How to get the best results from your blonde shampoo

Brassiness is to blonde what Kevin Federline was to Britney Spears: a force holding her back from reaching her fullest potential. But unlike that messy breakup, it’s actually easier than you’d think to leave brassiness behind and let your blonde live its best life. It’s a common curse of the creamy-toned blonde: you leave the salon feeling fresh, but one wash and you’ve already strayed into dreaded yellow territory – and when you’re paying the big bucks to make your blonde beautiful, chances are you’re pretty committed to keeping it that way. Luckily, purple shampoos are here to breathe new life back into your blonde straight from your shower.

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How do blonde shampoos work?

It’s all an elaborate game of colour correction. Just like purple-toned concealer is used to normalise yellow-tinged or sallowed skin, the violet tones in purple shampoos work to neutralise any unwanted warmth hiding in hair. Purple and yellow sit opposite from one another on the colour wheel, so they hold the ability to cancel each other out; think about it: if you were to mix yellow and purple paints together on a palette they would become an icy grey-beige blend. The same thing happens when you suds up hair that’s throwing yellow with purple shampoo – the cool tones trump the warm to leave hair brass-free and beautiful.

How often should I use them?

When it comes to nailing the purple shampoo process, balance is key. Try to remember that these lavender formulas are not made to replace your regular shampoo – even if you’re an everyday wash kind of girl, purple options should be limited to weekly use. There actually is such a thing as colour overcorrection; the right balance of yellow and purple will keep your hair light and cool, whereas overusing could eliminate too much yellow and leave locks looking visually darker (a bummer if you’ve shelled out on your blonde). Switching between a purple shampoo and your regular formula (ideally with a damage or dryness fighting formula to help heal bleached hair) should be ideal for keeping brassiness and brittleness at bay.

Can they stain my hair?

Not if used correctly – but be warned, this is not the hair product to let “sink in” whilst you shave your legs. Leaving a purple shampoo on your strands for over ten minutes can definitely steer locks out of toned territory into the Katy Perry lilac locks region. If you’re paranoid about imparting too much purple pigment, try mixing your regular shampoo in with the toning one to dilute the hue and nix any risk of going overboard. Otherwise, just trust the instructions on your product; lather on and rinse when recommended.

Products to try

Glow Lab

Schwarzkopf

TONI&GUY

DeLorenzo

TIGI Bedhead

Affinage

Main image credit: Getty Images Do you deal with brassiness? What are your favourite tone reviving products?