Does your bright blonde hair suddenly look a little… yellow? It’s a frustration many of us know too well! That lovely, cool-toned blonde or vibrant silver can quickly turn brassy under the shower water and sun. We want that salon-fresh look to last, but the sheer number of purple shampoos lining the drugstore shelves can feel overwhelming. Should you pick the cheapest one, or the one with the prettiest bottle?
Navigating the world of affordable hair care means balancing price with performance. You don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on a product that leaves your hair dry or doesn’t actually cancel out the orange tones. Finding that perfect drugstore gem that neutralizes brassiness without breaking the bank can feel like a treasure hunt.
Don’t worry! This guide cuts through the noise. We’ve tested the most popular and effective drugstore purple shampoos so you don’t have to. Keep reading to discover which budget-friendly bottles truly deliver knockout brass-fighting power and leave your hair looking its absolute best.
Top Drugstore Purple Shampoo Recommendations
- Toning Sulfate Free Shampoo & Conditioner: Maintain your perfect blonde with EverPure's Sulfate Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo and Conditioner that hydrates and neutralizes brassy yellow and orange tones in blonde, bleached, highlighted and silver hair
- Hydrating Formula: Color-treated hair requires special care. This moisturizing shampoo and conditioner is infused with Hibiscus and Purple Dye to tone brassy hair and leave it deeply moisturized
- For Best Results: Use EverPure's Purple Shampoo and Conditioner system 2-3 times a week instead of your normal shampoo and conditioner routine. Lather purple shampoo into wet hair, leave in for up to 2 minutes. Follow with purple conditioner
- Vegan Shampoo and Conditioner: EverPure hair products have the purest respect for your hair and have been formulated without sulfates, parabens and harsh salts. Always color caring and powered by science
- Color-enhancing shampoo brightens and refreshes blonde, highlighted and silver hair.
- Renews and refreshes faded highlights and ash-toned hair.
- Removes the dull yellow in silver hair, and leaves hair shiny without residue.
- Toning Sulfate Free Shampoo: Maintain your perfect blonde with EverPure's Sulfate Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo that hydrates and neutralizes brassy yellow and orange tones in blonde, bleached, highlighted and silver hair
- Hydrating Shampoo Formula: Color-treated hair requires special care. This moisturizing shampoo is infused with Hibiscus and Purple Dye to tone brassy hair and leave it deeply moisturized
- For Best Results: Use EverPure's Purple Shampoo and Conditioner system 2-3 times a week instead of your normal shampoo and conditioner routine. Lather purple shampoo into wet hair, leave in for up to 2 minutes. Follow with purple conditioner
- Vegan Shampoo: EverPure hair products have the purest respect for your hair and have been formulated without sulfates, parabens and harsh salts. Always color caring and powered by science
- Toning Purple Shampoo: Neutralizes unwanted brassy, yellow tones in all blonde and grey hair
- Multi-Tasking Properties: Professional toning shampoo desposits purple pigments to neutralize and reduce yellow tones in just one wash
- Key Benefits: Nourishing shampoo suitable for both color treated and natural hair to enhance and restore cool tones
- Suggested Use: Wearing suitable gloves, apply to wet hair, lather, rinse. Repeat if necessary. For maxium benefits, leave on for five minutes to tone and cleanse
- KNOCKS OUT BRASSY TONES - Rid your hair of brassy tones and revive your hair with Violet Crush Shampoo
- SALON-FRESH BLONDE - Enhance your color and discover your best blonde
- CRUSHED VIOLET PIGMENTS - Deposits crushed violet pigments into blonde hair to counter-act yellow tones to make color-treated or highlighted blonde hair appear cooler and brighter in as little as one use
- BEST USED WITH VIOLET CRUSH PURPLE CONDITIONER - Use with John Frieda Violet Crush Purple Conditioner to achieve optimal results
- Removes dull yellow in gray white hair
- Leaves hair shiny without residue
- Renews and refreshes faded highlights.
- Anti-Brass Toning Purple Formula – Neutralizes yellow, brassy tones in blonde, bleached, silver, grey, and highlighted hair for a cooler, more vibrant look after every wash.
- Tea Tree Oil Refreshment & Scalp Care – Infused with natural & pure tea tree oil to help soothe dry, itchy scalp, reduce flakes, and refresh your hair and roots with a cooling sensation.
- Boosts Luminosity & Color Protection – Purple shampoo and conditioner set enhances brightness and preserves hair color by sealing in moisture and shine, perfect for color-treated and highlighted hair.
- Hydrating & Nourishing Duo – Sulfate-free, paraben-free formula gently cleanses and conditions without stripping essential oils—ideal for daily or weekly use.
