Blonde Hair Maintenance | Best Purple Shampoo and Conditioner
Blondes rejoice! As a beauty expert I’ve rated the BEST purple shampoo on the market and which purple conditioner can tone down brassy blonde hair after just one use!
Whoever said blondes have more fun, obviously never had to deal with brassiness! But don’t worry, life as a blonde just got a whole lot easier! I’ve done ALL of the research for you, so you can spend less time fussing and more time flipping those beautiful platinum locks.
As a beauty blogger, and now a blonde myself, I have tried countless products specifically for maintaining blonde hair but there’s one treatment that is essential for blonde maintenance and that’s purples shampoos and violet conditioners!
In this article I have rated the BEST purple shampoo and toning treatments on the market, so you don’t have to waste your time and money experimenting. Save your money for your root touch-ups!
First off, it’s important to note that not all purple products are a like!
There is a BIG DIFFERENCE between your grandma’s supermarket silver shampoo and high-end products, let me explain….
Yes, they may have a purple tint, but they aren’t going to take care of your blonde hair as gently, won’t offer added beneficial conditioners, will be loaded with harsh color zapping sulphates, and won’t have the lasting pigment deposits that high end hair care lines have.
You have to remember that blonde hair needs EXTRA care!
Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel
One of the best purple shampoo/conditioners on the market is made by Kevin Murphy, called the Blonde Angel line.
Kevin Murphy products are super gentle and made using natural ingredients to ensure that the hair is truly cared for.
The Blonde Angel Wash not only includes the brightening violet pigments but also contains murumuru butter to promote glossy hair, shea butter to maintain and restore your hair’s natural elasticity, mango seed butter to moisturize, jojoba seed oil to strengthen the hair shaft and add flexibility, keratin amino acids to repair, and sunflower seed oil to protect your delicate tressess from UV damage.
Available here in the UK, and here in the US
This shampoo DOES IT ALL!
Oh and it is also sulphate and paraben free so the color won’t be stripped.
The smell is to-die-for! A unique sweet, almost candy-like smell that is cheerful. I found myself slightly excited every time I reached for it in the shower and maybe used a little too much of it because I was addicted to the scent.
The Blonde Angel Conditioner has all the same benefits as the wash (including a relaxing scent that’s more natural herbal/floral), along with olive oil to provide anti-oxidant components and Brazil nut extracts to form a protective hydration barrier on the hair.
Available here in the UK and here in the USA
But what makes the Blond Angel treatment conditioner so good, is the level of purple pigmentation!
Most purple conditioners on the market will be a pale lavender color and these do very little to combat the brassy tones commonly experienced by blondes!
In order to counteract the yellow/orange tones found in blonde hair, one must apply the opposite color in the color spectrum to in a way “cancel out” the yellow/orange shades. The opposite color to yellow is purple and the opposite color to orange is blue. This is why the strong/bright blue purple (violet) tint to the conditioner works so well! (To learn more about this toning process, read my article here)
The reason why I class the Kevin Murphy Blond Angel line as one of the best is because it’s so effective at maintaining cool tones but yet extremely gentle!
This is hard to find in a purple shampoo/conditioner.
After using this line myself for a week, I can tell you that my hair is super soft! In fact, it feels more like baby hair it’s so soft. And ultra conditioned and healthy. Normally I can only use a purple line twice a week due to the fragility of my hair but I found the Blonde Angel line suitable for every day use!
This is a big bonus!
Those of you with very light hair will know the feeling of first combing through your wet hair….sometimes it feels like combing through a birds nest…but I could tell immediately after using the Blond Angel line, with my comb slipping right through, that this line had left my hair ultra conditioned.
Usually purple ranges can be a bit harsh and leave hair feeling brittle and stiff due to the chemicals and dyes. This is even more of a problem for those going platinum or the on-trend white-grey blonde where double (even triple) bleaching processes are done.
When your hair goes through extensive lightening, it can become extremely sensitive, porous, dry, and brittle.
It is REALLY IMPORTANT that you “baby” your hair, especially within the first few weeks after lightening.
So for those who are experiencing the pains of lightening your hair, THIS IS THE SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER FOR YOU!
On par with the Aveda Blue Malva line that I have reviewed in the past, the Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel line is my #1 rated purple line for those who have dry/brittle blonde and who need some extra TLC in their daily washing routine but still need the added brass banisher.
The Kevin Murphy line is available here in the UK and here in the USA
Oribe Bright Blonde
My other TOP RATED purple shampoo/conditioner line is from the luxury hair care brand, Oribe.
This is the cream-of-the-crop hair care for those who want nothing but the best for their blonde!
The Bright Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner are of the highest quality and are one of the MOST RECOMMENDED lines for blondes by beauty bloggers, hair experts, and the stars!
And there’s good reason too!
Available at SpaceNK here in the UK and here in the USA
Like the Kevin Murphy line the Oribe is free of stripping Sulphates, Parabens, and harsh Sodium Chloride. Not only does this mean it’s gentler on your hair, but it will also prevent color fade!
Sulphates are what causes shampoo to foam up but this foam can act more like sandpaper stripping delicate hair of moisture. Instead, the Oribe shampoo uses Coconut and Corn-Derived Cleansers to gently cleanse hair. Pretty cool! And yes, it DOES still lather up well!
Bright Blonde Shampoo for Beautiful Color also contains the innovative Oribe Signature Complex (Watermelon, Lychee and Edelweiss Flower Extracts) that defends hair from oxidative stress, photoaging and the deterioration of natural keratin, all while protecting from the drying, damaging and color-depleting effects of the elements.
But added to that are unique ingredients such as purple orchid extract, known as the flower of longevity, that repairs damaged hair; Flax Extract that helps to conserve melanin in the hair follicle and Swiss Garden Cress Sprouts, which is high in phyto-nutrients that detoxify and protect the hair from environmental stress factors, pollutants and natural oxidation to help maintain color vibrancy.
If you can believe it, that isn’t even the best part about this shampoo!
Did I mention that the smell is beautiful! As a fragrance expert, I am impressed by the sophisticated floral scent of Oribe products. The fresh Bergamot, delicate Jasmine, and glowing Sandalwood is like perfume for your shower!…..anyway….
The best part about the Oribe Bright Blonde shampoo is, like the name suggests, it’s brightening effect using a combination of natural Lemon, Ginger root, and Chamomile to enhance blonde tones.
This is what makes this purple shampoo stand out above the rest!
Most purple shampoos correct tone to a certain degree, but Oribe goes one step further by not only correcting the tone but making your blonde appear brighter (even lighter in some cases). It’s hard to explain this effect, but in a way it makes blonde appear slightly lighter, more luminous, and more crisp.
And if that wasn’t enough for you, the pure violet pigments and reflective pearl corrects brassiness and tones highlights. Tones blonde so well, that unlike most purple lines, where the conditioner does most of the toning work, this shampoo is extremely effective on it’s own even without the pairing conditioner.
In fact, I found that the Oribe Bright Blonde shampoo worked BETTER at counteracting brassiness than the conditioner did! Due to the strong pigmentation of the shampoo, I believe that most of the toning action is taking place in the wash, leaving the conditioner to hydrate.
Though, because it is so powerful, and because of the added brightening agents, this shampoo is slightly harsher than the Kevin Murphy shampoo.
Don’t get me wrong, this IS one of the BEST! But there’s a reason why it wasn’t rated my #1 and it’s because of it’s slight harshness. But I would recommend it to those who’s blonde locks are in decent shape and condition already. For those who are experiencing fragile strands and dryness, or those who have recently gone platinum, I would use the Kevin Murphy shampoo.
With that being said, if your hair is in decent shape and are hopelessly frustrated with brassy tones, then THIS SHAMPOO IS FOR YOU!
The Oribe Bright Blonde Conditioner has all of the beneficial ingredients as the shampoo but with added oils to enhance hydration.
Available at SpaceNK in the UK here and in the US here
Oils of Sunflower seed, Moringa, Baobab, Mirabelle Plum, Olive, Jojoba, along with Shea Butter impart serious moisture but without weighing down your hair.
This weightlessness of this conditioner is one of my favorite things about it.
The lighter in color the hair gets, the more greasy it can appear and quicker too!
And if you’re like me, who has fine hair, this is even more of an issue with conditioners.
Most conditioners needed to care for platinum locks are too thick and weigh down the hair leaving it feeling greasy and limp. But the Oribe Bright Blonde conditioner leaves my fine hair light as a feather and feeling as soft as one too!
The Oribe Bright Blonde shampoo might be a tad drying/harsh for some, but the Bright Blonde conditioner makes up for that; imparting silky hydration leaving your hair as soft and healthy as silk!
Even after just one use, my hair felt lighter, softer, and my blonde was bright and shiny!
Seriously, this is one of my #1 most effective purple lines on the market! So effective that most only use this line every-other shampoo.
However, you can use them as your regular shampoo/conditioner as they contain clever technology that prevents pigmentation build up. GENIUS.
The Oribe Bright Blonde Line can be found at SpaceNK stores here in the UK and here in the USA
Shu Uemura Color Lustre Shades Revitalizing Balm
This potent brass banisher is a mask-like treatment that will tone down brassiness in just ONE USE!
I’m not kidding!
The Shu Uemura Shades Revitalizing Balm in Cool Blonde works as effectively as a salon toner and at a fraction of the cost of going for a salon toner every three weeks!
If you are in need of some serious toning (i.e. persistent orange/yellow tones) and are currently frequenting the salon for monthly toners, STOP!
This is the product you need!
First of all, those who read my blog, know how much of a fan of Shu Uemura Art of Hair I am. They not only have some of the highest quality hair care on the market, but are inspired by natural Asian rituals that improves the condition of your hair and makes you feel like you are in a zen-like spa with every use!
My favorite Shu Uemura product is the Shades Revitalizing Balm in Cool Blonde (shades are available for cool brown as well).
Available here in the UK and here in the USA
This luxury treatment is applied like a hair mask or can be applied with a color brush just like you would applying hair dye and is left on anywhere from 10-20min. (tip: use a shower cap to cover while waiting).
