How Long Should You Leave Purple Shampoo In?
Purple shampoo is one of the easiest ways to keep blonde hair looking less yellow and brassy between salon appointments, but figuring out how long to leave it on can be surprisingly confusing.
Some purple shampoos are designed to be rinsed out almost immediately, whereas others are meant to sit on the hair for one or two minutes. It’s not uncommon to even see some shampoo directions recommend leaving the formula on for up to five minutes, but you also don’t want to dry out your hair (or stain it purple), so it can be confusing.
The most important thing to know is that leaving purple shampoo on longer doesn't necessarily make your hair brighter. Leaving a highly pigmented formula on for too long can actually make blonde hair look dull, gray, overly cool, or even temporarily purple.
Below, I explain how long to leave purple shampoo in your hair, why the directions vary between products, and how to get the best results without overdoing it.
how long should you leave purple shampoo in?
The short, somewhat annoying answer is to follow the directions on your specific purple shampoo, because the time varies widely. There is no universal amount of time that works for every formula.
Depending on the product, you may be instructed to:
Apply and rinse it out immediately
Leave it on for about 1 minute
Leave it on for 2–3 minutes
Leave it on for up to 5 minutes for stronger toning
Some formulas are much more pigmented than others, which means a shampoo that needs five minutes to create noticeable results may give you different results from one that starts depositing pigment almost immediately.
my recommendation
If you're trying a purple shampoo for the first time, start with the shortest recommended processing time.
You can always use it again or leave it on slightly longer the next time if you want more toning. It's much easier to gradually increase the results than to deal with hair that suddenly looks gray, dull, or purple. Another common complaint with purple shampoo is that it dries out your hair; leaving it on for less time mitigates that risk. And in my experience, if the shorter time doesn’t give me good enough results, I can go back the next shampoo (or the next day, if I’m impatient) and apply it for longer with out drying out my hair.
Every purple shampoo is different, but I’ve tried a few and here’s what I’ve learned works best for my highlighted blonde hair:
Amika Bust Your Brass Shampoo - wash out immediately
K18 TripleBright Purple Shampoo Foam - leave on for 3 minutes
Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo - leave on for 5 minutes if using it alone, 3 minutes if pairing it with a toning conditioner
why do purple shampoo directions vary?
Not all purple shampoos are created equal. The biggest difference is usually how much pigment the formula contains, although the overall formula and how the product is designed to deposit color can also affect the recommended processing time.
It seems counterintuitive, but in general:
A lightly pigmented shampoo may be designed for more frequent use and require little to no processing time.
A moderately pigmented shampoo may need one to three minutes.
A highly pigmented shampoo may allow you to leave it on for several minutes for a stronger toning effect.
That's why I don’t recommend following a generic rule like "always leave purple shampoo on for five minutes." The same amount of time can produce completely different results depending on the product.
can you leave purple shampoo in too long?
Yes. Leaving purple shampoo on too long can cause your hair to absorb more violet pigment than you intended. Instead of looking brighter, your hair may start to look grey, silver, dull, overly cool, purple, or unevenly toned.
Very light, bleached, damaged, or porous hair can be especially prone to grabbing onto pigment.
That said, leaving it in for too long doesn't necessarily mean you've permanently ruined your hair. The pigment in purple shampoo is usually temporary and will fade with your normal shampoos. Still, it can be frustrating to end up with a color you didn't want, especially if your goal was simply to make your blonde look a little less yellow.
does leaving purple shampoo in longer make hair brighter?
No, and this is probably the biggest misconception about purple shampoo.
Purple shampoo helps change the appearance of the tone by depositing violet pigment that neutralizes unwanted yellow tones. It cannot lighten your hair.
If your hair looks yellow or brassy, purple shampoo can make it appear cooler, brighter, or more balanced. But too much purple pigment can have the opposite effect and make your blonde look darker, duller, or grayer.
If you want your hair to become genuinely lighter or brighter because the actual color of your hair is too dark, purple shampoo isn't the solution.
Making hair physically lighter generally requires chemical lightening, such as bleach or another professional lightening process. Purple shampoo can help maintain or adjust the tone of already-lightened hair, but it cannot lift your natural or previously colored hair to a lighter level.
