Ever looked in the mirror after a salon visit and loved your cool, ash-blonde hair, only to see brassy, yellow tones creep in a few weeks later? It’s a common hair woe, and it can be frustrating and expensive to fix. That beautiful blonde or silver shade you worked so hard for seems to disappear, leaving you with a less-than-ideal hue.
The good news is, you don’t need to break the bank to keep those unwanted yellow tones at bay. Finding an effective purple shampoo that’s also budget-friendly can feel like a treasure hunt. So many products promise the world, but which ones actually deliver the magic of toning without drying out your hair or emptying your wallet? It’s tough to know where to start.
In this post, we’re going to dive deep into the world of affordable purple shampoos. We’ll reveal some of the best drugstore finds that will help you maintain your gorgeous cool tones, neutralize brassiness, and keep your hair looking vibrant and healthy, all without the high price tag. Get ready to discover your new favorite budget-friendly hair hero!
Our Top 5 Cheap Purple Shampoo Recommendations at a Glance
Top 5 Cheap Purple Shampoo Detailed Reviews
1. Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo
Rating: 9.2/10
Tired of brassy or yellow tones ruining your beautiful blonde, silver, or gray hair? Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo is here to save the day! This powerful little bottle, weighing in at just 0.152 kilograms, works wonders to neutralize those unwanted shades. It’s a color-enhancing formula that keeps your locks looking vibrant and fresh.
What We Like:
- It effectively tones down brassiness on blonde and gray hair, making your color look richer.
- The formula enhances your hair’s natural color, bringing out its best tones.
- It’s a compact 2 fl. oz size, making it easy to use and great for travel.
- The shampoo is designed to work on a variety of hair colors, including highlighted hair.
What Could Be Improved:
- The packaging may vary, which could be a surprise if you’re expecting a specific look.
- Since it’s a concentrated formula, you need to be careful not to over-use it, as it can sometimes leave a purple tint if left on too long.
This shampoo is a fantastic tool for anyone looking to maintain bright, beautiful hair color. It’s a simple solution to a common hair concern.
2. L’Oreal Paris Sulfate Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo for Blonde
Rating: 9.4/10
Blondes, rejoice! The L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo is here to save your color. If your blonde, bleached, silver, or highlighted hair has started to look a little yellow or orange, this shampoo is your new best friend. It works hard to get rid of those unwanted brassy tones and leaves your hair looking fresh and vibrant.
What We Like:
- This shampoo is sulfate-free, which is great for color-treated hair.
- It effectively neutralizes brassy yellow and orange tones.
- The formula is hydrating and leaves hair moisturized, thanks to hibiscus and purple dye.
- It’s a vegan shampoo, meaning no animal ingredients.
- L’Oreal Paris is a trusted brand known for its quality hair care.
- It’s easy to use: just lather, leave in for a couple of minutes, and rinse.
What Could Be Improved:
- For best results, it needs to be used regularly, 2-3 times a week, which might be a commitment for some.
- The packaging can sometimes vary, which could be a minor surprise.
This shampoo is a powerful tool for maintaining beautiful, toned blonde hair. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference in keeping your color looking its best.
3. Kristin Ess Hair The One Purple Shampoo Mini Travel Size – Toning for Blonde Hair – Neutralizes Brass + Yellow Tones
Rating: 8.8/10
Are you tired of brassy, yellow tones messing up your beautiful blonde or light brown hair? The Kristin Ess Hair The One Purple Shampoo Mini Travel Size is here to save the day! This little bottle packs a punch, toning your hair to perfection. It’s also super handy for travel since it’s TSA-approved. Plus, it’s free of sulfates, silicones, and parabens, making it a gentler choice for your hair. It works on natural or colored hair, giving you flexibility.
What We Like:
- Effectively neutralizes brassy and yellow tones, leaving hair looking ashy or pastel lavender.
- Can be used every wash for ashy/pastel tones or as needed for neutral tones.
- Works well on both natural and color-treated hair.
