We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
8 best purple shampoos for tackling brassy tones
Get your blonde popping for the holiday pictures – and beyond
Tested by Nora MerikFormer Beauty and Grooming Tester
With the arrival of lighter, longer days, you might already be making an appointment with your stylist to lighten up your hair colour too – whether you're adding in some golden highlights to complement that holiday glow or going for a more dramatic transformation from brown to blonde.
However, life and summer in particular can be particularly harsh on dyed hair – all the chlorine, salt water, UV rays and heat can leave behind an unwanted orange tinge. This is where the best purple shampoos can step in, working to counteract yellow or orange hues.
With so many on the market, it can be tricky to know which one is best for you, though. That's why the Good Housekeeping Institute has been busy testing a range of market-leading anti-brass shampoos with the help of our reader panel.
Here are their top picks in a handy list, but read on for our detailed reviews, and to learn more about this haircare saviour, from how often to use it to .
Best purple shampoos 2025
How we test purple shampoos
With the help of over 200 panel members, the Good Housekeeping Institute put a range of purple shampoos to the test. We asked panellists to assess each shampoo for ease of use, packaging design and, of course, performance. They also submitted images of their hair before and after use for our in-house experts to assess any improvements (or not). You'll find our winners marked with the GHI Approved logo below.
Our beauty editors, many of whom are no stranger to the best blonde hair dyes or a balayage or two, have also shared their favourite buys, to bring you the buzziest new releases and offer options for every budget.
Pros
- Brightens highlights after just one wash
- Nice scent
- Deeply cleans hair
Cons
- Runny consistency
Score: 79/100
Amika's Bust your Brass shampoo helps correct any yellow tones and replaces them with cool platinum hues instead, prolonging that fresh post-salon look. And it came out on top with our panel for brightening after just one wash, as well as offering a deep clean.
Key ingredients include the brand’s “bond cure technology”, which works to reduce breakage by 55%, and three plant butters – shea, mango and borage oil – that are rich in vitamins and omegas to help strengthen and repair hair.
Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Shampoo
Pros
- Neutralises brassiness in grey hair
- Adds shine
- Doesn't leave hair feeling dry
Cons
- Screw-top lid is slightly inconvenient
- Can dye your nails
Score: 78/100
Ideal for dyed and natural blonde or grey hair, Kérastase's Blond Absolu works to neutralise any unwanted undertones, enhancing brightness and luminosity. It contains violet tones to counter any orange or yellow that sit on the opposite side of the colour wheel.
Not only does this shampoo make your hair look good on the outside, but it also nourishes for a softer, healthier feel. It contains hyaluronic acid to help strengthen and repair strands, as well as edelweiss flower, an antioxidant proven to protect against daily damage.
One tester said their hair felt “soft, shiny and manageable” after use. Another noticed visible results from the first wash and told us their hair was “definitely less brassy”.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Adds brightness
- Foams well
Cons
- Runny consistency
Score: 78/100
If you’re looking to lift your blonde or enhance those beautiful grey tones, this effective option from John Frieda could be the one for you. Most of our panel found it took a few washes to take full effect, but once it had, their hair was left with a “noticeable” difference in colour and condition.
One tester told us it delivered a “freshly dyed blonde”, while another praised how it left their hair “less brassy” and said it looked and felt healthier – for that, we can thank the nourishing formula, which has been designed to replenish moisture and restore suppleness in bleached hair. What more could you ask for?
Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo, 200ml
Pros
- Nourishing
- Reduces brassiness after one wash
Cons
- Can leave uneven patches if you don't take care with application and rinsing
Score: 77/100
Moroccanoil’s products are iconic when it comes to nourishing dry strands. Using rich argan oil, this shampoo looks to nourish hair from the inside out, making it ideal for dyed blondes.
Most of our testers said their hair was left healthy and hydrated, telling us it was easy to use and didn’t leave hands stained (which is a common grievance with many purple shampoos). However, take care when applying and rinsing to avoid any uneven patches.
While some of the shampoos on this list need a few washes to take full effect, most of our testers said they noticed an instant reduction in yellow undertones when using this shampoo. So, if last minute plans take you and your brassy lengths by surprise, fear not.