Remember: purple shampoo can make blonde hair look brighter by reducing unwanted yellow tones; bleach or another chemical lightening process is what actually makes the hair lighter.
what happens if you leave purple shampoo in for 5 minutes?
It depends on which purple shampoo you have. For some purple shampoos, five minutes is within the recommended processing time and may create stronger toning results. For other formulas, five minutes may be far too long.
If your shampoo says to rinse immediately or leave it on for one minute, leaving it on for five minutes isn't necessarily going to give you better results.
how long should you leave purple shampoo in for the first time?
For your first use, I recommend starting with the minimum amount of time listed in the directions.
For example:
If the product says 1–3 minutes, start with 1 minute.
If it says 3–5 minutes, start with 3 minutes.
If it says to rinse immediately, don't assume leaving it on longer will improve the results.
Then, take a few minutes to see how your hair looks after it's completely dry. If you are happy with the tone, awesome. If want more toning, you can gradually increase the processing time during your next wash.
This approach is especially helpful if you have very light blonde, bleached, damaged, grey, or white hair. Remember that bleach (even just a little) damages hair and makes it more prone to product absorption, so you run the risk of over-toning your hair if you leave the shampoo on for too long.
how long should you leave purple shampoo in for blonde hair?
Again, the answer depends on the product, but most blonde hair will get the best results by starting conservatively.
If your blonde is only slightly yellow, you may not need much processing time at all. If your hair is noticeably brassy, you might need a more pigmented formula or a product that is specifically designed for a longer processing time.
However, if your hair remains significantly warm after repeatedly using purple shampoo as directed, leaving it on longer and longer isn't necessarily the answer.
You may need a blue-based shampoo for orange tones, additional lightening at the salon, or a professional gloss/ tone to give your hair a more permanent/ stronger refresh.
I’ve previously shared a post on Best Purple Shampoo for Blonde Hair that shares some of my favorite products that properly tone blonde hair without overdoing it.
how long should you leave purple shampoo in for brassy hair?
If your hair is brassy, start by pinpointing what kind of warmth you're seeing. Purple shampoo is formulated to neutralize yellow tones, whereas blue shampoo is best for combating orange tones.
If your hair is:
Within the range of pale yellow, yellow, or yellow-gold - purple shampoo will likely help
Orange - you may need a blue shampoo or professional toning
Dark orange or copper - check in with your stylist, as you may need a stronger toning treatment done in-salon.
If purple shampoo isn't giving you the results you want, you may actually need a blue shampoo or salon visit (not to leave it on longer). Check out Best Blue Shampoos for Brassy Hair for more info.
can purple shampoo turn your hair purple or grey?
Yes, especially if you use a highly pigmented formula too frequently or leave it on longer than your hair needs.
This can happen when too much violet pigment is deposited onto the hair.
Instead of neutralizing the yellow and creating a balanced blonde, the pigment can become visible enough to make the hair appear grey, silver, lavender, smoky, darker, or dull.
This is more likely to happen on very light or porous sections of hair, though the good news is that it is temporary.
If you want a bright, natural-looking blonde rather than an icy or silver result, more purple shampoo isn't always better. To reduce the risk of leaving your hair with a funky tint, follow the product's directions and start with the shortest recommended processing time.
If you find that your hair repeatedly turns purple or grey no matter what, you may need something a little gentler than purple shampoo (like purple conditioner). See my other post, Purple Shampoo vs Conditioner for more detail.
how often should you use purple shampoo?
I have a whole post on how often to use purple shampoo, because the frequency is just as important as how long you leave it on.
For a quick little cheat sheet here, keep in mind that most people don't need to use it every time they wash their hair.
Depending on your hair and the product, you may use it:
Once a week
Every few washes
Whenever you notice yellow tones returning
Less frequently if your hair easily absorbs pigment
Using purple shampoo too frequently can cause buildup of violet pigment over time and leave your hair looking overly cool or dull.
I recommend adjusting the frequency based on what your hair actually needs rather than automatically using purple shampoo on a specific schedule. Things like product build-up, UV exposure, and lifestyle changes (swimming in the summer vs more heat styling in the winter) can change your hair’s tone and feel, so go off of what your hair looks like rather than an actual schedule.
