, Redken India, says, “The violet pigment in the shampoo neutralises unwanted brassy and yellow undertones in blonde or bleached hair.” As someone with a blonde mane herself, Kasthuri Rangan verifies that using a purple-tinted shampoo and mask duo once a week helped her maintain her hair. “To understand the logic behind this, we have to go back to the colour wheel. Purple is at the direct opposite of yellow, which means that they cancel each other out,” begins the hair care expert, “and as time passes, the colour is bound to fade which bares the brassy/yellow undertones of the bleached hair beneath. Using purple shampoo is an effective way to restore your hair to a brighter, cooler tone, thus prolonging the life of the hair colour.”

Does everyone need a purple shampoo?

Not really, opines Rod Anker, a hairstylist and expert. “If you have a blonde mane, it will marginally help hold true the tone, however, it won’t make the colour last longer. It does prevent blondes from turning gold though.” Aankith Aroraa, CEO of Streamline Beauty India, the company that introduced brands like Olaplex and Kevin Murphy, informs that purple shampoos may benefit only those who opt for blonde hair colours as opposed to darker tones like browns, brunettes and burgundy. “In the case of a blonde hair colour, it may or may not increase the longevity of the colour, but what it does is maintain the shine and clarity of the blonde hair.” You can consider investing in purple shampoos despite championing a darker-hued colour should you opt for hints of highlights or an ombré finish, given that the toning benefit of the product will prevent the lighter strands from turning unpleasantly yellow or gold. However, if you pick a shade on the darker side of the spectrum, you could pass a purple shampoo.

Maintenance tips to take note of 

You don’t really need to replace your hair care stash with a purple-tinged shampoo, conditioner and mask simply because you’ve gotten your hair coloured, opines Anker. “Healthy hair holds colour better than damaged hair. So, using good-quality products and ensuring your hair condition is optimum at all times is what matters the most,” shares the expert. “Using a sulphate-free, pH-balanced shampoo and getting your hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks are habits that benefit every hair type,” he adds.

Kasthuri Rangan, who is of the opinion that colour protection and damage prevention should be the prime focus of your hair care regimen, swears by hair cycling. “Hair cycling refers to rotating your hair care products to create a regime that caters to all your hair concerns. So, once a week, ditch your normal shampoo and use a purple shampoo instead for bleached hair,” she recommends. Post-wash care is equally crucial. “Make sure to use a heat protectant and leave-in conditioner to keep your hair free of damage and dryness.” Treat yourself to a strengthening and nourishing hair spa every so often, says Aarora. “They help to strengthen the sulphur bonds, increase the longevity of hair colour and add shine and smoothness to the body of your hair, and could be a benefitting supplement to your at-home hair care routine.” 

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