Hair
best purple shampoo

The Best Purple Shampoos for Blonde Hair

By Ellie Child - 5 years ago | Updated 3 days ago

Only blondes will understand the sheer frustration that those dreaded brassy tones can cause when they emerge on your once vibrant, platinum blonde hair.

So, What Causes Brassy Blonde Hair?

Wreaking havoc on both natural and dyed locks, yellow hues can be caused by an array of things: either you’ve got naturally porous hair with brassy undertones, or you’ve enjoyed your hot-girl summer a little too much. By that, we mean the constant chlorine and sun exposure have finally had their comeuppance and left your strands looking a little too golden (or even worse, green).

But, before you rush out to stock up on at-home corrector kits and semi-permanent dyes, you might want to try out a purple shampoo.

What does purple shampoo do to blonde hair?

Purple shampoo neutralises unwanted yellow and brassy tones in blonde hair, leaving it looking brighter, cooler, and more salon-fresh. It helps maintain a more even, ash-toned finish between colour treatments.

What causes brassy blonde hair?

Brassiness is usually the result of environmental factors like sun exposure, chlorine, hard water and heat styling. Natural blondes may also experience brassiness due to porous hair that absorbs minerals and pollutants more easily.

How does purple shampoo work?

Yep, this neutralising, godsend product is an absolute must for blondes as it easily washes out those brassy hues and tones them down with a cooler shade that keeps your ‘do in check.

Long-time blondes probably already know about the magical toning properties of purple shampoo (which you may have also heard referred to as silver shampoo). But in case you're a new blonde or just a bit sceptical about dolloping a brightly coloured substance on your bleach blonde hair, here are our answers to the main questions you might be having about using a purple shampoo.

Does purple shampoo actually work?

We will leave Google image results to answer this one for you (search ‘purple shampoo before and after’), but to summarise, yes it does. Since violet and yellow are on opposite sides of the colour wheel (think back to your primary school art class), purple shampoo tones the unwanted yellow tones back to a lovely blonde.

Will purple shampoo turn my hair lilac?

In short, no. What it will do is neutralise the obviously yellow, brassy tones when used correctly (once to twice a week). If you start to use the purple shampoo in place of your regular one every wash, then you may start to see hair becoming a little more of grey and/or lilac as the colour pigments build up.

Does purple shampoo work on natural blonde hair?

Yes! Natural blondes can also develop yellow or dull tones from external stressors. Purple shampoo brightens and cools natural blonde hair, making it a great maintenance product even without colouring.

What’s the difference between purple shampoo and silver shampoo?

There’s little difference—both contain violet pigments designed to tone blonde, grey, or silver hair. “Silver shampoo” is often marketed toward grey or white hair, but the formulas and results are typically the same. Both shampoos set out to do the same thing and are essentially the same product. ‘Silver’ shampoos will still contain a purple shampoo liquid, but they’re just titled differently because, well, marketing.

What’s the best purple shampoo for blonde hair?

We’re glad you asked! Here is our penultimate guide to the top purple shampoos for blonde hair of 2025 that will transform your locks from a two to a 10:

Olaplex No.4p Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

£20.85 £31.46 (34% off)

It's no surprise that this purple shampoo version of Olaplex's legendary No 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo is at the top of our list. It works hard to banish brassy tones while also repairing damaged bonds in your hair, which is exactly what any peroxide-lover needs.

Toning strength: High
Best for: Damaged, bleached or platinum hair
Key ingredients: Violet pigments, Olaplex Bond Building Complex
Free from: Sulphates, parabens, phthalates
Why we love it: Repairs + tones in one step

Give Me Blonde Shot Blonde Enhancing Toning Purple Shampoo

£6.99 £10.00 (31% off)

This budget-friendly purple shampoo packs a brightening punch. Give Me's Blonde Shot helps neutralise brassiness while adding a shot of vibrancy to dull or yellowing blonde hair. The formula is enriched with violet pigments that cancel out unwanted warm tones, leaving hair cooler, cleaner, and visibly more radiant.

It's suitable for natural, bleached or highlighted blonde hair, and works especially well as a quick weekly toner for those maintaining ash or platinum hues.

Toning strength: Medium
Best for: Highlighted, bleached, or naturally blonde hair
Key ingredients: Violet pigments, gentle cleansers
Free from: Parabens, animal testing (cruelty-free)
Why we love it: Affordable and effective for weekly tone-ups

Fudge Professional Clean Blonde Shampoo

£11.05 £15.00 (27% off)

Loved for its ability to return brassy blondes back to a more natural-looking, brighter shade, this shampoo lathers up to cleanse, balance and hydrate your tresses. It cleverly forms a barrier that protects your skin against both UV and environmental damage for the healthy, shiny locks that you’ve been lusting after.

Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo Lightened, Cool Blonde Or Grey Hair

£64.00 £105.00 (40% off)

Reigniting your colour, this powerful formula kicks yellow hues to the curb whilst deeply cleansing the hair for purified results. Hyaluronic acid and edelweiss flower is used to restore that all-important moisture, making it an all-rounder shampoo for your blonde hair.

Toning strength: Medium-High
Best for: Lightened, cool blondes or grey hair
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, edelweiss flower extract
Free from: Silicones, sulfates (light)
Why we love it: Perfect for weekly tone maintenance

Moroccanoil Blonde Shampoo & Conditioner Duo

£58.80 £99.75 (42% off)

Another hair-repairing option is this Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo from Moroccanoil, a sulphate-free deep violet formula that also works on slightly more orange-y tones.

Toning strength: Moderate
Best for: Dry, frizzy, or overprocessed blonde hair
Key ingredients: Argan oil, violet pigments, quinoa protein
Free from: Sulfates, phosphates, parabens
Why we love it: Tones + deeply nourishes

L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Chroma Creme Purple Shampoo - Blondes To Platinum Blondes

£18.50 £20.65 (11% off)

Ideal for grey, highlighted and bleached blonde hair, this intelligent shampoo uses gentle violet hues to rid the likes of yellow tones, leaving you with brilliantly bright, blonde hair.

Better still, it contains fig and orchid to condition the hair and help to protect against breakage!

Toning strength: High
Best for: High-lift or platinum blondes
Key ingredients: Violet pigments, amino acids
Free from: Silicones
Why we love it: Salon-grade formula with long-lasting results

Schwarzkopf Professional Bond Repair Purple Neutralising Shampoo

£15.30

Jam-packed with botanicals, this blonde-enhancing shampoo removes yellow tones for an ice-queen finish. Combining blueberries, purple sweet potatoes and purple carrots, the shampoo lathers up to even out discolouration whilst keeping hair nourished.

Toning strength: Medium-High
Best for: Fragile, chemically processed hair
Key ingredients: Integrated Bonding Technology, purple pigments
Free from: Sulfates, silicones
Why we love it: Strengthens and tones at the same time

CHI Ionic Colour Illuminate Shampoo Platinum Blonde Purple Shampoo

£20.50

This dual-purpose shampoo deposits colour while gently cleansing. Ideal for platinum and icy blonde tones, it keeps your colour fresh between salon visits.

Toning strength: Medium
Best for: Platinum blondes and light silver tones
Key ingredients: Silk proteins, violet pigments
Free from: Sulfates, gluten
Why we love it: Acts like a colour top-up

L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Silver Shampoo

£13.14 £25.00 (48% off)

Get super icy hair with the gentle silver pigments in this nourishing shampoo. It'll protect your bleached strands and give them shine, which you'll definitely want if you've been doing loads of bleaching.

Toning strength: High
Best for: Grey, silver or white hair
Key ingredients: Violet pigments, magnesium
Free from: Silicones
Why we love it: Affordable classic for icy tones

While you're feeling inspired, why not check out Brown to Blonde Balayage Looks to make the most of your freshly toned blonde 'do! Hair bleach got your tresses stressing? We also have some tips for that, too - head to our Ultimate Repair Routine blog post- or check out our range of hair SPF.

Written by Ellie Child

With five years’ experience under her belt, Ellie has worked alongside a range of highly regarded makeup artists, giving her a real insight into what consumers should be spending their money on.