One of the best ways to prolong time between hair appointments is by keeping your hair toned at home. Dark hair typically has warm undertones, and when hair is highlighted, it can sometimes pull yellow, orange, or red if not properly toned. Much easier to do than it sounds, toning your hair is key to keeping your hair color vibrant and avoiding brassiness while also adding shine and dimension.

Learning how to tone my hair at home - and how to not overtone it - has helped me save money and allow me to go up to 16-20 weeks between hair appointments (although I personally prefer to go every 12 weeks or so). At-home toning products are cost-effective, easy to find, and easy to use.

how to tone hair with purple shampoo

The easiest way to tone your hair at home is with purple shampoo or conditioner. I personally prefer conditioner because it’s hydrating, less likely to stain your hands, scalp, hair, or shower walls, and a little goes a long way. Purple shampoos have a tendency to dry out your hair a little, so if your hair is very color-treated or more prone to breakage, I recommend mixing it with a hydrating shampoo or following-up with a deep conditioning mask - this mask is my favorite, but I also love this one for a cost-effective option that costs less than $10.

You use purple shampoo or conditioner just as you would a normal shampoo or conditioner:

Make sure your hair is thoroughly wet before applying the product.
You may think that you want to apply purple shampoo to your ends if they are color-treated or highlighted, but I still recommend focusing on your scalp, and allowing the product to wash through your ends. This will help tone your ends without drying them out.
Whether I use shampoo or conditioner, I like to leave it in for a minute or two to allow the product to fully work into my hair.
When I tone my hair, I make a point to rinse the product out with cold water because it helps seal the hair follicle, adds shine, and reduces the risk of breakage or split ends.
I then like to finish with a leave-in conditioner to add hydration back into my hair; this one also doubles as a heat protectant, too.

before and after using purple shampoo to tone hair at home

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best purple shampoo for blonde hair and highlights

UNITE Hair BLONDA Purple Shampoo - This is a stronger formula that really pulls all yellow and brassy tones out. Meant to be used weekly, I like that you get dramatic results without having to put a lot of effort it. 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 hydration; it also doubles as a heat protectant, too.

Davines Alchemic Conditioner - Yes, it’s a conditioner rather than a shampoo, but I think this works better than most purple shampoos on the market. If you want a cool-toned look, this conditioner will be your new go-to. It’s intense and a 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’ll sometimes use my regular conditioner to comb out tangles prior to using this toning conditioner.

the best budget-friendly purple toner for bronde hair

Kristin Ess One Purple Conditioner - Unlike a lot of drugstore hair lines, this is formulated with hair health in mind. I love most Kristin Ess products, and the toning line is great. It tones effectively without leaving a purple tint, and doesn’t dry out your hair. I recommend toning conditioner over shampoo because it’s more gentle and hydrating, but this brand also sells a purple toning shampoo, if you prefer it.

how often should you tone your hair with purple shampoo?

Most stylists I talk to say that you should use a purple toner about once a week for cool-toned hair, or every other week if you prefer a more neutral-toned look.

I wash my hair daily, and I use a purple toner every 10 days or so. Because I wash my hair so often, I prefer to use a purple conditioner because it’s gentler on my hair. Once a month, I’ll use a purple shampoo to make sure I’ve fully canceled out any lingering, stubborn brassiness, especially if it’s been a while since I last got my hair colored.

If you use purple shampoo or conditioner too frequently, you run the risk of damaging your hair or accidentally leaving a purple tint. This is reversible, but it’s important to remember that overtoning your hair doesn’t lighten it; purple shampoo is only meant to brighten, so if you want lighter strands, it’s better to make an appointment to refresh your color.

can you use purple shampoo and conditioner together?

You can, but you don’t really need it, unless you have naturally very dark hair (level 1) and have lightened to a platinum blonde. My hair is naturally dark and leans warm, so I am definitely prone to brassy yellow and orange tones, but I only use one toning product at a time and it’s perfectly effective. A common misconception about toning products is that they’ll make your hair lighter; this isn’t the case. Your stylist has lightened your hair to its maximum; any excess will leave a purple tint, not make your blonde blonder.

Overtoning your hair also runs the risk of drying it out, making it more brittle, and dulling the hair color. When you see a bright, shiny blonde, odds are that they’re using a shine-enhancing shampoo or conditioner, not toning 4x a week.

My best advice: Use a toning conditioner because it’s gentler and more hydrating. You’re still going to see all of the annoying brassy tones canceled out, but won’t have to worry about frying your hair or having a purple tint. Then, to really illuminate your blonde and get that bright, salon-like look, use this illuminating shampoo or conditioner (or both). I’m on a little bit of a budget, so I stick to the conditioner because I’ve found it to be more cost effective without sacrificing results.