L'Oreal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Anti-Brassiness Purple Shampoo
Pros
- Reduced yellow tones without leaving any purple residue
- Feels rich
- Lathers up and rinses out well
Cons
- Some testers said their hair felt coarse after washing
- Shouldn't be used on dry scalps
Score 77/100
This affordable and effective L’Oreal anti-brass shampoo aims to prolong that fresh-from-the-salon look at home (so, minus the fresh-from-the-salon bill).
One tester praised how the product “took away the yellow completely” and left their blonde looking “cool and ashy” after use. L’Oreal recommends massaging it into hair and leaving for 1-3 minutes before rinsing out for best results, making it a quick and easy anti-brass option. All this for under £6? We can’t argue with value for money like that.
Pros
- A little product goes a long way
- Made hair more manageable
- Enhances white, grey and blonde hair
Cons
- Some purple staining on scalps
- The scent isn't very strong
Score: 76/100
Noughty believes in the importance of fuss-free, naturally derived, plant-powered ingredients to help nourish and gently cleanse hair. Its Purple Reign Tone Correcting Shampoo uses blueberry and blackcurrant extracts to hydrate and replenish lost moisture, as well as glycerine to help retain it.
When put to the panel, results showed it worked best on oily hair, as not only did it brighten and tone, but also provided a thorough deep clean. It enhanced hair with a glossy sheen that “wasn’t overly purple”, and, instead, left a “lovely silvery hue”. Did we mention it’s cruelty-free and vegan, too?
Pros
- Only a small amount is needed
- Premium packaging
Cons
- Doesn’t lather as well as other shampoos
Score: 75/100
Celebrity hairstylist Oribe Canales has worked with Cindy Crawford and Jennifer Lopez, so knows what goes into maintaining A-list locks. And now thanks to his Oribe haircare range, us mere mortals can achieve superstar-worthy hair from our own bathrooms.
The rich formula of this brightening blonde shampoo creates an even-toned blonde that even golden girl Kate Moss would envy. It’s made with pure violet and reflective pearl pigments to illuminate blonde tones and eliminate brassiness. The silky shampoo is also formulated with Oribe’s signature complex: a combination of watermelon, lychee and Edelweiss, which work together to combat dryness and defend from yellowing oxidative stress. Unsurprisingly, it smells amazing.
The sulphate-free formula was praised by testers for how gentle it was on the scalp too, making it great for everyday use. Though not as instant as some other shampoos on the market, most testers noticed an improvement in the tone of their hair after the trial period.
Pros
- No overpowering smell
- Brand claims 80% less plastic used in pouch packaging compared to bottles
Cons
- Time-consuming preparation as requires you to whisk product
Score: 74/100
This set includes an 8oz pouch of New Wash, the base colour shampoo, and a tube of Purple Boost to neutralise brassiness. You simply combine them and apply to wet hair to achieve a brightened blonde. This allows you to control how much pigment you add for a personalised toning session. You can purchase a kit with a branded mixing pot to mix the formulas in, which will make you feel like a proper stylist. White lab coat not included though...
The combo reduced brassiness for most of our testers, although not as effectively as higher scorers in our list. A high point was its nourishing effects, though. “My hair feels moisturised, and my scalp has stopped feeling dry and itchy,” said one tester. Some would have preferred it to lather more for a deeper cleanse, but overall, it left most testers’ hair soft and clean.
Editors' picks
Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo
Pros
- Formulated with their patented bond building formula that strengthens hair
- Customisable brightness based on treatment time
Cons
- Thick consistency, which takes longer to lather
Featuring Olaplex's iconic, patented bond-building technology, this rich and creamy purple shampoo banishes brass while delivering nourishment from the inside out, and we couldn't leave it off our list.
The texture is on the thicker side, so needs to be thoroughly worked into the scalp to get a good lather and even tone. But trust us, that extra effort is so worth it.
Pros
- Contains hair-strengthening vitamin B5
- Paraben-free
Cons
- Relatively pricey
As a female-founded brand, this was made by women, for women. It's gentle enough to be used everyday and potent enough to be work on a variety of blondes, alone or in tandem with the rest of the brand's haircare range. We also love its Miracle Leave-In treatment and the Miracle Clay Hair Mask for leaving our hair looking, well, 10 out of 10 of course!
Pros
- Nice packaging
- Nourishing ingredients
Cons
- Can be a little tricky to dispense the product
As a celebrity hairstylist working on shoots and fashion shows, Kevin Murphy's brand was born out of dissatisfaction with the then-current products on the market, many of which he found underwhelming and drying.
