How To Get Purple Shampoo Out Of Hair (Without Causing Damage)

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how to get purple shampoo out of hair quickly

If you have bleached or blonde hair, you probably know the wonders of purple shampoo. Although it seems fool-proof, it can go wrong very quickly leaving you with purple, grey/silver or pastel hair. Which leaves you wondering how to remove purple shampoo fast. In this guide on how to get purple shampoo out of hair, we’ll discuss the best tips and tricks as well as how to use purple shampoo to avoid staining your hair purple. 

What Does Purple Shampoo Do?

Purple shampoo is a type of shampoo that is designed to counteract unwanted yellow tones in bleached or light coloured hair. It does this by adding depositing purple/blue pigments into the hair to counteract and neutralize any yellowness or brassiness in the hair.

And this sounds great and all, but does purple shampoo stain? If you’re here you probably already know the answer to this and are reading this post with some pretty purple shampoo stains in your hair.

While purple shampoo is a miracle product for those with bleached and blonde hair, if you don’t use it correctly, you can easily end up with some purple or grey hair. And if this has ever happened to you, don’t worry, it’s probably happened to everyone at least once!

Luckily, I have some great tips on how to remove purple shampoo stains from hair fast.

Purple Shampoo Turned My Hair Purple! Why Is My Hair Purple After Using Purple Shampoo?

Color-depositing shampoos (which can be purple, blue, violet or even green) can all lead to unexpected results when not used properly. Don’t worry, it’s actually a pretty common issue and can be easily fixed.

And depending on the purple shampoo you’re using, it can be super easy to end up with purple hair. Some of the purple shampoos on the market are INSANELY pigmented. Like stain your hands, skin and everything else it touches pigmented.

So if purple shampoo turned your hair purple or grey, you might be wondering why The violet pigments in the shampoo are deposited into your hair. As you seen in the color wheel, purple is opposite of yellow, which is why the color purple is used to get rid of any unwanted yellow tones in the hair, which is common with blondes and with bleaching.

It’s the same type of scenario for other color depositing shampoos. For example blue shampoos are often used in bleached hair or brunette hair to get rid of orange tones.

If your hair has turned purple after using purple shampoo, it means that the shampoo has deposited too much blue pigment into your hair. This can happen for a few reasons:

  • You didn’t rinse the shampoo out properly
  • Your hair is very porous and absorbs a lot of pigment
  • You are using purple shampoo too often
  • You are leaving the purple shampoo in your hair too long
  • Your shampoo is too pigmented for your hair (generally only true for those with level 9 or 10 hair and using an extremely pigmented shampoo like Fanola)

Will Purple Shampoo Wash Out?

how to get purple shampoo out of hair fast

Fortunately the purple staining in your hair is not permanent and will fade with every wash. But if you’re needing to get that purple out ASAP, there are luckily a few things you can do to strip the purple from your hair, and we’ll get into those later.

And for those like me that only wash their hair once a week, it can take weeks for the purple shampoo to fully fade. And who wants to go weeks with some unwanted purple hair? Unless of course you want your hair to be purple, which of course if you did, you probably wouldn’t be reading this.

The easiest way to get purple shampoo out of hair is to just let it naturally fade by regular washes with your normal shampoo. But if you’re wondering what is the fastest way to remove purple shampoo from hair, then just keep on reading.

How To Get Purple Shampoo Out Of Hair 

You just got your hair done and it looks perfect, amazing and healthy. Your stylist sent you home with a purple shampoo to keep your color looking fresh. And that’s when the mess up happens.

Wanting to know how to remove purple shampoo from your hair fast? Here’s the ultimate guide at getting that purple stain to fade.

Keep in mind that many of these solutions can strip and dry out the hair, so you’ll always want to deep condition and nourish your hair after doing these.

Wash With Hot Water

This will open up the cuticle of the hair shaft and allow the pigment to escape. If you have low porosity hair, you can even try to to run the hot water over your hair for a few minutes and then put a shower cap on for 5-10 minutes to really get the cuticle open so as much pigment can rinse out as possible.

Doing this can really help get the purple to fade quicker, especially if you have low porosity hair.

Use A Clarifying Shampoo

If you want to get purple shampoo out of hair as quickly as possible, using a clarifying shampoo is the way to do it. Clarifying shampoos are formulated to remove all product build-up and residue from the hair, which means it will also strip any pigments that might be lingering in your hair.

