A purple shampoo hack that will truly keep your blonde hair from going brassy

If you’re a platinum blonde baby or simply looking to get rid of any brassy tones in your hair, then you probably know about the color-correcting miracle that is purple shampoo. Well, we’ve just discovered a new purple shampoo hack that will truly keep your blonde hair from turning that brassy color that attacks all faux blondes. Purple products, in short, contain varying amounts of indigo pigment that lightly dye and tone blonde hair purple, aka the opposite of brassy yellow-orange on the color wheel. Simple and super effective, a few washes will distribute just the tiiiniest amount of violet onto your blonde locks, keeping them that moody near-gray that many of us covet.

Los Angeles-based colorist Beau Kelly says that purple shampoo is an important at-home treatment after you highlight your hair. You know how they gloss your hair after you get it colored at the salon? Beau says purple shampoo is akin to an “at-home gloss.”

So, what’s the hack?

If you’re not born with it, maintaining an ashy white blonde is a full-time job—but it doesn’t have to be! Blonde blogger Becki at Whippy Cake has an inventive way to use the life-saving shampoo and conditioner combo: apply it to dry hair.

The purple shampoo bottle will tell you to apply it to wet hair in the shower for 10 minutes, but is to apply it to dry hair and leave it on for upwards of 15 minutes and THEN wash it out. It has recently become trendy to apply hair masks and conditioner to dry hair first, so it was only a matter of time before someone tried it out with purple shampoo.

Editor’s Note: After editing this article, I tried this method on my own hair after years of using purple shampoo in the shower, and the dry hair method turned my slightly yellow strands a beautiful ashy beige in one session.

Whippy Cake touts a longer period between needing touch-ups to her perfectly white blonde hair with this new method, which means less stress to the hair and more blonde for your buck. If you’re a blondie whose brass keeps peeking through, maybe Becki’s method will work for you. In the meantime, see below for a roundup of some of our favorite purple shampoos:

1L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo

Say goodbye to brassy yellows and oranges with the help of this effective drugstore shampoo. This vegan formula delivers purple dye mixed with hibiscus (which is rich in vitamin C and amino acids) to nourish your hair and neutralize brassy tones. Use two times a week for best results.

2Beachwaver BRB Blonde Purple Shampoo

Brighten your blonde hair with the help of this fruity-smelling purple shampoo. Apart from depositing purple dye, it’s also formulated with Shea butter to moisturize your hair, and let’s be real, if you’re dyeing your hair, you definitely need to be on top of that moisturizing game.

3Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo

Vibrant blonde and grey hair is just one shampoo away with the help of this luxurious product. After wetting your hair, apply a generous amount of shampoo and spread it from root to ends, then let it sit for three-to-five minutes depending on your desired intensity. After drying your hair, you’ll see immediate results. Do this two times a week to maintain your new fresh color.

4Kristin Ess The One Purple Shampoo

Unlike other purple shampoos that indicate you should only use once or twice a week, this one is safe for daily use and won’t turn your hair purple as a result. It’s also infused with coconut oil, so it’ll help repair your hair while making it super shiny as well.

5Kérastase Blond Absolu Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo

You’re probably familiar with hyaluronic acid in skincare products, but what about haircare? This shampoo is infused with HA to help strengthen it, therefore helping hair prevent future breakage and damage. It also uses edelweiss flower, a powerful anti oxidant that protects hair from free radical damage and works to soften strands as well. Use up to three times a week.