- Contains Zip-Up Technology™ to strengthen hair and repair split ends.
- Helps protect hair from environmental damage and color fading.
- Sulfate, silicone, and paraben-free formula is gentle on hair.
- Perfect travel size that’s TSA-approved.
What Could Be Improved:
- Some users might find the scent too strong.
- For very dark brassy tones, it might require multiple applications.
This travel-sized purple shampoo is a fantastic companion for keeping your blonde hair looking its best on the go. It’s a smart choice for anyone who wants toned, healthy-looking hair.
4. Suave Bonding Infusion Purple Toning Shampoo
Rating: 8.6/10
Say goodbye to dull, brassy hair and hello to vibrant, healthy locks with Suave Bonding Infusion Purple Toning Shampoo. This powerful shampoo is designed to brighten blonde and gray hair and fix broken bonds, all in one easy step. It comes in a convenient 28oz pump bottle, and this pack includes four bottles, so you’ll have plenty on hand.
What We Like:
- Brightens blonde and gray hair right away.
- The purple color cancels out unwanted brassy tones.
- It has a special system that repairs broken hair bonds.
- It uses amino acids and citric acid to make hair stronger.
- Gives hair lots of moisture to stop it from breaking.
- It’s sulfate-free, so it’s gentle on your hair.
What Could Be Improved:
- The large pack size might be too much for some users.
- The scent might not be for everyone.
This shampoo is a fantastic way to keep your blonde or gray hair looking its best while also helping to repair damage. You’ll notice a brighter, healthier-looking mane.
5. Verb Purple Shampoo & Mask Duo
Rating: 9.0/10
Brighten up your blonde with this amazing Verb Purple Shampoo & Mask Duo! This little packette is packed with everything you need to keep your blonde hair looking its best. It cleans and makes blondes shine. It also makes cool tones pop and gets rid of those annoying brassy colors.
What We Like:
- Cleans and brightens blonde hair.
- Makes cool tones look even better.
- Gets rid of yellow and brassy colors.
- Lab tests show it reduces brassiness by 24% after just one use!
- Everyone in a test saw better toning and shine after using it once.
- It has pro-grade violet pigment to fight yellow tones.
- Açaí extract is in it to help make hair healthy.
- It’s free of parabens and gluten.
- No yucky sulfates.
- It’s vegan and PETA certified cruelty-free.
- Easy to use once a week.
What Could Be Improved:
- The packette size is small, so you might need more if you have long hair.
- It’s designed for weekly use, so for more intense toning, you might need a different solution.
This duo is a fantastic way to keep your blonde looking fresh and vibrant. Give it a try and see the amazing results for yourself!
Your Guide to Finding Awesome Cheap Purple Shampoo
Purple shampoo is a game-changer for anyone with blonde, silver, or bleached hair. It helps fight brassy, yellow tones. But the good stuff can sometimes cost a lot. Don’t worry! You can still get great results without emptying your wallet. This guide will help you find a fantastic cheap purple shampoo that works wonders.
What to Look for in Cheap Purple Shampoo
Key Features to Seek Out
- Pigment Power: The most important thing is the purple color. It needs to be strong enough to cancel out yellow. Look for shampoos with a deep, vibrant purple shade.
- Gentle Formula: Purple shampoos can sometimes be drying. Find one that also cleans your hair gently. Ingredients like conditioners or moisturizing oils are a big plus.
- Sulfate-Free: Sulfates can strip your hair of its natural oils, making it dry and dull. Sulfate-free options are much kinder to your hair.
- Good Scent: You’ll be using this regularly, so a pleasant smell makes the experience better.
Important Ingredients to Consider
- Direct Dyes: These are the color pigments. Look for ingredients like CI 60730 (Acid Violet 43) or similar violet/purple colorants.
- Moisturizers: Ingredients like glycerin, panthenol (vitamin B5), or natural oils (like argan or coconut oil) help keep your hair hydrated.
- Proteins: Proteins like keratin or wheat protein can help strengthen your hair.