So, each of his products features a delicious blend of nourishing butters and oils that aim to not only match your hair's natural moisture, but boost it. This shampoo is no different; it simply has the addition of lavender to help deliver your perfect blonde.
Pros
- UV and pollution protection
- Contains strengthening keratin
Cons
- Expensive
Known for its ground-breaking use of keratin protein to transform hair health, this tones hair using plant power from an all-natural blend of purple flower and plant extracts – perfect for strengthening bleached hair, while achieving your dream tone. Plus, with the incorporated UV protection, your blonde stays protected for longer.
Pros
- Contains PH balancing and strengthening amino acids
- Nice packaging
Cons
- Only suitable for dyed grey or blonde hair
From one of the most popular salon brands in the US, this shampoo really packs a punch. The intense deep purple colour is a result of the high concentration of violet pigment, which aims to help eliminate any yellowness in just five minutes. It looks after your hair health too, with wheat proteins, amino acids and glycerin boosting moisture and hair strength.
What is purple shampoo?
Remember learning the colour wheel at school? Well, purple shampoo works on the same principle of contrasting colours. “Purple is the opposite of yellow on the colour wheel, so it counteracts yellowing or brassy tones in the hair,” explains Wes Sharpton, lead educator at Hairstory.
The result? It makes yellow-blonde hair appear ashier and give you a cleaner-looking hue. The same concept can be applied to brunette hair, but rather than a purple tint, blue is used to target orange undertones.
How often should you use purple shampoo?
“Some purple shampoos can be damaging because they contain bleaching agents that dry out the hair,” explains Bobbi Jo Byford, senior colourist at Gielly Green Salon. “So, always have a look at the ingredient list before purchasing."
It’s best to opt for paraben- and sulphate-free options where possible, avoiding harsh sulphate ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES).
Purple shampoo isn’t meant to be used every day. Once a week should suffice. If it’s used too often, the product can build up and make your blonde look dull and flat, which is the opposite of what it’s intended for. And if your hair is damaged, the strands can also suck the pigment up, so it should be used less often.
"All hair is different, and you know your own hair best, so as a rule of thumb, stop when you’re happy with the tone and only use it when the brassiness starts to reappear," says Byford.
Are they suitable for all hair types?
The type of anti-brass shampoo you use depends on your hair colour. A lot of purple shampoos are marketed just for blondes, but as Byford explains, “using purple shampoo is equally effective on grey hair, as it really freshens the colour and adds more of a silver tone."
It’s important to note, however, that natural grey hair is a lot stronger than coloured blonde locks, so absorption of the product will be different. Be sure to keep this in mind when deciding how often to use the product.
If you want to avoid heavy deposit or a ‘purple glow’ from over-use, try mixing your purple shampoo with your everyday shampoo for a lighter finish.
How to care for dyed hair
Dyed hair will never be as healthy as natural locks, but we aren’t going to stop you from switching it up between blonde and brown with the seasons.
And while an anti-brass or purple shampoo is important for addressing those tonal issues, we recommend adding a few additional steps into your haircare routine to ensure your locks are looking their very best.
See below our experts' tried and tested treatments for keeping your hair in top condition.
Best hydrating hair masks | Best hair repair treatments | Best heat protection sprays
Pair these products with a purple shampoo for healthier-looking hair all year round, not just after a salon visit.
The verdict on purple shampoos
Our panellists crowned Amika's Bust your Brass Cool Blonde Repair Shampoo for helping to beat brassiness and strengthen hair at the same time.
If you need to fix any brassy mishaps fast, the nourishing Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo performed best for instant results.
Looking for a brighter blonde on a budget? Try the more affordable L’Oreal Paris Purple Shampoo.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we’ve been testing products for over 100 years – from the best mattresses to the best hair dryers – so we know what goes into reviewing products against their claims.
Our beauty tester Nora Merik has a master’s degree in cosmetic science, where she studied product formulations, product development, market research and more. For this test, as well as developing the protocols to review each shampoo against, she assessed all the before and after pictures submitted by our 200 panellists, to check how well each one toned and reduced brassiness.
Madeleine Evans, our lifestyle writer, then transformed the test results into easy-to-follow reviews. As someone who regularly switches between blonde and brunette, she knows what to look for in a good purple shampoo.
The best period swimwear, tried and tested
The best neck creams for firming
The best hair straighteners for 2025
The best luxury hand soaps and creams