Keep in mind that depending on how much pigment has been deposited into your hair, it still may take a few washes to get all of the purple staining out.

And of course, since clarifying shampoos can also strip the natural oils from your hair, you’ll want to be sure to use a deep conditioner afterwards. Or you could do a hot oil treatment with marula oil or rosehip oil..

Use Dish Soap

how to remove purple shampoo stain from hair

Believe it or not, dish soap can actually be a great way to get purple shampoo out of hair. It’s a degreaser and will strip away any oils or residues and take all that purple pigment along with it.

You use it just like a normal shampoo, but only do it once or twice in one day because your hair will probably feel like straw afterwards.

You can also lather up the soap in your hair and leave it on for 5-10 minutes to try and strip out as much pigment as possible.

Use Baking Soda

Baking soda is another great way to strip away any unwanted pigment and get purple shampoo out of hair. You can either mix it with your shampoo (about 1 tablespoon) or just put it directly on your scalp and hair and let it sit for a few minutes, then shampoo.

Just like the other methods, baking soda can be very drying to the hair, so make sure to rinse well use a hair mask afterwards.

Use Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a natural lightener and will lighten any hair color, including purple. So if you’re looking to quickly get that purple out of your hair, using lemon juice is definitely the way to do it.

Just mix together equal parts lemon juice and water in a spray bottle and spritz it all over your hair, then let sit (the longer the better). Then rinse out and shampoo as normal.

You can also mix lemon juice in with a conditioner or hair mask to try and nourish the hair at the same time.

Heat can help to speed up the process, so you can also apply a shower cap and sit under a dryer.

Use Color Remover

If all else fails and you just can’t seem to get that purple shampoo out of hair, then you might have to resort to a color remover.

Color removers are designed specifically to remove hair dye, and will strip away any and all pigments in the hair. So if your hair is completely covered in purple dye, this might be your only option.

Just be aware that color removers are very harsh and can damage the hair, so you’ll want to use a deep conditioner afterwards. And definitely don’t do this more than once or twice or you’ll really start to see the negative effects on your hair.

Color removers usually contain a small amount of bleach, so keep in mind that this could change the color of your hair if not careful. Always follow the directions on the product you are using.

How To Remove Purple Shampoo From Hair: More Tips

  • Use Heat – Applying heat can help to open up the cuticle and speed up the process of removing the purple shampoo from your hair. You can either use a blow dryer or apply a shower cap and sit under a dryer or just wear a shower cap in the shower
  • Be Patient – It may take a few washes to get all of the purple shampoo out of your hair, depending on how much was deposited and how light or dark your natural hair color is. Just be patient and keep trying different methods until you find one that works best for you.
  • Deep Condition – Using a deep conditioner after using any of these methods will help to replenish any lost moisture and prevent any further damage to your hair. You can use a store-bought conditioner or make your own using ingredients like coconut oil, avocado, honey, and eggs.

How Long Does It Take To Get Purple Shampoo Out Of Your Hair?

how to get purple shampoo out of hair without bleach

It really depends on the method you use, how light or dark your natural hair color is and your hair porosity. Some hair types will hold onto pigment more than others.

But on average, it will take a few washes with a clarifying shampoo to completely remove all of the purple dye. And using a color remover might take a couple of tries. So be patient and keep trying different methods until you find one that works best for you.

And please remember you want to keep your hair healthy during this process so be sure to be gentle when brushing and applying products and make sure you’re using a deep conditioner or other type of treatment to get those oils and moisture back into your hair.

How To Use Purple Shampoo Correctly

In order to stop purple shampoo from staining your hair, you’re going to need to learn how to use purple shampoo the right way.

  1. Rinse Hair
  2. Towel-dry hair
  3. Apply Purple Shampoo

Focus on making sure you have completely and evenly covered your hair. The last thing you want are patches of yellow and ash in your hair!

The key is to use it sparingly and not leave it in your hair for too long. Start by applying it to the roots of your hair and massaging it in. Then let it sit for3-5 before rinsing out.

This is especially important when using purple shampoo for the first time. You don’t want to over use! So try just 1-2 minutes if your hair is very light and go from there. If you find that you still see some yellow in your hair, leave it on a couple minutes longer next time.

