Purple shampoo is a must-have for those with blonde, highlighted, gray, or lightened brunette hair. Meant to remove unwanted yellow and orange tones that make your hair look brassy, purple shampoos brighten and add shine, refreshing your color and helping to extend the time between salon visits.

Unfortunately, not all purple shampoos are created equally. Many can be drying and staining; others don’t tone your hair evenly or make your color look dull, not bright.

I’ve tried tons of purple shampoos over the years and am very picky about what I find to be worth it. My fine, straight hair is prone to breakage and tangles, so I am extra-sensitive to the formulas that are drying and stripping.

When I saw that Dae was releasing their own purple shampoo, Violet Hour, I was nervous. Their signature shampoo (and conditioner) just didn’t work for my hair, and I was worried that their toning shampoo would be too drying. But when I saw everyone raving about it, I knew I had to try it for myself.

Below, I share before and after results of the Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo, tips on how to use it effectively, if it’s worth it, and how it compares to other purple shampoos.

dae violet hour purple shampoo review

Honestly, I was so surprised by the Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo. Their signature shampoo is too drying for my hair, and I worried that their purple toning formula would be even worse, but it performed well.

I will say that my hair definitely craved a hydrating conditioner after using the shampoo, but that’s par for the course with all purple shampoos. If you disliked the Dae signature shampoo (or conditioner), you should still give the Violet Hour Purple Shampoo if you deal with brassiness because it works much better and gave me great results.

The Violet Hour Purple Shampoo lathers well, and tones your hair effectively without having to follow-up with a purple conditioner. I like that, because it’s more cost-effective than having to buy two toning products - having blonde hair costs enough as it is!

The Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo made my hair softer and shinier, and has their signature citrus scent that smells so good.

Where I don’t love the Violet Hour Purple Shampoo is that they recommend letting it sit on your hair for 2-4 minutes. That’s too long in my opinion; the longer it sits, the drier your hair will feel. Please do a patch test if you plan to let the shampoo sit on your hair, or you risk breakage and split ends.

That said, I think it’s really smart that Dae’s toning shampoo isn’t just violet in name - with a good mix of purple and blue tones, this will color-correct the yellow and orange tones in your hair, so it really does combat brassiness on all levels.

how to use dae violet hour purple shampoo

What makes the Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo unique is that you can let it sit for a few minutes in order to maximize its results. To use:

Thoroughly wet your hair and scalp.
Massage the shampoo, adding more water as needed to lather.
Leavei n for two to four minutes.
Rinse well.
Follow-up with a hydrating conditioner.

To ensure you don’t overtone your hair, you may want to do a patch test on a small piece of hair to see how long it needs to sit. For reference, when I have pretty neutral hair, I can leave it in for just a minute and still get results. I never leave it in for more than two minutes because my hair is prone to breakage.

pros

Tones your hair and removes brassiness
Smells great; signature fruity Dae 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
Adds shine and softness

cons

Can be drying if you don’t follow it up with a hydrating conditioner (but not more drying than other toning shampoos I’ve used)
Can cause tangles
Will overtone your hair if you let it sit too long; the brand says up to 4 minutes but I think that’s way too long, even if you have platinum hair
Mid-range price ($28)

key ingredients

THe Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo works to tone, but also relies on Dae’s signature desert-derived ingredients to protect hair:

Cactus Flower Extract - helps prevent breakage, strengthen hair, and promote healthy hair and scalp.
Quinoa Protein - retains moisture and color while sealing the cuticle and aiding in hair growth.
Moringa Leaf Extract - penetrates hair shaft to repair and restore moisture to dry strands.

Worth noting, Dae’s toning shampoo is formulated without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and mineral oils.

is dae violet hour purple shampoo worth it?

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo and I think it’s worth it if you want a stronger toning shampoo or can only afford one toning product in your routine. What makes Dae’s Violet Hour unique is that it’s a standalone product; you do not need to pair it with a toning conditioner to get noticeable results. As such, I do think it’s a budget-friendly toning shampoo and worth it if you only have $30 to spend on keeping your hair color fresh and bright.

Getting deeper into the cost, the Violet Hour Purple Shampoo is priced fairly at $28 for a 10oz bottle. I have long hair and use a full pump, but only tone my hair every other week so one bottle will last a long time. It’s one of the most cost-effective toning products I’ve used, especially since I can pair it with my favorite every-day conditioner; I don’t have to buy a coordinating conditioner to see results.

who it’s best for

The Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo is best for:

Highlighted or bleached 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 Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo if you:

Have fragile hair prone to breakage
Have hair that is prone to tangles
Want a subtle tone or tend to overtone your hair

how often to use it

You can use toning shampoo once a week or every 4-5 washes. It truly depends on how often you style your hair with products (they can cause brassiness) and how brightened your hair is (ex: going from black to platinum needs to be toned more often than subtle bronde highlights).

I personally use it every other week; it’s better to tone slightly less often than too often. Not only do you risk your hair having a purple tint, but it can dull your hair and dry out your hair.

With the Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo, it’s a one-step toning product so it’s stronger than other purple shampoo formulas I’ve tried, so I recommend using it once a week at most. Keep in mind you can let it sit in your hair for up to 4 minutes, so that will amplify your results in a safer way than using it 3x a week.

dae violet hour purple shampoo vs other purple shampoos

I’ve tried tons of purple shampoos over the years and they’re really hit or miss for me. Some tone your hair perfectly; others stain your hands and the shower while leaving your hair dry and prone to breakage. The Dae Violet Hour Shampoo truly is the best mid-range purple shampoo. You get effective results without your hair feeling too dry. It lathers well, yet doesn’t strip your hair or dull your color. If you want something more gentle, I’d recommend:

Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo with Argan Oil - Pricier, but this is also a more hydrating formula. You may need to pair it with a toning conditioner if you have extreme brassiness, but for a gentle yet effective option, this is great.

Kristin Ess Hair The One Purple Shampoo - Probably the only drugstore toning shampoo that works without frying your hair. You can’t beat the price (under $15), and it tones effectively without stripping your hair. It is a little drying, though, so you have to follow-up with a hydrating conditioner (not toning) or mask to prevent breakage.

When it comes to toning, I also tend to recommend toning conditioners or masks instead of shampoos. They’re naturally more hydrating yet still effective. Some of my favorites:

amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Conditioner - Smells great, works well, and tones your hair while leaving it noticeably softer and shinier. This feels and works just like your favorite hydrating conditioner, but has the added benefit of toning unwanted yellow/ orange tones.

Unite Hair BLONDA Fix - The best toning hair mask, this makes your color so bright and refreshed while also working to repair damage, breakage, and split ends. A little goes a long way, and your hair is stronger yet softer after using it. The smell is a little chemical-y and not my favorite, but worth it for the results you get.