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16 Best Purple Shampoos to Keep Blonde, Silver, and Gray Hair Vibrant, According to Stylists

Revive your color with these gentle, tone-correcting formulas.

best purple shampoos

We updated this article in April 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team (and that of our sister team at the Good Housekeeping Institute).


Blonde is beautiful—and are silver and gray hair. But these stunning shades are also prone to turning yellow or orange over time. Thankfully, adding the best purple shampoos to your hair care routine can help revive brassy strands and even maintain your hair color between touch-up appointments.

But what is purple shampoo, exactly?

“Purple shampoo is a mix of direct dye and shampoo, and it was designed to help eliminate that yellow, brassy effect that can eventually show up on highlighted hair,” says Holly Dear, professional stylist and founder of Dear Clark, a hair salon in Dallas.

You can use these shampoos on highlighted hair or all-over color, as well as natural blonde or gray. Fair warning: They do look bright purple out of the bottle. Because they contain dye, they may even stain your hands, so it may not make sense at the outset to dump a bunch of purple on your light locks—and that’s where some color science comes in.

Ready to brighten your blonde, gray, or silver strands? Below, check out the best purple shampoos to keep your hair healthy and vibrant, according to experts.

How we chose the best purple shampoo

We consulted Dear, Marcela Silveira, a pro hairstylist and VaultBeauty member, Grace Rowley, a pro stylist in Huntington, NY., the Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI), which tests countless products to ensure a fair and accurate representation of each item, and sifted through tons of online reviews to find the best purple shampoos available.

Our top picks

BEST OVERALL PURPLE SHAMPOO
The One Purple Shampoo Kristin Ess Read More
BEST DRUGSTORE PURPLE SHAMPOO
Shimmer Lights Shampoo Clairol Professional Read More
BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR BLONDE HAIR
Violet Crush for Blondes Purple Shampoo John Frieda Read More
BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR GRAY HAIR
Free No Yellow Vegan Shampoo Fanola Read More
BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR BROWN HAIR
Everpure Brass Toning Purple Sulfate-Free Shampoo L’Oreal Paris Read More
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BEST OVERALL PURPLE SHAMPOO
The One Purple Shampoo
Kristen Ess
Kristin Ess

  • Sulfate-Free
  • Cruelty-Free
  • Fights Brassiness and Boosts Color

  • Some Reviewers Report Sticky Residue

According to GHI, this purple shampoo is the best overall pick. It’s “a favorite among blonde and highlighted Good Housekeeping beauty editors.” It cleanses and conditions with intense violet pigments and without sulfates for perfectly toned, soft, and healthy hair.

Scent: Original | Size: 10.0 fl. Oz., 1.0 L.

BEST DRUGSTORE PURPLE SHAMPOO
Shimmer Lights Shampoo
Clairol
Clairol Professional

  • Great Value
  • Fights Brassy Tones and Enhances Shine
  • Great for Refreshing Highlights

  • Can be Drying

The GHI named this Clairol pick the best drugstore find, and we can see why. This classic purple toning product has been flying off drugstore shelves for years thanks to it effectively reducing brassy tones and brightening hair, no matter your color. It works equally as well on blondes, grays, and brunettes too.

Scent: Original | Size: 16.0 fl. Oz.

BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR BLONDE HAIR
Violet Crush for Blondes Purple Shampoo
John Frieda
John Frieda
Now 28% off

  • Removes Brassy and Yellow Tones
  • Great Scent

  • Can be Drying

Spend a lot of time in the sun? Hair only looks brighter—and sparkling—after using this shampoo with pigments that reflect light to boost brightness. Reviewers say sudsing up expertly removes yellow while leaving behind a pleasant fragrance, all for a budget-friendly price.

Scent: Original | Size: 8.3 fl. Oz., 16.0 fl. Oz.

BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR GRAY HAIR
Free No Yellow Vegan Shampoo
Fanola
Fanola

  • Vegan
  • Highly Pigmented Formula
  • Sulfate- and Silicone-free

  • Not for Daily Use

Grow into your gray with Fanola’s violet shampoo, which expertly tone corrects to deliver results that reviewers say is like nothing they’ve ever seen (in a good way). The pigments envelop the cuticle to deflect yellow tinge and easily brighten ashy and silver tresses. Ideally, use this shampoo once per week. “This shampoo gets the job done, and my clients who use it notice a difference,” says Rowley.

