Amika Bust Your Brass Line Review
If you're looking for a purple hair care routine to keep blonde, highlighted, silver, or gray hair looking cool and bright, the Amika Bust Your Brass collection is one of the most popular options. This mid-priced line includes a purple shampoo, purple conditioner, and toning hair mask, each designed to neutralize brassiness while helping keep color-treated hair healthy in the long run via bond repair fortified formulas.
I've tested every product in the collection on my fine, highlighted hair to see how they perform not only individually, but also together. While all three products are designed to reduce yellow and orange tones, they each serve a different purpose, and perform very differently. I’m extremely picky when it comes to purple-toning products because so many are either too strong, leading to breakage and dry hair, or they don’t effectively tone your hair.
Long story short, I want a toning product that actually works, is worth the price, is easy to use, and fits seamlessly with the rest of my haircare routine. As such, I definitely play favorites and out of these three products, there is one clear winner. Still, I know that every hair type is different, so I share pros, cons, and before and after results for each product to help you decide which is best for you.
Breaking down exactly how the Bust Your Brass products compare and which is worth buying, I also link my in-depth reviews of each individual product, plus side-by-side comparison posts for those who are deciding between two products.
amika bust your brass line review (shampoo, conditioner and mask)
The Bust Your Brass collection is Amika's purple toning line for blonde, silver, gray, and highlighted hair. Each product contains violet pigments (both blue and purple pigments) that help neutralize unwanted yellow and warm tones.
What sets Bust Your Brass apart from other toning products is that all three products also contain Amika’s bond-fortifying technology (aka bond repair). This targets and strengthens hair bonds from the inside out that are most prone to breakage, working to strengthen your hair over time. This is especially important for blondes and highlighted hair, as bleach weakens hair over time. The bond repair strengthens hair, reducing breakage and split ends in the long-term, thus allowing you to stay blonde long-term with less damage.
amika bust your brass shampoo review
The Bust Your Brass Shampoo is the strongest toning product in the entire Bust Your Brass collection. It lathers well and makes your hair feel clean, dramatically reduces brassiness, yet doesn’t leave your hair dry or brittle.
amika bust your brass shampoo before and after
best for:
Blonde highlights
Platinum blonde
Silver or grey hair
Brassy hair
Pros
Tones hair very well yet doesn’t leave hair feeling stripped or dry
Lathers well
Cancels out yellow and orange brassy tones
Good for maintaining salon color
Cons
Can be slightly drying if used too often
May be too strong for every wash; you’ll want to use a hydrating shampoo as well
I’m typically a bigger fan of toning conditioners than shampoos, but I was pleasantly surprised by the Bust Your Brass shampoo. For more information, read my complete Bust Your Brass Shampoo Review.
amika bust your brass conditioner review
The Bust Your Brass Conditioner is formulated to maintain your blonde between washes while adding lightweight moisture. It contains less pigment than the shampoo, making it ideal for maintenance, rather than major color correction.
amika bust your brass conditioner before and after
best for:
Fine hair
Extending toning benefits between purple shampoo washes
Pros
Provides lightweight hydration
Doesn’t stain hair or hands; harder to “over-tone”
Helps maintain cool tones
Cons
Won't remove heavy brassiness on its own
The bond repair ingredients were too heavy for my fine hair and made it harder to manage
Very thick; hard to squeeze out of the bottle
Overall, I wouldn’t say that the Bust Your Brass Conditioner is bad; it just has more of a learning curve than I expected, especially since toning conditioner is typically an easy product to use. View my complete Bust Your Brass Conditioner Review for tips for using it plus what to know before buying.
amika bust your brass toning and strength repair mask review
The Bust Your Brass Mask combines purple pigments with a rich conditioning treatment. The mask tones your hair really well, while also providing bond repair and nourishment via shea and mango butters. I will say that the hydration aspect wasn’t super noticeable on my hair; if anything, my hair was shinier rather than softer.
amika bust your brass toning and strength repair mask before and after
best for:
Bleached hair
Dry or damaged hair
Weekly treatments
Pros
Tones hair really well
Helps strengthen damaged hair
Adds shine
Great for highlighted hair
Cons
Doesn’t provide a ton of hydration like typical hair masks do
For more tips and tricks, plus how to use the mask to get the most out of it, check out my complete Bust Your Brass Mask Review.
which bust your brass product is right for you?
choose the shampoo if...
