How Long To Leave Purple Shampoo On For Best Results
So we know that purple shampoo can do wonders for getting rid of yellow and brassy tones in your hair from home. But how long should you leave it on for best results? In this post I’m going to explain the results from an experiment where I left purple shampoo on a yellow hair swatch for 5 minutes, and another swatch for an hour. I’ll also explain any negatives that can happen when you leave purple shampoo on for a long time.
You can adjust the tone that purple shampoo delivers by the brand you use, the amount of time you leave it on for, and the frequency of use. I’ll often mix it with another type of shampoo (like scalp care) so that I’m getting the results from both!
How long should I let purple shampoo sit?
The recommended time on the bottle usually says somewhere between 1 and 5 minutes, depending on the brand. But what happens if we leave it on for longer? Will it do a better job, or is this bad for your hair?
Ultimately, the length of time you leave it on is dependent on the results you’re looking for. If you only want minimal neutralizing, then you’ll want to leave it on for less time and use it less frequently (every other wash).
But if you want maximum yellow neutralizing, keep reading or watch the video below.
Does purple shampoo work better the longer you leave it on?
During my experiment, I found that YES, it does work better the longer you leave it on. To be honest, I was actually a little shocked by these results.
I knew that leaving it on for 5 minutes was better than 1-3, but I wasn’t expecting there to be as much of a difference between 5 minutes and an hour as there was.
If it works so much better the longer you leave it on, then why do the brands only recommend it being left on for 5 minutes?
My guess is for 1 of 2 reasons. The first is because your hair is likely to take on too much purple and turn to a lilac color. I have personally had this happen before by using it too frequently.
And the second is because it could potentially be drying to your hair. And we’ll dive into that next.
What happens if I leave purple shampoo in for an hour? Is it bad for your hair?
So from my experiment, I determined that leaving the purple shampoo on for an hour would certainly take on more of a purple hue than the recommended 5 minutes. But what are the risks involved in this?
Realistically, shampoo is drying to the hair. So leaving it on for a long time likely isn’t going to be great for it. But during my experiment, there was actually no difference in the feeling of the hair swatches from 5 minutes to an hour. So I can’t say that this would be a negative effect.
Ideally, it would be better to do this with purple conditioner so that you’re moisturizing your hair at the same time you’re toning it. That being said, purple conditioners generally aren’t as strong as purple shampoos are, so this is something to consider.
If you want the most intense purple toning effects, leave purple shampoo on for an hour, then leave purple conditioner or a purple mask on for another hour. After doing this, you’ll hands down get the best yellow neutralizing possible from shampoos and conditioners, WITHOUT drying your hair out.
The best purple shampoo brands to buy
Below you can find my favorite purple shampoos and conditioners. Olaplex is a little stronger, but Pravana has a nice tone as well. I recommend testing out different brands each time you’re ready for a new bottle to find the brand that you love the best.
Some may make your hair feel drier, and others may be a shade you prefer.
***Since I’m sharing the products that I love to use with you guys, this page includes affiliate links to these products. If you take action and purchase a product through clicking one of my links, I’ll make some commission money from it at no extra cost to you. This enables me to be able to continue giving you awesome hair tips, so thanks! ***
- Pravana The Perfect Blonde Shampoo
- Pravana The Perfect Blonde Conditioner
- Pravana Purple Toning Masque
Conclusion
Purple shampoo can be an incredibly effective way to tone yellow and brassy hair at home. And how long you leave it on really does make a difference. While most brands recommend just a few minutes, my experiment showed that longer times (even up to an hour) can significantly boost the toning results without noticeably damaging the hair, especially when followed with a purple conditioner or hydrating mask.
That said, every head of hair is different. Start slow, experiment safely, and pay attention to how your hair responds over time. If you’re not sure where to begin, try leaving it on for 5 minutes first and adjusting from there.
Let me know in the comments what your experience has been with purple shampoo, and make sure you subscribe below if you want to make every day a good hair day!
share item
