Do you struggle to achieve the perfect shade of blonde? With the help of our friends at Matrix, we give you the low down on blue shampoo and purple shampoo. What’s the difference and which one you should be using.
It starts with a little basic colour theory. Remember the old colour wheel from art class, and complementary colours? Well on a colour wheel the opposing colour to blue is orange and purples opposing colour is yellow.
Now your natural hair colour will have a primary warm tone. Naturally dark hair has warm orange tones and naturally light hair has warm yellow tones. These warm tones become exposed when hair is lightened.
Seeing a pattern yet?
So, brunettes, when you lighten your hair over time it will become brassy. Washing, styling, sun, chlorine and lifestyle will strip back the cool blue tones used to add highlights or all-over colour to expose your natural warm orange tone in your hair.
The same is true for blonde hair. Everyday use of heat styling tools, sun, swimming, shampooing and even medications can expose the warm natural tone of blonde hair causing it to become sunny yellow.
Therefore, brunettes who have highlights, balayage, ombre, foils, streaks, all-over lightened or any other element of hair lightening, you need blue shampoo to neutralise brassy tones. Blue shampoo is formulated with blue-violet pigments that bond into the hair when you shampoo, cooling down naturally warm hair tones and removing brassiness.
The same can be said for blonde hair with purple shampoo - blondes who also have highlights, balayage, ombre, foils, streaks, all-over lightened or any other element of hair lightening, you need purple shampoo to neutralise yellow tones. Purple shampoo is formulated with purple pigments to correct light coloured hair, removing yellow to maintain platinum, silver or white hair.
A side note: Brunettes with blonde highlights can still use a purple shampoo to maintain highlights.
To remove brassiness, lather up once or twice a week with Matrix Total Results Brass Off Shampoo. Following with Matrix Total Results Brass Off Conditioner to hydrate and protect. Also available in the Matrix Total Results Brass Off system is Total Results Brass Off Blonde Threesome, a leave-in cream that seals hair cuticles and offers heat protection.
Keep your blonde bright, lather up once a week or more with Matrix Total Results Color Obsessed So Silver Purple Shampoo to illuminate highlights. Follow with Matrix Total Results Color Obsessed Conditioner. To boost shine, smooth cuticles and protect from heat damage use a few pumps of Matrix Miracle Creator on damp hair and style as usual.
So, there you have it! The answer to whether you should use a blue shampoo or purple shampoo, what the difference is and which one you should be using.
For more advise visit your local Price Attack store.