Scent: Original | Size: 11.8 fl. Oz., 33.8 fl. Oz.

BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR BROWN HAIR
Everpure Brass Toning Purple Sulfate-Free Shampoo
L’Oreal Paris
L’Oreal Paris

  • Effective on Brunette, Blonde, and Silver Hair
  • Softens and Smooths
  • Affordable

  • Some Users Dislike Scent

Even brunettes can benefit from purple shampoo, according to GHI. And shampoo for color-treated hair doesn’t have to be expensive. With hibiscus and purple pigments that neutralize yellow and orange tones, this sudsy product gets brunette, blonde, silver, and gray hair back to its natural luster. Users say it leaves their hair soft and frizz-free—a true win.

Scent: Citrus | Size: 6.8 fl. Oz., 33.8 fl. Oz.

BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR HIGHLIGHTS
Cool Blonde Shampoo
dpHUE
dpHUE

  • Adds Softness and Shine
  • Silk Proteins Help Prevent Breakage

  • Can be Drying

For soft strands, blondes swear by this tone-correcting shampoo enriched with silk proteins. The formula particularly shines when used on highlighted hair, as it takes the yellow out of lighter pieces while enhancing a darker base for colors that pop.

Scent: Original | Size: 8.5 fl. Oz.

BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR ADDING BRIGHTNESS
Blacklight Anti-Yellow Violet Shampoo
Oligo
Oligo Professionnel
Now 23% off

  • Strengthens With Amino Acids
  • Softens With Argan Oil
  • Sulfate-Free

  • Can Leave Behind Purple Hue if Left on too Long

“This is my all-time favorite purple shampoo,” says Silveira. Amino acids strengthen, while argan oil moisturizes and boosts shine. Reviewers say that after trying several different shampoos on the market, this one is by far their favorite, and they rack up compliments on their hair’s bright hue.

Scent: Original | Size: 8.5 fl. Oz.

BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR SMOOTH HAIR
Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo
Moroccanoil
MOROCCANOIL

  • Smooths Hair With Argan Oil
  • Sulfate-Free
  • Great Scent

  • Some Users Dislike Scent

Count this as one of Dear’s go-to recommendations. No matter your hair’s texture or type—from fine to thick, straight to curly—this purple shampoo is pumped with Moroccanoil’s signature argan oil to smooth down the hair’s cuticle for an appearance so silky, reviewers call this shampoo “incredible.”

Scent: Warm musky-floral | Size: 2.4 fl. Oz., 6.7 fl. Oz., 33.8 fl. Oz.

BEST COLOR CORRECTING PURPLE SHAMPOO
Biolage ColorLast Purple Shampoo
Biolage
Matrix

  • Vegan
  • Leaves Hair Shiny and Silky

  • Pricey

This vegan and paraben-free purple pigmented shampoo smells great, has a nice texture to work into strands, and delivers fast results. With more than 2,000 reviews and a near 5-star rating on Amazon, happy shampooers say it “really works” and offers a “difference after one use.”

Scent: Floral | Size: 1.7 fl. Oz., 13.5 fl. Oz., or 33.8 fl. Oz.

BEST SCENTED PURPLE SHAMPOO
Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Repair Shampoo
Amika
amika

  • Great Scent
  • Strengthens and Softens
  • Adds Shine

  • Some Users Dislike Scent

Packed with ingredients like wild cherry bark extract to enhance your color and keep unwanted orange and brassy hues at bay, keratin to strengthen, and avocado oil to moisturize strands, it’s one of the purple shampoos that Marusco recommends to clients. “I absolutely LOVE this purple shampoo,” one reviewer writes. “​​It smells great and made my hair really soft too.”

Scent: Signature vanilla-floral | Size: 10.1 fl. Oz., 33.8 fl. Oz.

BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR DAMAGED HAIR
No. 4P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Shampoo
Olaplex
Olaplex

  • Strengthens and Hydrates
  • Highly Pigmented Formula
  • Sulfate-Free

  • No Matching Conditioner

If you’ve bleached your way to blonde or silver tresses this shampoo can help restore both tone and broken hair bonds. It harnesses the brand's original patented bond-building formula to repair damaged hair while toning yellow hues with a high concentration of purple pigment. While this shampoo works wonders for all brassy blondes and grays, it is especially great for bleached or damaged hair.

Scent: Original | Size: 8.5 fl. Oz.

