Unfortunately, the colour fading is an unavoidable evil, but purple shampoo is a great way to keep your blonde hair looking salon fresh for longer. It works by depositing violet tones that neutralise brass for brighter tresses without the need for bleach. Purple shampoo washes in and rinses out just like any other shampoo, making it suitable for use on all hair types and textures. He advises using a shampoo with a violet or purple tint to keep gray hair color vibrant and fresh. "It doesn't need to be a daily wash, but using it once a week will cut brassiness and give you spectacular shine." Avoid using any shampoos that add warmth to gray hair, as cool-toned shampoos will help hair better reflect light. Since gray hair tends to be drier and prone to frizz, Dueñas also recommends avoiding harsh shampoos, as "it's important to leave as much moisture in the hair as possible."

Color shampoos can even work on brunettes but if you want to cancel orange tones which typically happen on brunettes you might want to try a blue shampoo,” says Bodt. We used the purple shampoo twice a week and found that it kept our honey blonde highlights looking creamy and cool – even two months post colour. It lathered well in the hair, smelt refreshing and didn’t feel drying once rinsed, although we’d still recommend following up with a nourishing conditioner to pamper our hair and seal the hair cuticle. Top tip: we massaged the foaming shampoo into our hair for two minutes to make sure each strand was properly coated. This shampoo is marketed for people with blonde, gray, and highlighted hair, and boasts a strong color-depositing formula. Indeed, multiple reviewers write about how impressed they are with it, saying that they noticed a marked improvement in their hair color after just one wash. Because it’s so highly pigmented, the brand recommends using gloves when applying this shampoo to wet hair before lathering well and rinsing as thoroughly as possible. If you find that your hair is in even more need of anti-brassy TLC, repeat the process and leave the formula on for three to five minutes before rinsing. The more you use purple shampoo, the more it makes your blonde look dull, because you are continuously depositing color shampoo," Kelly points out. So, while it's important to keep a bottle on hand, that doesn't mean you can eschew your hair appointments altogether. What To Look For in Purple ShampooWhen it comes to hair, there’s nothing better than fresh color. The challenge? Maintaining that just-left-the-salon level luster until your next dye job. Blondes in particular may notice signs of brassiness over time. This yellow or orange cast can be caused by a number of things, including "your color oxidizing over time, exposure to UV light, chlorine and even traces of copper in your water,” explains Meri Kate O’Connor, celebrity colorist at Loft 647 in West Hollywood, California. This is where a purple toning shampoo can help. What is purple shampoo good for and what happens when you use it?

If you’re a keen swimmer, use a hair protector to keep chlorine from stripping your hair colour and turning it yellow or even green, and rinse hair immediately after swimming. The merits of a purple wash extend further. “I like to use them when I’m shampooing a wig and I want to get rid of brassy tones and keep the color cool and fresh,” says Los Angeles–based hair stylist Davontae Washington, who works with model Winnie Harlow and singer-songwriter Kali Uchis. And to double down on that freshness, a pro-level hydrating mask can help restore strength and moisture in overworked strands. “My favorite product in the world is K-18 Leave-In Molecular Repair hair mask,” says bicoastal colorist Aura Friedman, responsible for self-described “iconic looks” on Lady Gaga and model Soo Joo Park. She recommends using the mask on clean, damp hair and leaving it to soak in for several minutes; that allows time for the “biomimetic [ingredients] that replicate hair keratin” to hold onto color molecules and replicate the look of so-called virgin hair.So, next time you're in the middle of a hair disaster, consider grabbing a purple shampoo before you start to panic. But remember that purple shampoo is meant to be a temporary fix until your next dye appointment—not a permanent panacea. Still unsure of where to start? Don't worry—we've got you covered. Below, the best purple shampoos to keep your shade of blonde hair bright. The Best Purple Shampoos