Those who have sexy blonde hair will know that maintaining it involves more than just washing it with shampoo and conditioner. The biggest issue faced by blondes is the slow occurrence of yellow or “brassy” tones in certain places in the hair.
The best way to counteract these undesirable tones is to use a purple shampoo. This may sound comical at first but there is a science behind it, and that yellow and purple are on opposites sides of the color wheel.
This means that when you apply a cool toned violet shampoo to your blonde hair, the purple pigment that gets deposited in the hair will negate the yellow tones, and bring out the silvery blonde tones that are desirable.
You don’t need to do this more than once or twice a week to keep the brassiness at bay, and you can find a good purple shampoo for any hair or scalp type – dry hair, sensitive skin, etc.
| Non-Purple Shampoos
Keep in mind though, that this is not a hard and fast rule. There are some excellent non-violet shampoos on the market that can also work wonders for your hair. It’s all about your individuality and what exactly your hair needs in particular that you need to figure out.
In this article, we will talk about how these shampoos work, how they are beneficial to you, and we will list a few of our favorite ones and tell you why we think they are the best on the market.
After reviewing all the top sulfate free shampoo for blondes available, we’ve selected our top picks in the comparison table below. We’re confident you’ll find the perfect brand for your needs.
| What are Sulfate-Free Shampoos?
When you read the ingredient list section of a shampoo, you might probably see sulfates such as sodium laureth sulphate and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Sulfates are commonly used in grooming products like toothpastes, shower gels and other cleaning products. The main purpose of this ingredient is to remove oils and create a lathering effect.
However, these ingredients became very controversial. Other than the safety issues, sulfates are made of petroleum, which is non-renewable. With this fact, others believe that this ingredient is not really eco-friendly. As far as science is concerned, experiments show that sulfates are actually safe for humans to use.
With sulfates having a bad reputation, a lot of beauty and health brands produced products that are sulfate-free. One of these are sulfate-free shampoos.
| Effects of Sulfate-free Shampoo
Sulfate-free shampoos have a less lathering effect but it is proven that less lather doesn’t mean less effective. Sulfate-free shampoos can function the same as foamy types. It can also make your hair healthier and stronger. Testers had also proven that this type of shampoo is great for colored hair. If you have blonde hair, you can definitely see visible effects with just one wash. The neutralisation effect can make your blonde hair look more alive and less brassy.
Best List in the Market
Products | CHECK IT OUT HERE | BEST FEATURE |
|---|---|---|
PRAVANA   | UNISEX | |
L’OREAL EVERPURE   | WITH PURPLE IRIS EXTRACT | |
SEXY HAIR BLONDE   | BEST FOR COLORED TREATED HAIR | |
JOICO COLOR   | SMELLS GREAT | |
REDKEN   | PH BALANCED | |
PURA D'OR   | MADE IN USA |
Top 6 Sulfate-free Purple Shampoo for Blondes Reviewed
1. PRAVA Shampoo - Ideal for Toning
This shampoo contains a dual system of ultra-violet dye and built-in optical brighteners that eradicate brassiness after a single wash.
It also contains keratin supplement, along with wheat and silk amino acids that add strength, shine, and elasticity to the hair. This product promises to take your blonde stresses “from dull to bombshell in one wash.”
Buyers of this product found it to give the hair color a rich texture. It smells good without being overpowering, and it doesn’t dry like regular shampoos do.
This is thanks to the absence of sulfates of course. It also tones the hair well, which is an added bonus for a specialized shampoo.
Some critics of this shampoo complain that it gives the hair a dark, pinkish-orange hue, due to overuse.
However, because the shampoo does contain a pigment, when left in your head for too long before rinsing, it will probably alter your color very slightly.
We recommend leaving it in your hair for approximately three to five minutes only before rinsing so to avoid this problem.
2. L’Oreal Paris Hair EverPure - Hydrating
This popular product contains a patented Sulfate free Brass Banisher System called EverPure.
This set contains a shampoo and a conditioner for blonde hair which restores hydration while removing unwanted yellow tones at the same time.
Customers who bought this product said that this shampoo and conditioner improves color after one wash. It helps the hair maintain a platinum shade even on the brightest of sunny days.
Being free of sulfates, this product also manages to maintain moisture and leave the hair feeling soft and looking shiny.
Some senior customers also expressed delight at the fact that this product seems to brighten gray hairs to a more silvery platinum tone.
Detractors of this product were unhappy because of an apparent coppery hue that is left behind in the hair after washing.
However, this is again due to over usage. Leaving a shampoo like this in the hair will cause the pigment to saturate the hair shafts, causing that undesirable pinkish tinge.
So remember, only use this product in moderation and it will do what it was designed to do.
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3. Sexy Hair Blonde - Ideal for Bright Blonde
This violet shampoo is known for cleansing and getting rid of yellow tones, leaving the hair hydrated and looking bright.
It contains chamomile, which enhances the vibrancy and brightness in your sexy blonde locks.
It has honey, which helps restore moisture, leaving the hair soft and hydrated. It has quinoa, a gluten free protein that repairs the hair by penetrating the scalp for deep conditioning and shine.
Also, it has Kravis, which strengthens the hair and prevents it from breaking.
People who bought this shampoo were pleased with its ability to eradicate those unwanted brassy tones.
It is also reported that it can maintain the soft texture and shininess of your hair.
Those who used it noted that the smell does not change even after a sweaty physical activity.
This product is particularly useful to those who have dyed their sexy blonde hair. It also lathers well even though it does not contain sulfates that are actually meant to increase lather.
It can also dry your hair even if it’s sulfate-free. This could happen if one or more other ingredients react negatively against each other and get your scalp or hair affected.
It is a good practice to look at the other ingredients and make sure that they will not cause these reaction on your particular skin type.
4. Joico Color Endure Violet - Ideal for Gray Hair
This shampoo is good for blonde, gray and highlighted hair.
Once oxidation occurs, you’ll achieve a high-lift blonde or gray that’s faded or yellowish.
You can use this product to eliminate the unwanted yellow tones and brassiness of your mane.
It is perfect for dyed hair because it does not affect artificial color in any adverse way.
The toner in this shampoo actually intensifies the hair color, leaving your hair feeling clean and balanced. It does not cause breakage and does not leave the hair feeling frizzy.
Some critics have issues with purple stained fingernails .
Again, this sounds like an overuse.
The reason to this is because the of the purple pigment in the shampoo. Once saturated on the hair shaft, it will leave a purple tinge and thus causing the pigment to stick on the fingernails.
Using the shampoo in moderation can definitely prevent this problem.
5. Redken Blonde - Unisex
This sulfate free shampoo is pH balanced for both natural and color-treated blonde hair.
It features Redkens patented Kerabright system that keeps dullness and yellow tones at bay.
Buyers loves the deep conditioning that it provides to their sexy blonde .
It gives lots of body and doesn’t leave your locks dull. It lathers very well for a sulfate free product and smells wonderful.
Others complain that it leaves the hair feeling heavy and dry, but they also mention their suspicion of the consistency of the product that they used. This sounds a lot like they were given a product that is fake, expired or watered down.
Be sure to buy only to legitimate dealers and seller to get around this problem.
6. PURA D'OR - Ideal for Color Treated Hair
This amazing product is best for color-treated hair. It can revitalize damaged and brittle hair while protecting its color using the non-color stripping formula. Other than that, it provides moisture and hydration. It contains a lot of vitamins and nutrients from Biotin that gives you a stronger and fuller hair.
It is effective in detoxifying and protecting your hair from environmental damage. This product deserves to be on our list because it can surely give you healthy looking hair. It prevents your hair from looking dry and brassy. What makes this brand even more impressive is that it is environment-friendly, cruelty-free and manufactured in the US.
A lot of buyers are satisfied and pleased with the results of this product. It is difficult to find a good shampoo brand for dyed hair and this won’t let you down. The color-protecting formula can give your blonde hair an extra shine!
Choosing A Good Sulfate-free Purple Shampoo for Blondes
When you are looking for a shampoo to maintain your blonde, you will need to think about more than just the purple tones in the shampoo.
You will still need to take into account your hair type and skin type before you settle on a shampoo. Sulfates are a particularly a hot topic when it comes to shampoos.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), AmmoniaLaureth Sulfate (ALS), TEA Lauryeth Sulfate (TEA) and Sodium Myreth Sulfate (SMS) are very common ingredients that are found in over 90% of shampoos.
They basically act as a detergent to make the shampoo lather more easily. While this effect is desired, these compounds do have a range of side effects that are not so desirable. Some of these side effects are:
Dry Hair and Scalp
When you use a shampoo that has sulfates, what happens is that you end up dissolving all of the natural oils on your scalp, which leaves your hair and scalp drier than usual.
Scalp Irritations
Sulfates are also capable of worsening skin conditions on your scalp. These condition include flaky dandruff and eczema. Even if you don’t suffer from these conditions, sulfates can make your scalp feel tight and itchy.
Fading Hair Color
If you have colored your hair blonde, then sulfates are a definite no-no for you. These are very aggressive cleansing agents that can strip your hair off that color, leaving you with dull and faded locks.
Hair Loss
Sulfates are also known to corrode and damage your follicles which can lead to thinning or hair loss. This is especially true if you are careless in rinsing the shampoo completely.
There's an adjustment period when switching from a regular shampoo to a sulfate free shampoo. You'll get used in no time
What to Expect?
The first and most important thing you will have to deal with is the lack of lather in sulfate free shampoos. This will make it feel as though the shampoo is not cleansing your hair properly, but you have to keep in mind that the lather in your old shampoo was due to sulfates and that your new sulfate free shampoo is just as effective even though it doesn’t lather up as well. Another thing you will have to take into account is the oiliness in your hair.
Sulfates tend to strip away the natural oils from your scalp, so when you switch to a sulfate-free shampoo, these natural oils will remain in your hair, leaving it feeling oily soon after you wash it. Just remember that this is normal because you are now using a shampoo that does not contain sulfates. There are plenty of sulfate free shampoos that you can use to maintain your blonde color.
Problem with danruff? Click here to know our best sulfate free dandruff shampoo.
Benefits of Using A Sulfate-Free Shampoo
As we have already said, a sulfate free shampoo works wonders for your hair without stripping off its natural oils. This should be as important as maintaining your blonde sexy color, i.e. getting rid of brassiness or yellow tones and keeping them at bay.
Using a purple shampoo goes a long way in ensuring that you stay blonde and does not fade to yellow.
Sulfate-free purple shampoos ensure your mane should stay blonde and healthy. That’s two birds with one stone!
After all, there is really no point in successfully maintaining your blonde color if your shampoo ends up making your hair dry, faded and/or frizzy.
Purple Shampoo and Blonde Hair Overview
Why is your Hair Blonde?
Having blonde hair is a peculiar trait, even Mendel wouldn’t argue with that. If you want to thank anyone for your blonde strands, you should thank your genes. The genes present in the pigment making cells, melanocytes, are responsible for your hair color.
The coloring pigment “melanin” is released by melanocytes situated at the base of your hair strands. Therefore, the amount of melanin coded by the genes present in melanocytes determines how dark your hair is going to be.
If your melanin coding genes are producing a lot, it results in the elevated levels of pigment, thus, making it either black or brown. However, if your pigment cells aren’t able to produce enough melanin, your strands turn blonde. Another pigment knows as pheomelanin is responsible for giving red color to your hair.
What is Purple Shampoo?
Why is everyone recommending you to use purple shampoo? No, it’s not because they’re into marketing, it’s because you’ve blonde hair. And making use of purple shampoo to take care of your yellow locks is the best treat you can give to yourself and your shiny locks.
