“I’m blonde and bad.: ~ Ivana Milicevic
Two of my best friends love purple. It feels like it is all around me. I admit I don’t hate it, but give me blue or green any day. I admit when my hair dresser told me to use purple shampoo in between colors, I might have inwardly freaked. And I trust her! She has been doing my hair since I was in diapers. She has NEVER EVER steered me wrong….BUT PURPLE SHAMPOO?
What the Eff am I doing to my hair?
She gave me the Milkshake silver and purple shampoo, I gingerly took it, and then proceeded to glare at it as it sat on my shelf. Beckoning for me to use it, but scared I was going to turn into Kelly Osbourne….I am already pushing thirty, I do NOT need to look the part!
In theory I understood what the purple shampoo does. It mutes the brassiness in blonde and grey hair keeping its cooler color as fellas letting you go longer between color treatments (unless you are like I am and abhor roots!) As with most hair color it is all chemistry.
In recent years the purple shampoo has been having its heyday from the aforementioned Milkshake to even Lush jumping on the purple bandwagon.
As I stood in my shower, I decided to try it. I poured it into my and the thick very definitely purple consistency reminded me of something out of an alien movie.
Yet I lathered it into my hair and very quickly rinsed it. My hair dresser had told me I could leave it on for a few minutes but I was to scared too.
In fact after I conditioned my hair and got out of the shower, I threw my hair into a towel petrified to actually look at it for sure I now resembled the purple minion.
Converted!
When I finally gathered courage to look I was shocked that my hair was not purple. If anything it really did look like I had just gotten it done. Not only was a crisis averted, I was officially sold on the purple shampoo.
The brands
I have tried numerous ones since, even using purple conditioners. Some like Dry Bar are absolutely amazing. I would literally sell my soul for them. Other’s like the Aveda line are just uhhh.
Milkshake
“My Milkshake brings all the boys to the floor…”
Sorry could not resist. EVERY TIME I use a Milkshake product it reminds me of that song. Milkshake was the first one I tried and the one that most hair dressers seem to love. And I do love it. While it doesn’t lather very well and reminds me a bit of alien blood, the deep purple does a great job of not just cleansing hair but removing the brassiness.
Aveda
I have not used the shampoo, but I have tried the conditioner and it was just Uhhh. Not sure if it is because it is a conditioner, but the color is much more muted, more of a purple grey, then a true purple vibrancy of Milkshake’s. The smell, while true to Aveda is very earthy and hard to handle at times. It really did not do anything for my blonde tresses, not in regards to color nor in regards to conditioning.
Dry Bar
Yes I have a love affair with Dry Bar. It is true. But I was hesitant about their purple shampoo. While they had used it on me when I got blowouts, the truth is even if I use the same exact products the salon uses, my hair and texture never EVER turn out like it does if they do it…Until now.
I actually used this right before a photo shoot and oh. My. Lanta! Once again they have created a winning product. I used both the shampoo and conditioner, and my hair was so soft, manageable, and frizz free.
Not to mention the smell!
Not only does it lather very well, which surprised me, the texture while similar to Milkshakes, I felt cleaned my hair much better and after using the conditioner I didn’t feel like I had to use my moroccan oil. Sold!
Some Tricks
Now blue shampoo can be messy, and it does stain. So make sure you wash your hands and the shower stall really well or someone might think you had an alien massacre.
You can leave it on for five minutes, which I have started doing, and my hair has come out perfect every time.
Some times it will leave a blue tint in your hair but I find if I use a conditioner afterwards, it instantly goes away.
Have you used purple shampoo? What do you think of it?
I just recently discovered purple shampoo and I love how it keeps my hair nice and blonde! For years I let it turn brassy and golden and I wish I had known about this sooner.
I was the same way! Even when I was first given it I was skeptical but I am a purple shampoo believer now! Lol what one do you use?
Wow that’s crazy how fast it works! I’m glad it worked out. Although looking like a purple minion would make for an interesting blog post haha xx.
Haha it would! A purple minion whose shower is covered in purple alien blood🤣🙈 it really is amazing though! I am sold!
I was kinda devastated when Nexxus discontinued the one I’d been using for years … but I’m thinking I’ll give the Dry Bar a spin. Thank you for risking minionitis and reviewing so many purple shampoos! 🙂
Lmao this comment just made my day! It was a very real fear but thankfully I did not turn into a minion or succumb to alien blood whilst trying these shampoos! 😝
I definitely recommend Drybar or Milkshake. I have heard Lush is really good too, but decided I was risking minionitis if I tried that so I will save it for another day😝💗
Oh YESSS I am an avid purple shampoo user but I’m ALWAYS on the prowl looking for stronger ones because my wannabe blonde hair struggles to keep that nice cool sandy blonde tone. *dark you dark hair and roots!* Currently I use the bed head purple shampoo and although it’s the best one I’ve used so far it for sure helps (I’ve tried joico and john frieda in the past and those haven’t worked) I’m still trying to find something a tad stronger. Reviews have me pointed towards Lush’s, which I’m eager to try. But what is this milkshake one!! I’m liking the sounds of that!!! I’ve been curious about blue shampoo too but even if I did want to try it, I haven’t actually ever seen it in stores.
xo, JJ
***darn you dark hair
Oh my gosh when I got my hair done this past weekend they used bedhead products and it threw me down memory lane. I haven’t used Bedhead in years, but lord does it smell good! I didn’t know they made a purple shampoo!
I really want to try lush. Right now my favorite is DryBar.
Milkshake is amazing also! Actually my friend (the one who travelled with me to Cali) uses it and her hair is originally black and it works really well on her!
I wonder if online if you could find it? 💗
I’m for sure going to have to check for Mikshake, I’m sold after knowing her hair was black! Curse natural dark hair when you want to have blonde lol If you try the lush one let me know! Im dying to but all the reviews are like “Super strong, be careful” So I’m like eek am I going to literally have purple hair (probably not) but still, I need a valid opinion beforehand 🙂
Haha I totally understand! Darn hair Gods. Shouldn’t they know we were suppose to be blondes? ;p
I was actually going to say if you are having a hard time with brassiness leave the purple shampoo on for a few minutes (like five or even ten) it will act like toner. I did that when I went into a chlorinated pool and my hair got super brassy.
Haha, I totally understand the fear about purple hair! If I try it I will definitely let you know! <3
I’ve tried purple shampoo and conditioner before- it was a cheap and cheerful product (not that I can remember the name) that did the job and suited me well. After reading your post, I may treat myself to one of those products you have suggested. Truth is, I’m loving on a bit of a budget at the moment and have made some cut backs in my beauty regime; haven’t had my hair done since early Feb, nails have been shellac free since March …and don’t even get me started on skin products.
Anyway, hopefully I will soon be back on track and I’ll have a go with some purple stuff again! 😊
Girl I totally understand that! Beauty is sooo expensive! It is why I love the purple shampoo because it lets me go longer between colors. I am not super OCD about my nails unless, it is for a special occasion, or I go home and see my madre and she will always treat me 🙂
My hair and my skincare I definitely splurge a bit, because I went down the cheaper root(bwaha pun not intended but it works!) and I ended up doing some damage that took forever to fix! (my hair is still growing out 🙁 ) It is definitely a struggle between wanting to look good, but also not breaking the bank! <3
Tell me about it. I’m all for saving but at the same time, feel the need for these beauty regimes and perks to cheer me up haha. I am rather impressed with myself and how long I’ve gone though… the tax man owes me a rebate though so maybe I can use just a little bit of that for a nail or hair treat!