Don’t let the bright shade scare you, as shocking as it looks on your hair, it won’t leave your hair purple after rinsing. (The first time I used it I rinsed it away after 2min because I was so scared my platinum locks would come out purple. Now I leave it on for 10+ min and leave it on my re-growth longer.)
A vibrant, highly pigmented, violet shade adds subtle color deposits with no chemical reaction; meaning this is NOT a hair dye. Yet, it is just as effective as a box hair toner or toner from the salon!
But unlike a usual hair toner, this treatment actually IMPROVES the condition of your hair! Blonde is bright and cool and hair is left soft and healthy.
This is thanks to two key oils present; Musk Rose Oil and Linseed Oil.
The Musk Rose Oil is known for it’s inherent healing properties, the oil is rich in fatty acids that deeply nourish the hair fiber and protect the hair from coloring.
The Linseed Oil not only imparts shine but is specifically used for distributing the color pigments along the hair shaft for even color distribution. This is VERY IMPORTANT, especially for those with platinum hair.
(When applying toning products to very light hair you have to be careful to distribute properly otherwise you will see uneveness in tone once dry. Or worse, see some pale purple strands while others are brassy yellow.)
The Shades Revitalizing Balm in Cool Blonde is one of my MUST-HAVE products for blondes. It is especially recommended for those who need to remove unwanted tones from hair and are having difficulty keeping brass at bay.
But the other reason why I recommend it is that not every hair/scalp condition is the same and some people need special daily hair care routines such as those who have dandruff, psoriasis, and other scalp issues; those who have severely damaged hair; or those who have very curly hair or African American hair.
These special hair/scalp types may not be able to use purple shampoos/conditioners as their regular hair care routine as they need special products. So in that regards, doing a weekly purple treatment allows them to still use their normal every-day cleansing products while still getting the toning benefit.
The Shu Uemura Shades Revitalizing Balm is available on Amazon here in the UK and here in the USA
Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care in Baby Blonde
You’ll certainly be hearing a lot about Christophe Robin hair care from me in the near future, as I become more impressed with every product I try!
Only just recently have I had the privilege of trying a few of his products and every one is not only innovative and truly unique to the market but also exceptionally good!
I truly believe this could be one of the BEST hair care brands in the world!
And one of the most acclaimed products is their toning treatment mask, the Shade Variation Care.
Available at Harrods in the UK here and Sephora in the US here
This mask works the same as the above Shu Uemura mask, where it’s applied to towel dried washed hair, and left on from 5-30min. Adding the recommended splash of water to fully emulsify the mixture is really helpful as well.
I also found that this product worked even better following a clarifying shampoo as they recommend. The clarifying shampoo gives the hair a “clean slate” where pigments can be deposited more effectively.
Ultra pigmented with violet color and added luminous ingredients and fiorentina iris, work hard to not only neutralize unwanted tones but also impart a natural sheen to hair.
They claim that within 3-5 uses, unwanted tones and brassiness will be removed…..and THEY’RE RIGHT!
I used this mask four times within two weeks and my blonde hair was as cool and bright as when I left the salon months ago!
I couldn’t believe just how well this product worked!
Not only was it very effective but the condition of my hair improved overall and the tone remained true for a good two weeks after as well.
Almond butter and Buriti oil work to not only impart serious moisture but also help pigments distribute evenly. But the magic of this product is the careful use of an acidic pH of 4.5 help minimize porosity of the hair shaft. This is key!
When we lighten hair, we open up the cuticles on the hair shaft allowing them to “let go” of their pigment molecules, but often the hair remains porous after bleaching and this leads to straw-like texture, dullness, and inability to hold on to pigments (this is why the salon will recommend a hair toner every three weeks!).
An acidic pH will close the cuticles which will not only make hair shiny and smooth but it will also hold on to color longer! GENIUS!
I can not recommend this product enough, which is why it’s my #1 purple treatment!
It’s especially for those who need extra help with brassiness and those who are looking for a weekly purple treatment over a daily one.
Unlike other harsher purple products, the Christophe Robin mask can be used on any hair type or condition.
This product is well worth the price tag (just over £28 or $51), as the toning effects are as good as a salon and the added conditioning effect makes it a doubly useful product.
Trust me, you’ll save a lot of money NOT having to pay for a salon toner every month!
The Christophe Robin Shade Variation Care is available at Harrods in the UK here and Sephora in the US here
[Products featured in this article were Press Samples but this in no way affects the honest opinions of the writer]
About the Author
The Perfume Expert The Perfume Expert is an online Perfume Blog, Beauty Blog and Skincare Blog all rolled into one so you can stay looking good, smelling nice and feeling great all in one place! Written by an expert you can trust, I provide you with Perfume reviews, Best Perfumes, Beauty reviews and Makeup trends that are all written with passion and an eye for excellence.
Related Posts
How to Take Care of Blonde Hair →
DIY Hair Toner: How to Fix Brassy Hair and Remove Other Unwanted Red Tones →
Spring Forward | The Most Forward Thinking Beauty Products for Spring →
Hello fellow beauty lover!
