In the photos above, my hair is photographed before using any toner (left), after using purple shampoo (middle), and after using blue shampoo (right).

blue vs purple shampoo for blonde hair

Toning your hair at home is one of the easiest ways to maintain your hair color and stretch the time between salon visits. Still, with so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to figure out exactly what will work best for your hair color. While purple toners and shampoos have been around for years, it’s only recently that I’ve started to see more blue toners available for purchase. In order to know how the colors blue and purple work to tone your hair, it’s best to refer to the color wheel.

Purple is opposite of yellow, which means that purple shampoo works to cancel out the yellow (and light orange) brassiness found in highlighted, blonde, and platinum hair.
On the other hand, blue is the complementary color to orange, so using a blue shampoo will cancel out orange (or even red) brassiness, typically found in darker hair colors that pull warm, like dark brown.

My hair is naturally dark brown, but I have bright blonde highlights applied throughout, so I decided to use both purple and blue toners and compare the results side by side to see which works better.

blue vs purple shampoo before and after

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Above, you can see my hair after using purple shampoo (left) and blue shampoo (right).

The purple shampoo canceled out the yellow and orange tones, whereas the blue shampoo canceled out the deeper orange and red tones.
The purple shampoo result looks lighter because it toned my highlights. The blue shampoo toned the base of my hair, which is naturally dark brown.

Both purple (left photo) and blue shampoo (right photo) products toned my hair and really lifted the brassiness, but there’s definitely a clear winner on which toner is better.

which is better for blonde or color-treated hair - purple or blue shampoo?

Overall, I recommend using purple shampoo unless you have very dark hair with subtle highlights. All color-treated hair is more prone to breakage and split ends by default, since bleach is damaging. Purple shampoos are more likely to be hydrating and gentler, in my experience. I do think that blue shampoos are a relatively new product, and hope that there will be more options available within the next few years. Below, you can see how purple shampoo (left) and blue shampoo (right) affected my hair; the blue toner left my hair noticeably drier.

which is better for grey hair - purple or blue shampoo?

Grey hair is more wiry in nature, so I still recommend purple shampoo over blue shampoo if you have grey hair - the reason for this is that blue shampoo tends to have more drying formulas than purple toners, so regardless if you use shampoo, conditioner, or mask, they will make grey hair more prone to frizz.

the best purple and blue shampoos for toning blonde hair

While I recommend purple toners over blue toners, there are still great products for both. If you’re worried about damaging or potentially overtoning, I always suggest using a conditioner instead of a shampoo. Here are the top products that I’ve tried, loved, and repurchased over time:

the best purple toners for blonde hair

UNITE Hair BLONDA Purple Shampoo - I personally prefer toning conditioners because they’re more hydrating, but if you want a shampoo, this is your best bet. It completely cancels out all yellow and brassy tones, suds well, yet doesn’t dry out your hair (or stain your shower). It’s color safe, sulfate and paraben free, and doesn’t leave any residue. I like to pair this with their 7SECONDS Detangler Leave-in Conditioner for added shine, protection, and to bring hydration back to my hair; it also doubles as a heat protectant, too.

Davines Alchemic Conditioner - If you want an icy, bright blonde, this conditioner will be your new go-to. It’s intense and very bright purple in the jar; a little goes a long way so it’ll last a long time (I’ve had my latest jar for over a year now). It isn’t as hydrating as some of the other toners I’ve mentioned, but if your hair leans really warm, this will cancel all of that out after one use. Make sure your hair is detangled prior to using, even though it’s a conditioner, because it’s not super creamy. For extra shine and a little more nourishment, I like to use my regular conditioner as a detangler to comb out tangles prior to using this toning conditioner.

Kristin Ess One Purple Conditioner - The best budget-friendly toning product on the market. This is gentle yet effective and works on all hair types. I recommend toning conditioner over shampoo because it’s more gentle and less drying, but this brand also sells a purple toning shampoo, if you prefer it.

the best blue toners for highlighted hair

Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo - Aveda isn’t my go-to hair brand, but it’s been around for a long time and they’re known for high-quality products. This was more expensive than I would typically spend on a shampoo, but the bulk size lasts long time, especially since a little goes a long way. The results make the price worth it; this shampoo suds well without drying your hair, adds shine, and is gentle enough that it won’t tangle wiry hair. If you want your highlights to pop, I highly recommend it.

Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Tone Hair Gloss - Technically a treatment instead of a shampoo, this is my #1 recommendation if you have really dark brown or black hair (around a level 1-2). This gloss is going to gently cancel out all brassiness without adding a blue tint. It also makes your hair noticeably shinier because it’s a gloss, so you’re going to have a really bright, glass-like shine. Most importantly, it’s hydrating and nourishing, so your hair will be extra soft and frizz-free.