How to Eliminate Brassiness from Bleached Orange Hair: The Role of Purple Shampoo

Dealing with bleached orange or brassy hair can be a challenging task, but with the right approach and a few steps, you can manage to achieve the desired results. One of the most commonly used techniques is the application of purple shampoo. However, the frequency and effectiveness of this method can vary depending on several factors. In this guide, we'll explore how many times you need to use purple shampoo to tackle brassiness and what else you can do to maintain the desired tone.

Initial Use and Assessment

Initial Use: To begin, it's recommended to use purple shampoo once a week. Leave the shampoo on your hair for about 5-10 minutes, following the specific product instructions and your hair's sensitivity level. This step helps to gradually neutralize the brassiness without causing any damage to your hair.

Assessment: After the first application, assess the results. If your hair remains brassy, you can gradually increase the frequency to 2-3 times a week, while keeping a close eye on your hair to avoid over-toning. Over-toning can lead to a dull or grayish hue, which is often undesirable.

Maintenance: Once you achieve the desired tone, you can switch to using purple shampoo as a maintenance product, typically once every 1-2 weeks. This frequency depends on how quickly your hair becomes brassy again, which can vary based on many factors such as hair porosity, water quality, and hair type.

Additional Tips for Effective use of Purple Shampoo

Conditioning: Always follow up with a good conditioner, as purple shampoos can be drying. Over-rinsing and over-drying can exacerbate the brassiness.

Hydration: Consider using a deep conditioning treatment to maintain moisture in your hair. Dryness can exacerbate brassiness, so keeping your hair hydrated is crucial for optimal results.

Understanding the Role of Purple Shampoo

It's important to understand that purple shampoo does not 'get' any color out; it deposits a color that neutralizes the opposing tone. Here's how it works:

Blue (Purple) Shampoo: Neutralizes orange, but creates a brown hue. Violet Shampoo: Neutralizes yellow or orange, but creates a tan or sand tone. Violet Shampoo: Neutralizes yellow, but creates a beige or bisque tone. Sufficient Shampoo Strength: If the strength of the purple shampoo is adequate, it can add a greyish cast to your hair, making it look cooler or ashier.

To produce lighter shades such as platinum blonde or silver blonde, it's essential to start with a very pale yellow base. If you're not achieving the desired results with purple shampoo, it might be due to issues with the bleach process rather than the shampoo itself. Factors such as improper peroxide usage, insufficient time, or the presence of iron in your water can all affect how your hair reacts to bleaching and subsequent treatments.

Conclusion and Next Steps

While purple shampoo can help manage brassiness, it might not completely eradicate it, especially if your base color is too dark or if other factors (like water quality) are at play. If you find that you're not seeing the results you want, it might be worth consulting a professional colorist who can provide additional treatments such as toning to achieve the best results. Remember, maintaining a consistent routine and understanding the products you use is key to achieving and maintaining the desired hair color.