What Makes it Good (or Not So Good)
- Quality Pigment: A strong, true purple pigment means it will neutralize yellow tones effectively. A weak or orangey-purple won’t work as well.
- Moisturizing Balance: A good shampoo cleans without over-drying. Too many harsh cleaning agents can leave hair feeling straw-like.
- Consistency: A shampoo that lathers well and rinses out easily makes for a better user experience.
- Ingredient List: A shorter, more natural ingredient list is often better. Avoid too many artificial fragrances or harsh chemicals if you have sensitive hair or scalp.
How to Use Purple Shampoo and Who It’s For
User Experience and Easy Use
Using purple shampoo is simple. You use it instead of your regular shampoo. Apply it to wet hair, lather it up, and let it sit for a few minutes. The longer you leave it, the more toning it does. Rinse it out thoroughly. You might want to use a conditioner afterward, especially if your hair feels dry.
Start with a shorter time, maybe 2-5 minutes, to see how your hair reacts. You can always leave it on longer next time. Don’t use it every single wash, as too much can make your hair look a little purple or grey.
Who Benefits Most?
- Blondes: This is for natural blondes, bleached blondes, and highlighted blondes who want to keep their color bright and brass-free.
- Silver/Grey Hair: It helps keep silver and grey hair from looking dull or yellow.
- Platinum Hair: For those with very light, platinum blonde hair, it helps maintain that cool, icy tone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Purple Shampoo
Q: What is the main goal of purple shampoo?
A: The main goal is to cancel out unwanted yellow and brassy tones in blonde, silver, or bleached hair. It uses the principle of color theory, where purple cancels out yellow.
Q: How often should I use cheap purple shampoo?
A: You should use it about once a week, or whenever you notice your hair starting to look brassy. Using it too often can make your hair look purple.
Q: Can purple shampoo damage my hair?
A: Some purple shampoos can be drying if they have harsh ingredients. However, most good ones are formulated to be gentle. Always follow up with a conditioner.
Q: What if my hair turns purple?
A: This can happen if you leave the shampoo on too long or if your hair is very porous. Wash your hair with a regular clarifying shampoo to remove the excess purple color.
Q: Are sulfate-free purple shampoos better?
A: Yes, sulfate-free purple shampoos are generally better because they are less drying and won’t strip your hair’s natural moisture.
Q: Can I use purple shampoo on dark hair?
A: Purple shampoo is not designed for dark hair. It will not have any noticeable effect on darker shades, as the pigment is meant to counteract yellow tones in lightened hair.
Q: What’s the difference between purple shampoo and toner?
A: Purple shampoo is a wash-out product used for maintenance. Toners are often applied at a salon and are more intense, used to achieve a specific shade of blonde.
Q: Does “cheap” mean “bad quality” for purple shampoo?
A: Not necessarily! Many affordable brands offer excellent purple shampoos. You just need to know what ingredients and features to look for.
Q: Can I mix purple shampoo with my regular shampoo?
A: Some people do this to dilute the purple pigment for a subtler tone. However, it’s usually best to use it on its own for maximum effectiveness, or dilute it with a sulfate-free conditioner.
Q: How do I choose the right shade of purple shampoo for my hair?
A: For very light or platinum blonde hair, a more intense purple is needed. For warmer blondes, a slightly softer purple might be sufficient. Always start with a shorter processing time to test.
In conclusion, every product has unique features and benefits. We hope this review helps you decide if it meets your needs. An informed choice ensures the best experience.
If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments. Your input helps everyone. Thank you for reading.
Hi, I’m Robert Contreras, a passionate archery instructor based in the USA. With years of experience under my belt, I’ve dedicated my life to mastering the art of archery and sharing its intricacies with enthusiasts of all levels. Through my website, 10Bows.com, I invite you to explore a treasure trove of tips, techniques, and personal insights that reflect my journey in the world of archery. Whether you’re picking up a bow for the first time or refining your skills, I’m here to help guide you toward precision, focus, and a deeper appreciation for this timeless sport.