Purple vs. Blue Shampoo: It’s More Than Color Theory, Here’s Why

The Difference Between Using Purple Vs. Blue Toning Shampoo

PSA: You should NOT be using purple and blue-based shampoos as a shampoo replacement. These ultra-concentrated (ultra-life savers) toning shampoos serve specialized purposes beyond basic color theory.

If you’re turned off to corrective color shampoos or just unsure how to incorporate BOTH purple and blue variations into your backbar, we have three tips from blonding specialists that will pull you to the dark (light?) side. 

1. Purple & Blue Shampoo Are Not Standalone Products, Here’s Why

Toning shampoos need to carry the same urgency as toners—work quickly, saturate evenly and analyze pigments as you go. A lot of times, stylists don’t recognize a toning shampoo is not a substitute for shampoo. When these pigment-concentrated products are treated as a shampoo, common complaints of over-drying, over-toning and hard-to-control disasters lead to giving up on the wrong products.

Immediate tips that will fix your purple shampoo “problems”:

• Ask yourself if the shampoo you’ve used before neutralized or dulled blonde color
• Measure out your product. You wouldn’t pour a bottle of straight toner on your client’s head…would you?
• Use gentle products, toning shampoos like Schwarzkopf Professional® GOODBYE YELLOW® Neutralizing Bonding Wash have protection built in and will act as a base layer of care
• Dilute your pigmented shampoos, you do NOT need a lot—clients especially need to be taught this!
• Alternate your double-shampoo technique with toning shampoo and a hydrating shampoo

If you have struggled to find a purple shampoo or technique that is worth it—we have an easy solution for you. “Purple shampoo…it’s a love and a hate thing for sure, but toning should not be your only source of bubbles,” says Florida-based blonding specialist Mabell Cabeza (@thequeenofblondes). 

 

 

 

 

 

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2. I Use Purple Shampoo, Why Do I Need Blue Too?

Corrective toning shampoos are often misinterpreted as a catch-all product. These shampoos need to hold the same weight as toners! Think of it this way—you wouldn’t neutralize a Level 6 brassy lift with a pearlescent Level 10, so why would grab purple shampoo in place of blue?

Blue shampoo is made for:

• Levels 4 to 6, medium-to-dark blonde hair
• Instant cool toning, neutralization of orange hues from raw lifts on darker Levels
• Customization of high concentration, your clients’ shampoo “formula” will differ! Schwarzkopf Professional GOODBYE ORANGE® Neutralizing Bonding Wash can be diluted with water as much as a 1:4 mixing ratio to adjust for any client’s needs
• Thorough rinsing—don’t leave any residual pigment on the hair, separate each section for an even rinse

Purple shampoo is made for:

• Level 7 to 10, dark-to-ultra-light blonde hair
• Neutralization of yellow pigment for long-lasting results
• Customization of high concentration, your clients’ shampoo “formula” will differ! GOODBYE YELLOW® can be diluted with water as much as a 1:4 mixing ratio to adjust for any client’s needs
• Thorough rinsing—don’t leave any residual pigment on the hair, separate each section for an even rinse

Pro Tip: Just like hair color, checking the pH Level of any toning product is important. The GOODBYE YELLOW® and GOODBYE ORANGE® Bonding Wash range hits 4.5 on the pH scale for balanced, long-lasting results without over processing a potentially porous cuticle. 

3. When Toning Shampoo Is The Culprit Of Color Problems…

Although wonderful for maintenance and a quick tone in a pinch, purple and blue shampoo should never be recommended for frequent at-home use. On top of usage, it’s so important to tell your clients to NOT overuse the product and follow-up shampooing with hydration and repair systems like Schwarzkopf Professional FIBRE CLINIX.

If you’re having trouble figuring out why a particular blonde client regularly returns with dull-out or deepened color, ask them how often they’re using purple/blue shampoo! “Once every three-to-four shampoos is all you need,” says New-York based color and curl specialist Julian Normad (@jeweldoeshair).

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Products Used

Color Protecting

GOODBYE YELLOW®

Schwarzkopf Professional®

GOODBYE ORANGE®

Schwarzkopf Professional®

Are you making these 6 purple shampoo mistakes?