- VIBRANT PURPLE SHAMPOO: 13-fluid ounces of OGX Color Care + Impecca-Blonde Purple Shampoo to care for your lightened, grey, silver, or blonde hair and help prevent your color treated hair from fading
- BEAUTIFULLY BRIGHT BLONDE HAIR: This purple toning shampoo helps brighten and color correct yellow and brassy tones. The hydrating blend also helps freshen up your color and protect it from fading
- FOR COLOR TREATED HAIR: This blonde shampoo features a powerful toning blend infused with keratin, purple fig, and iris to help fight brassiness to keep your hair bright and toned
- HIGHLY PIGMENTED FORMULA: The purple toning shampoo with a highly pigmented formula to fight yellow tones is formulated without parabens or sulfated surfactants, making it perfect for your hair care routine
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Drugstore Purple Shampoo
Purple shampoo is a hero product for anyone with blonde, silver, or light brown hair. It fights brassy, yellow tones. Think of it like a color corrector for your hair! Finding the best drugstore option means looking closely at what’s inside and how it feels on your strands. This guide helps you pick the right bottle without breaking the bank.
Key Features to Look For
When you scan the shelves, these features matter most:
- Pigment Strength: How dark or vibrant is the purple color in the bottle? Stronger pigment means less yellow hair faster.
- Moisturizing Agents: Purple shampoos can sometimes dry hair out. Look for ingredients that add moisture back in.
- Sulfate-Free Formula: Sulfates are harsh cleaners. A sulfate-free formula protects your color longer and feels gentler.
- Scent: Since you use this regularly, a pleasant smell makes the experience better.
Important Ingredients and Materials
The magic of purple shampoo comes from its ingredients. The purple color comes from violet pigments. These pigments deposit onto the yellow parts of your hair, canceling out the unwanted warmth.
- Violet Pigments (e.g., CI 60730): This is the colorant that does the work. Make sure it’s clearly listed.
- Conditioning Agents: Good shampoos include ingredients like Argan Oil, Coconut Oil, or Panthenol (Vitamin B5). These keep your hair smooth.
- Avoid Heavy Silicones (If Your Hair is Fine): Some silicones can build up on fine hair, making it look flat.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Not all drugstore purple shampoos perform the same. Quality changes based on a few things:
What Improves Quality:
- pH Balance: A slightly acidic formula helps the cuticle (the outer layer of your hair) lie flat, locking in the purple tone and adding shine.
- Natural Oils: Formulas rich in nourishing oils keep your hair healthy while toning.
What Reduces Quality:
- Over-Toning Dyes: If the purple pigment is *too* strong or the shampoo sits too long, your hair might turn a weird lavender or blue shade.
- Harsh Detergents: Very strong cleaning agents strip moisture, making your hair brittle.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the shampoo changes your results. Think about your hair type and how often you need toning.
- For Light Blonde or Platinum Hair: You need a strong toner. Use it once or twice a week. Watch the clock closely—only leave it on for 2-3 minutes maximum.
- For Highlights or Brown Hair with Warm Tones: You need a gentler approach. Use it every other wash, letting it sit for just one minute.
- The “Foam Test”: When you lather the shampoo, the foam should look light purple, not deep blue or dark violet. Light foam usually means safer toning.
Always follow up with a deep conditioner. Purple shampoo cleans; conditioner restores softness.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Drugstore Purple Shampoo
Q: How often should I use purple shampoo?
A: Most people use it once a week. If your hair yellows fast, try twice a week. If you use it too much, your hair might turn purple.
Q: Can purple shampoo work on brown hair?
A: Yes, but it works best on lighter brown hair or highlights. It cancels out orange and brassy tones, but it will not turn dark brown hair blonde.
Q: Will purple shampoo damage my hair?
A: Standard purple shampoos do not damage hair, but they can dry it out because they are slightly clarifying. Always use conditioner afterward.
Q: How long should I leave the purple shampoo on my hair?
A: Start with 1 to 3 minutes. If you have very light hair, check it after one minute. Never leave it on for longer than the instructions suggest.
Q: What is “brassiness”?
A: Brassiness means unwanted yellow or orange tones appear in blonde or gray hair. Purple is opposite yellow on the color wheel, so it neutralizes the brass.
Q: Should I use purple shampoo on wet or dry hair?
A: Always apply purple shampoo to wet, shampooed hair. Applying it to dry hair can cause uneven, splotchy color.
Q: What if my hair turns light purple?
A: Don’t panic! This means you left the product on too long or your hair was too porous. Wash your hair with a regular clarifying shampoo once or twice to remove the excess tone.
Q: Is purple shampoo the same as color-depositing shampoo?
A: They are very similar. Purple shampoo is specifically made to fight yellow. Color-depositing shampoos can deposit any color, like red or blue.
Q: Do I need to use purple conditioner too?
A: Purple conditioner is gentler than shampoo. If you use purple shampoo once a week, you can use purple conditioner every time you wash for maintenance.
Q: Are the cheaper drugstore brands effective?
A: Many drugstore brands are very effective! Quality often depends on the pigment load, not just the price tag. Read reviews to see how strong the color is.
Hi, I’m Mallory Crusta, the heart and mind behind LovelyPetSpot.com.. As a passionate pet enthusiast, I created this space to share my experiences, expertise, and love for all things pets. Whether it’s helpful tips, heartfelt stories, or advice for pet parents, my mission is to make the journey of caring for your furry, feathery, or scaly friends as joyful and fulfilling as possible. Join me in celebrating the incredible bond we share with our animal companions!