Blonde Assure Shampoo
Nexxus
Nexxus

  • Strengthens With Keratin Protein
  • Fights Brassy and Yellow Tones

  • Contains Sulfates

In addition to corrective purple pigments that work on even white and platinum shades, elastin protein and quinoa blend together to improve the resiliency and flexibility of strands. Reviewers like how it’s lightweight and leaves their hair feeling refreshed.

Scent: Original | Size: 8.5 fl. Oz.

Blonde Angel Treatment
Amazon
KEVIN MURPHY

  • Adds Softness and Shine
  • Hydrates and Repairs

  • Pricey

Dear recommends Blonde Angel, a sulfate- and paraben-free purple shampoo that counteracts brassiness, while boosting shine and softness with jojoba seed oil. Sunflower seed oil is also added to stop color stripping. Happy shampooers say that the before-and-after is obvious, and the color correction only gets better with every wash. When using, you only need to apply a small amount to hair, so this bottle will last.

Scent: Original herbal, fresh | Size: 8.4 fl. Oz.

BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR DRY HAIR
Strength Cure Blonde Shampoo
Pureology
Pureology

  • Sulfate-Free
  • Great for Damaged Hair
  • Tones, Strengthens, and Protects Hair

  • Pricey

If your blonde hair has a breakage problem, correct color and fight fragile strands with this shampoo, which happens to be one of stylist Marusco’s favorite purple shampoos. Pureology tackles brassiness with purple orchid and strengthens strands with fortifying protein keravis. Protective antioxidants are also added to the mix to seal out future damage.

Scent: Fruity floral | Size: 2.0 fl. Oz., 9.0 fl. Oz., 33.8 fl. Oz.

BEST PURPLE SHAMPOO FOR FRIZZ
Color Balance Purple Shampoo
Joico
Joico

  • Effectively Fights Brassy and Yellow Tones
  • Tames Frizz and Static
  • Long Lasting Results

  • Contains Sulfates

This is the purple shampoo that turns skeptics into believers. Its purple pigments are designed to cling to hair throughout multiple washes, so you can cleanse with this a couple times per week and use your everyday shampoo in between, all while maintaining the vibrant blonde shade you love.

Scent: Warm, fruity, floral | Size: 1.7 fl. Oz., 10.1 fl. Oz., 33.8 fl. Oz.

Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Purple
Ulta
Redken

  • Helps Repair Damaged Hair
  • Softens Strands
  • Fights Brassy, Yellow, and Orange Tones

  • Contains Sulfates

If your blonde is distressed from color treatments, citric acid is added to this formula to help fortify hair fibers. Reviewers say that this shampoo is suited for a range of blondes, from platinum and ice to darker highlights. The whole shower experience is luxurious, too: The shampoo richly lathers up so you can easily work it in from root to end.

Scent: Original | Size: 10.1 fl. Oz., 33.8 fl. Oz.

What does purple shampoo actually do?
prevention line break

“Purple neutralizes yellow,” says Silveira, a pro hairstylist and VaultBeauty member. “When you look at a color wheel, you’ll see that purple is across from yellow, so they cancel each other out, making a neutral color.”

In short, purple acts as a temporary tone-corrector to refresh faded hair and fix brassiness, says Silveira. Start washing with one about four weeks after your salon appointment. “This is typically when your toner washes out,” she says, and you can begin to notice the yellow creeping through. You can go to the salon for a gloss touch-up at this time to revive color, but that option isn’t available to everyone and purple shampoos are a pick-me-up in between appointments.

How to choose and use the best purple shampoo
prevention line break

Use sparingly: Purple shampoo is not a product that you wash with every day. “Use this at least once a week,” says Dear. Follow the directions on the bottle—most are designed to be used about two times per week and should be left on hair for a few minutes before rinsing. (Any more than that can lead to dryness.) Wash with your typical shampoo on the other days, making sure to choose a color-protecting shampoo if you have color-treated hair.

Look for moisturizers: “Highlighted hair needs a bit more love, so I prefer shampoos that contain a collection of natural oils that improve hair suppleness, shine, and overall condition,” says Dear. Read the bottle to see if they contain additional hydrating ingredients, like jojoba, avocado, or argan oils.

Go gentle: If possible, choose a sulfate- and paraben-free formula to best preserve your color, advises Silveira. Follow-up with a conditioner (again, a color-safe one if need be) to lock in moisture.

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