  1. Rinse Hair
  2. Condition

Mistakes To Avoid When Using Purple Shampoo

If you’re wanting to know how to get purple shampoo out of hair, chances are you’ve not used it properly, which is why you’re here. Here are some tips to keep in mind when using color depositing shampoos.

Don’t Use Like A Regular Shampoo

It’s called a purple shampoo, you would think to use it just like a regular shampoo right? Well actually, there are ways to use purple shampoo to get the best results (and avoid staining).

Use it on towel-dried hair and leave on for 3-5 minutes. If you use the purple shampoo on sopping wet hair and immediately rinse, your hair will barely retain any pigments and you’ll be left wondering why the heck it didn’t do anything.

Using the shampoo on towel dried hair will allow the pigments to absorb and deposit into the hair for best neutralization of yellow tones.

Do keep in mind that you’ll likely need to experiment how long you need to leave it on depending on your hair type and color level. If you have high porosity hair with a level 9, chances are you can just leave it on for a minute or two. But if you have low porosity hair and a level 6, you will probably need to leave it on 5 minutes or longer.

Don’t Overuse

Each time you use purple shampoo, it deposits pigment into your hair. Overusing it can cause your color to darken and look dull. Plus it can mess with your color and take you from that bright, cool toned blonde into a darker blonde.

So if you’ve overused purple shampoo and now you’re left wondering how to remove purple shampoo stain from hair then you’ll likely need to follow the tips above.

Purple shampoo should not replace your regular shampoo, so you should not be using it daily or even multiple times a week. If you wash your hair daily, you can probably get away with using it once a week.

How To Get Purple Shampoo Out Of Hair: FAQ’s

How To Get Purple Shampoo Out Of Hair Extensions?

Hair extensions are very popular, and like natural hair, sometimes they need to be toned to blend with the hair and get rid of any brassiness. So if you’ve used purple shampoo on your extensions, you might be left wondering how to remove purple shampoo from hair extensions. And luckily, it’s no different than the natural hair on your head!

You can get purple shampoo out of hair extensions the same way you get purple shampoo out of regular hair. Just follow the steps above.

Will baking soda remove purple shampoo?

Baking soda can remove purple shampoo. Of course, it’s not a miracle treatment and will likely take a few treatments to get all of the purple stain out of your hair.

What happens if you use too much purple shampoo?

If you use too much purple shampoo, your hair can start to become darker and more purple. It’s also possible that you can over-deposit pigment into your hair, which will cause your color to look dull. And if you overuse purple shampoo too much, you may even need a visit to the salon to get your hair back to its bright self.

What happens if you leave purple shampoo in too long?

Leaving purple shampoo in too long is usually a recipe for disaster, especially lighter hair. It can cause your hair to become darker, more purple, and even stain it. So be sure to follow the directions and only leave it on for 3-5 minutes!


Best Clarifying Shampoo To Remove Purple Tint

Neutrogena Exfoliating Healthy Scalp Clarify & Shine Shampoo

A long time favorite for those looking for a good clarifying shampoo. This SLS free shampoo still works wonders to remove unwanted purple tints in the hair plus it adds shine and exfoliates the scalp for healthier hair.

Ouai Detox Shampoo

When you’re trying to remove purple from purple shampoo, a detox shampoo is what you need and this is one of the best clarifying shampoos to get rid of unwanted color, oils, dirt and more for clean hair.

Bumble & Bumble BB Sunday Shampoo

If you’re wanting the strongest, best clarifying shampoo to remove purple stains on your hair, this is it. The HG, the OG, the one you need. It cleanses the hair, stimulates the scalp and will remove unwanted purple pigments and leave your hair feeling fresh, clean and soft.

How To Get Purple Shampoo Out Of Hair: Wrap Up

Purple shampoo is a great product to use if you’re looking for a way to make your hair more vibrant. The key is to follow the instructions and leave it on long enough so that it can deposit pigments into your strands. It’s also important not to overuse purple shampoos or else you’ll be left with darker, duller and even purple hair! If you’re wondering how to get purple shampoo out of hair, these are the best tips on how to remove purple shampoo from hair without causing damage.

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Can You Use Purple Shampoo On Brown Hair?

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