The people who lack enough melanin in their hair i.e. blonde, white, and silver-haired people are at continuous risk of spontaneous change in their strand color as they age, giving their hair a yellowish tint.
So, if you’ve got this color, using a purple shampoo can prevent it from going yellowish because its ingredients neutralize the effect of a yellow tint, keeping your hair color preserved.
Why is it Purple?
Purple shampoo is purple because it is purple colored.
No, it’s not a tongue twister!
It is because purple is the direct opposite of yellow color if you consult a color wheel. This color can neutralize the yellowish hue in your hair. The purple pigment present in the shampoo uniformly distributes throughout your hair making your yellowish, brassy looking hair go back to natural blonde color.
You can think of purple shampoo as a temporary dye that stays in your mane to keep your hair color as fresh as possible. The best thing about purple shampoo is that it does all of that without harming your locks in any possible way.
Who needs a Purple Shampoo?
The people with lighter strand colors i.e. white, blonde, silver, platinum, etc. need to use purple shampoo regularly. It is because, besides preserving the natural color of your strands by blocking the yellow tint, purple shampoo can provide your hair with essential nutrients and keep it moisturized.
If you’ve bleached your locks, purple shampoo is a must-have hair product for you. It’ll help in combating the adverse effects that come with bleaching and aid in keeping it strong.
Why is it Important to Blonde Hair?
The regular use of purple shampoo is especially important to the people with yellow hair because this type is at the top of the hit-list when it comes to turning yellow. Your blonde will turn yellow within no time and you won’t even realize the change until it’s too late. What purple shampoo does is it deposits cool, purple pigment in your hair, which neutralizes the effect of warm, yellow tint that comes with age.
How Many Times Should You Use It?
If you’re having difficulty in keeping your hair blonde, you can start by using a purple shampoo once or twice a week. You can also try to mix it up with other color-safe shampoos to provide better results. Afterward, you can increase or decrease the frequency of using this shampoo as it suits you. If you’re satisfied with its weekly results, you can keep using it weekly, or you can increase the regularity if you need more improvement in your results.
However, you’re not supposed to use purple shampoo too frequently just for the fun of it. Using purple shampoo unnecessarily can result in your hair turning too cool and make your locks look purple. Unless you’re asking for it, you should use purple shampoo sensibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both sulfate and paraben free shampoo
If you have been using a regular shampoo, and are now switching over to a paraben free shampoo, then you should know that there will be an adjustment period in which you will have to get used to its differences.
The first and most important thing you will have to deal with is the lack of lather in sulfate free shampoos.
This will make it feel as though the shampoo is not cleaning your hair, but you have to keep in mind that the lather in your old shampoo was due to sulfates and that your new sulfate or paraben free shampoo is just as effective even though it doesn’t lather.
Another thing you will have to take into account is the oiliness in your hair.
Sulfates tend to strip away the natural oils from your scalp, so when you switch to a sulfate-free shampoo, these natural oils will remain in your hair.
Conclusion
If you are a blonde, whether it is natural or color treated, then there is nothing better for you than a good purple or violet shampoo.
As we have already said, the purple pigment helps counteract against brassiness or unwanted yellow tones, thus maintaining a vibrant blonde tone.
If you are switching over from a regular shampoo to a sulfate free shampoo, then you will have to be prepared for a short period of adjustment. These shampoos do not lather up as much as a regular shampoo because it lacks the sulfate.
This doesn’t mean that they are not cleaning your hair effectively. It’s actually keeping the natural oils in your hair and scalp.
Our Final Recommendation
If you need a recommendation on where to start your search, then try out Pravana Toning Sulfate Free Shampoo. It works after the first wash and adds strength, shine, and elasticity to the hair.
However, be sure to check the ingredients and your hair and skin type, as non-sulfate compounds can react with your hair and could lead to undesirable effects.