Your hair gets brassy quickly.
You want the strongest toning product.
You want to tone hair without having to leave the product in for a few minutes.
You need a purple shampoo.
choose the conditioner if...
Your blonde already looks good, and just needs a quick touch-up.
You also want bond repair that doesn’t accidentally warm hair.
You have medium to thick hair.
choose the mask if...
Your hair is dry or damaged.
You bleach or highlight regularly.
You want a toning product you can leave on for up to 5 minutes.
You want both toning, shine, bond repair, and mild hydration.
can you use all three together?
Theoretically, yes, because they're designed to complement one another rather than replace each other. That said, you do not need all three. Each product works well on its own; that’s one of the strengths of the Bust Your Brass line.
If you wanted to pair the products together, the only two products I’d stack would be Bust Your Brass Shampoo and the Bust Your Brass Toning and Strength Repair Mask. Even then, I don’t need that intense of a tone so I wouldn’t do it personally; it’s mostly for really cool-toned hair and platinum blondes.
I know some people combine the shampoo and conditioner, but using them together was a little too drying on my fine, damaged hair. In general, the conditioner was just not my favorite, so I reach for it the least. Still, every hair type is different and you absolutely can pair the shampoo and conditioner together; just make sure to use a leave-in conditioner afterwards.
As far as frequency goes, this depends person-to-person based on the porosity of your hair and desired tone. In general, stick to once a week, especially if you are stacking the products together. Using toning products too often (or leaving them in longer than directed) won’t make your hair brighter or lighter; it’ll make your color duller or leave a purple tint.
amika bust your brass shampoo and conditioner before and after
bust your brass shampoo vs conditioner vs mask comparisons
If you're trying to decide between two products, these guides go into much more detail and I share side-by-side photos of the results of each product.
frequently asked questions
is the amika bust your brass line worth it?
If you have blonde, highlighted, silver, or gray hair that develops brassiness, I think the line is worth checking out, as each product tones unwanted warmth very effectively while also providing bond repair to strengthen your hair over time. If I had to rank the product from best to worst, it would be: Bust Your Brass Shampoo, Mask, Conditioner.
which bust your brass product tones the most?
The shampoo provides the strongest toning because it contains the highest concentration of purple pigment and is designed to actively neutralize brassiness during cleansing.
do you need all three bust your brass products?
No. Most people only need one or two products at most. I think the Bust Your Brass Shampoo is the best product of the entire line.
can you use the bust your brass products every wash?
I don’t recommend it. See my individual product reviews for a detailed breakdown, but in general, stick to once a week and use the mask or conditioner (not both together). Those with platinum or naturally grey/ silver hair can up it to 2x a week.
is the bust your brass line good for fine hair?
Yes. I have fine, highlighted hair and found that the mask and shampoo didn't weigh my hair down. The bond repair proteins of the conditioner were a little too strong for my hair, but most people love it.
will the bust your brass line dry out hair?
Compared to the other purple hair products I’ve used, I found the Bust Your Brass collection to be effective yet gentle, but their secondary purpose is bond repair, not hydration. As such, if you want hydration plus toning, you won’t love the Bust Your Brass line. That said, if you have dry hair, you can still use the shampoo without problem; just follow-up with a hydrating conditioner.
can brunettes use bust your brass?
Brunettes with blonde highlights, balayage, or other lightened sections that become brassy can use Bust Your Brass. You won’t see results on naturally dark brown or black hair, even if it has a violet or blue tint to it.
which bust your brass product should i buy first?
If you're only buying one product, I recommend the shampoo. It provides the most noticeable toning, doesn’t make your hair frizzy or unmanageable, and can easily paired with other products in your routine. If your hair is already cool-toned but needs an extra boost, the mask may be a better fit depending on how dry your hair is.
