The Simple Secret for Getting Ash Blonde Hair
Calling all “blondes” that have the following problems with your hair…
If you’re hair looks yellow, brassy, unnatural, or just looks greasy all the time, I’m going to explain a product to you that will change your life—and your look.
The magical product: purple shampoo.
I discovered purple shampoo about two years ago. Ever since then, I have been using it at least 3 times a month. I’ve gone through more bottles than I can count—but for a good reason. But, before I get too ahead of myself, I want to break down what purple shampoo is, does, and why you should go buy it as soon as you’re done reading this post.
Purple Shampoo: What is it?
Purple shampoo is a shampoo that tones your hair. Toning is a fancy word for “neutralizing,” which we’ll get into in the next part. It is a shampoo that is actually purple/blue. For most purple/toning shampoos, you’ll shampoo your hair like normal, then shampoo it with the purple shampoo and let it sit in your hair from anywhere between one to four minutes—but it will differ from brand to brand. Always make sure you follow the directions when you’re using it. The directions for this type of shampoo are not optional. If you don’t follow the directions, one of two things will happen:
1. Your hair will look the exact same it did before you shampooed it.
2. You will end up with purple/blue/gray tinted hair.
The good thing is, purple shampoo isn’t permanent. If you accidently tone your hair too much with the shampoo and it comes out tinted blue/purple/gray, don’t freak out. It’ll fade quickly (mine usually fades within the next day or two). I’ve even accidently left the shampoo on my extensions for too long once, but after I washed them a second time with just regular shampoo and conditioner, they looked perfect.
Purple Shampoo: What does it do?
As I mentioned before, purple shampoo tones your hair—so it neutralizes it. The best way for me to explain neutralizing is by using a color wheel.
Okay, so you see all the colors in the wheel? Well hair chemistry is a bit like playing with colors. It usually works with opposites. So if your hair is looking too yellow for instance, go to the color that is opposite from it on the color wheel, which is purple/violet. The color wheel is a key for blondes that look brassy/yellow who want to achieve that more vanilla/platinum/ashy look.
The color wheel isn’t a concept that is abnormal to most people. For instance, if your hair has ever turned green from the chlorine in a pool, someone may have told you to wash your hair with ketchup. Why? Because the red neutralizes the green.
See? It all makes sense now.
Purple Shampoo: Why should I use it?
One of the most obvious signs of a “bottle blonde” is when the hair looks yellow. Yellow hair is not natural. Ash blonde hair is entirely way more natural than a yellow-based blonde. Yellow blonde is usually achieved by people who have previously had brown/black hair and then dyed it blonde. Since bleach can only cut through so much color, it tends to almost always look unnatural and/or red/orange/yellow. After multiple processes, the hair may look lighter, but unless you tone it, it will be very difficult to make it look natural.
I naturally have dark ash blonde hair. My hair would be platinum blonde in the summer because of the sun, and dark/muddy looking in the winter because there isn’t much sun. So I lightened my hair with highlights throughout my life. I’ve been in that yellow state a couple of times with my hair—usually from highlighting in the winter—so I know how difficult it can be to get it to a vanilla color.
Now, my hair is a very light ash blonde and actually surprises people when I tell them I’m not naturally as light blonde as I am now. One of the reasons I use purple shampoo is so I can keep it at the ashy/natural level that I like. In all honesty, I only have to use it maybe once a week. The shampoo also tends to make hair look freshly done. For example, the day after I use it, I always get asked if I have gotten my hair done. But I haven’t. The only thing I did was wash it with purple shampoo.
So basically, what I’m trying to say is: purple shampoo will tone your hair and make it look more natural.
Purple Shampoo: My recommendations
I’ve tried multiple brands of purple shampoo. If you’re new to using purple shampoo, I would recommend using Clairol Shimmer Lights (Blonde & Silver) Shampoo. I have both the shampoo and conditioner. If you’re brand new to it though, just buy the shampoo in order to prevent overusing it and tinting your hair. Start small—leave it on for a minute, then rinse; work your way up to leaving it on for longer. You’ll figure out what your desired time is to leave it on for after you’ve used it a few times. For instance, when I first started using it, I’d leave in on for no more than two minutes; now I know that I like it best when I leave it on for 3-3 ½ minutes.
Other great brands for purple shampoo are:
