If your blonde hair starts looking yellow, orange, or brassy between salon appointments, a good purple shampoo can make a huge difference. Looking to the color wheel, purple is the key toning shade that cancels out warm tones (orange and yellow), bringing your hair back to a neutral tone that looks fresh, balanced and healthy.

The challenge with purple shampoo, though, is finding one that works well but doesn’t work too well (AKA leaves your hair dull, dry, or tinted purple). I’ve tested tons of different purple shampoos over the years, but it took me a surprisingly long time to reach for Amika’s Bust Your Brass Shampoo. I’m a huge fan of the brand, but for some reason, the Bust Your Brass lineup wasn’t one of my first purchases, even though I love a good purple toning system.

That said, I finally purchased the Bust Your Brass Shampoo a few months ago (as well as the rest of the line) and have spent time testing everything out. Purple shampoo can give you immediate results, but it’s important that I see how the product performs in different environments (humid vs dry) and how it impacts my color and hair health over time.

Below, I share my before and after results, pros, cons, how well it works, if it dries out your hair, how it compares to other purple shampoos, and whether or not it’s worth the price.

I've tested Amika Bust Your Brass Shampoo on my own highlighted fine hair to see how well it neutralizes brassiness, how hydrating it is, and whether it's worth the price.

PS: if you’re interested in the rest of the product line-up be sure to check out my Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Conditioner Review, as well as my review of the Bust Your Brass Toning + Strength Repair Mask.

amika bust your brass cool blonde strength repair shampoo review

The Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Shampoo is a dual-action product. Yes, it tones, but it’s also designed to strengthen bonds, too. This is a stand-out, because many purple shampoos are drying; Bust Your Brass is specifically formulated to be the opposite.

As far as how well the shampoo works, the toning aspect is STRONG! It stained my hands for a second, but by the time I finished the rest of my shower, my hands (and light-painted nails) were back to normal. The shampoo is a rich violet color, which is great because the combination of purple and blue tones cancels out yellow and orange brassy tones.

The shampoo lathers well, and a little goes a long way. I did notice that my hair was soft and balanced after using just the shampoo. Typically my hair will feel dry and fragile after a purple shampoo; it seems like I cannot get conditioner into my hair fast enough! Bust Your Brass combines bond repair with toning, so you get the best of both worlds and can then add hydration with your conditioner.

The scent is Amika’s signature amber-vanilla; it’s warm but not too sweet or overpowering. I’m sensitive to fragrance but really do love it.

Overall, the Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Shampoo is excellent. Unless you have platinum or super cool-toned hair, you really only need the shampoo to neutralize brassiness, and can then use your normal conditioner, which makes it a more budget-friendly option. It adds nourishment and bond repair, which helps prevent breakage over time, and doesn’t make your hair dry.

If you use too much or let it sit on your hair, I could see it over-toning slightly to the point of a purple tint, but that would be temporary and can be corrected after a regular shampoo day (or two).

amika bust your brass cool blonde strength repair shampoo before and after

how to use amika bust your brass cool blonde strength repair shampoo

I love that you do not need to let the Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Shampoo sit to get the full toning effects; it’s perfect if you are in a rush or don’t have a ton of time to spend on color correction. Per the brand:

Lather through wet hair.
- Tip: Even if you are all-over platinum, I recommend focusing the shampoo from scalp to mid-lengths, then letting the suds rinse down the rise of your hair. The ends of your hair are fragile (especially if you are platinum), and while this is a strengthening shampoo, too, your ends don’t need as much shampoo as your scalp does.
Rinse.
Follow-up with a hydrating conditioner.

pros

Tones your hair and removes brassiness
Smells great; signature amber-vanilla Amika fragrance
Lathers well
A little goes a long way
Works effectively on its own; you don’t need to pair it with a toning conditioner
Also provides bond repair to strengthen hair
True violet shampoo with purple and blue tones to target orange and yellow brassiness
Will work especially well on cool blondes, platinum, and silver-toned hair

cons

Stains my hands temporarily (gone by the end of the shower)
Can overtone your hair if you let it sit before rinsing out or if you pair it with a toning conditioner/ mask
Does not add lots of hydration
May be too strong if you are a warmer or neutral blonde
Mid-range price ($29)

key ingredients

Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Shampoo not only tones, it also works to repair bonds and strengthen hair over time.

Amika’s Bond-Fortifying Technology - targets and strengthens hair bonds that are most prone to breakage.
Vegan Proteins - derived from quinoa; provide keratin-like benefits.
Ultra-Violet Pigments - counteract yellow and brassy tones.

Bust Your Brass is also vegan.

is amika bust your brass cool blonde strength repair shampoo worth it?

If you want a one-step toning product (versus shampoo/ conditioner combo), the Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Shampoo is worth it.

Based on my experience, it is best for cool blondes, platinum hair, and those with grey or silver hair - my mom has salt-and-pepper hair and this makes her hair pop beautifully.

If you have warm or neutral blonde hair (or highlights), you might prefer the effects of a different toning shampoo, like Olaplex.

What makes Bust Your Brass stand out from toning shampoos is that is also provides bond repair. This won’t replace your leave-in, but if you find toning shampoos to be too drying or harsh on your hair (especially if it is dry, brittle, or prone to breakage), then Bust Your Brass is absolutely worth it.

Factoring in price, $29 isn’t cheap for a shampoo, but you get a proper tone from just this shampoo (most won’t need to pair it with a toning conditioner), and a little goes a long way, so it’s a worthy investment.

who it’s best for

Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Shampoo is best for:

Cool blondes
Platinum hair
Silver or grey hair
Fine, medium, or thick hair
Brassy hair (yellow or orange undertones)
Those who want to tone their hair in one step (no toning conditioner needed)

who should skip it

You may want to avoid Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Shampoo if you:

Are a warm or warm-neutral blonde
Want a subtle tone

how often to use it

The frequency of this product really depends on your hair’s natural tone as well as how porous your hair is. Remember, purple shampoo won’t lighten your hair; it just affects tone. Using a purple shampoo more often won’t lighten your hair; you’ll just end up with a purple tint (not brighter strands).

Per the brand’s website, those with natural grey or silver hair can use Bust Your Brass every wash.

I recommend using a purple toning shampoo once a week (neutral blondes), every 10ish days (warmer blondes) or 1-2x a week (cool or platinum blondes). You can adjust this schedule based on how your hair responds to the shampoo, or pair it with a toning conditioner instead for stronger results.

My hair is pretty neutral-blonde and I use the shampoo every 10ish days. I’ve learned that my hair (and skin) look better when I lean warm rather than cool, so I try to not overdo it!

frequently asked questions

is amika bust your brass shampoo drying?

Not in my experience. I think it’s one of the lesser drying purple shampoos out there. That said, I still like to pair it with my hydrating conditioner or a mask (not purple conditioner) for hair that is toned but still hydrated.