That said, if you are a planner like me and want one less thing to think about, every other week is a sweet spot that seems to keep my hair refreshed without over-toning. I don’t end up with the iciest, whitest results, but I never have a purple tint, either.
how to get the best results from purple shampoo
1. check the product directions
Straightforward to say, but don't assume every purple shampoo works the same way.
Check:
How long the brand recommends leaving it on
How often the product is intended to be used
Whether the brand recommends adjusting the processing time
as this truly varies way more than you’d think!
2. start with less time
Especially when you're trying a new product. You can always increase the processing time during your next wash. As I mentioned, I’ve used a purple shampoo for 1 minute and been left disappointed, the next morning I did a redo and my hair was properly toned but not dry. It may not be as convenient, but your color will thank you!
3. apply it evenly
Uneven application can lead to uneven toning. Make sure you distribute the shampoo throughout the areas where you want to neutralize unwanted warmth.
Again, some shampoos recommend application from root to end, whereas others tell you to focus primarily on roots to mid-lengths. When in doubt, only let the product sit on roots to mid-lengths, then apply towards the ends before rinsing out. The hair closer to the ends is always more porous, and thus doesn’t need as long of application time.
4. pay attention to your actual hair
If your hair starts looking gray, purple, dull, or too ashy, you will want to reduce either your processing time or how frequently you're using the shampoo.
5. don't expect purple shampoo to lighten your hair
Lastly, remember that purple shampoo can improve the appearance of blonde hair by neutralizing unwanted tones, but it doesn't physically make your hair lighter.
If you find yourself repeatedly wanting your hair to be a shade or two lighter, that requires chemical lightening - not more purple shampoo.
frequently asked questions
should i leave purple shampoo in for 5 minutes?
Only if your specific product recommends it. Five minutes can provide stronger toning with some formulas, but may be too long for others.
can i leave purple shampoo in for 10 minutes?
I do not recommend leaving purple shampoo on for 10 minutes unless the product specifically instructs you to do so. Leaving a highly pigmented formula on too long can make blonde hair look gray, dull, or purple (not brighter or lighter). It can also make your hair feel drier.
does leaving purple shampoo in longer make it work better?
No. A longer processing time may deposit more pigment, but that doesn't automatically mean your hair will look brighter. Too much pigment will make hair appear dull, gray, or overly purple.
does purple shampoo actually lighten hair?
No. Purple shampoo doesn't bleach or chemically lighten your hair; it temporarily adjusts the tone by depositing violet pigment that helps neutralize unwanted yellow tones.
why does purple shampoo make my hair look darker?
Too much violet pigment can make blonde hair appear duller, grayer, or darker. This is especially common if you use a highly pigmented formula too frequently or leave it on too long.
If you need a less pigmented formula, I really love the purple shampoos from Olaplex or Verb. They’re more pastel, but still very effective!
what should i do if my hair turns purple after using purple shampoo?
The pigment is usually temporary and will gradually fade with washing. Stop using the purple shampoo for the time being and use your regular shampoo until your desired tone returns.
should i use purple shampoo every time i wash my hair?
Not unless your stylist has specifically told you to. Most people don't need purple shampoo every wash, especially if the formula is highly pigmented.
how long does purple shampoo last in your hair?
Purple shampoo deposits temporary pigment, so the toning effect gradually fades as you wash your hair. How long the results last depends on the product, your hair, and how frequently you wash it. In general, a few washes.
why isn't purple shampoo making my hair brighter?
Purple shampoo may not make a noticeable difference if your hair is too dark, the warmth is orange rather than yellow, the formula isn't pigmented enough for your hair, or your hair needs professional toning or additional lightening. Purple shampoo changes tone—it doesn't physically make hair lighter.
can purple shampoo replace bleach?
No. Purple shampoo can neutralize unwanted tones in already-lightened hair; it cannot bleach or chemically lift your hair to a lighter level.
My review of the K18 TripleBright Purple Shampoo with before and after results, ingredients, pros and cons. Sharing if it removes brassiness or dries out hair, how it works, and if it’s worth the money.