I Was Blonde for 30 Years—The Only Purple Shampoos and Conditioners I Recommend

Back when I was blonde, this is the purple shampoo I used exclusively and routinely recommend to others. Over the years, I found a lot of purple shampoos would either overtone my hair, leaving it ashy or a tad lavender, or the formula would be okay but would leave my strands dry and completely lifeless. Not only does this shampoo deliver the perfect brass-free blonde, but it's also extremely moisturizing, making your hair look and feel healthier—10 out of 10!

Pros: Combats dryness and damage, formulated for all hair types and textures, clean formula, vegan, cruelty-free, beloved light and citrusy scent, lathers nicely

Cons: None

Glowing customer review: "I have tried almost every purple shampoo but this is my new favourite!!! It works very well on my highlights and takes the yellow and brassy undertones out immediately. After use, my hair looks freshly toned!"

If you're shopping for a fantastic purple shampoo and conditioner with a drugstore price point, look no further than this highly rated duo from L'Oréal. I've found it to be one of the most hydrating and softening formulas in the $20-and-under range. If I tested it blindly, I'd never guess it wasn't a prestige brand.

Pros: Affordable, 100% sulfate and paraben-free, vegan, cruelty-free, hydrating

Cons: Might not be the best formula to remedy damage

Glowing customer review: "I love this shampoo. It's great for gray hair or blonde hair, and it takes the yellow out of gray and the brassy out of blonde hair. It's very good!!!!!!!"

Beauty editors and hairstylists alike consistently gush about Davines' line of haircare. You can't go wrong with any of its products; they're all magical. Despite its name, this is a rich purple shampoo-and-conditioner duo that's especially fabulous for those who are ultra-bright platinum or silver. 

Pros: Adds shine and light-reflecting luminosity, especially great for cool-toned blonds and those with gray or silver hair, enhanced with vitamin B3 for extra moisture and protection, cruelty-free

Cons: May not be moisturizing enough for severe dryness, best for toning and shine

Glowing customer review: "Everyone began to comment on how good my hair looks after I started using Heart of Glass by Davines, so I bought my 89-year-old mother Alchemic Silver, and she is now receiving comments on her thin silver permed hair. I also got her the OI oil, that I also use, and her hair literally glistens!"

This toning duo is a great option for anyone looking for an extra hit of moisture for their strands. Yes, it nixes brassiness in a flash, but you also get well-balanced formulas boasting nutrient-rich oils to saturate the hair with hydration. 

Pros: Great for seriously dry hair, vegan, cruelty-free, works well for all hair types and hair textures, helps preserve color so it looks fresh for longer

Cons: Some users complained about the scent, may be too heavy for fine hair or hair that's not super dry

Glowing customer review: "This shampoo is the perfect pure indigo-purple. As someone who’s naturally level 2-3 and as someone who has gone to level 10 blonde their whole life, It’s the right toning shade to keep your blonde ashy. I haven't gone to the salon in almost three months, and my dentist just commented on how nice my blonde hair didn't go brassy. Highly recommended to her and anyone who's trial-and-errored so many toning shampoos before. This is the one you need."

Ask a beauty editor the first brand that comes to mind when someone says "damage repair," and they'll likely scream Olaplex. This purple shampoo contains the brand's signature bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate to help rebuild broken and weakened bonds, and it offers a satisfying amount of hydration so your hair isn't left feeling like straw. 

Pros: Highly concentrated, great for damage, sulfate-free but lathers nicely, suitable for all blondes and hair textures, vegan, cruelty-free

Cons: May be drying on certain hair types

Glowing customer review: "Finally, a non-damaging purple shampoo for all the bleached babies out there! Regular purple shampoos really dry out my hair and make it brittle, but this one does not! If anything, it's more hydrating. Love it!"

Kevin Murphy's Blonde.Angel.Wash is one I come back to again and again. It has the power to perfectly tone all shades of blonde hair, but what sets it apart from a lot of other formulas is how soft and shiny your hair feels post-wash. (It's how I imagine an angel's hair would feel—the brand doesn't exaggerate!)

Pros: Restores shine, softness, and hydration; works for all blonde shades; sulfate-free; cruelty-free

Cons: None

Glowing customer review: "I'm loving this product! I feel pampered using it to wash my blond-colored hair as well as feeling assured that I'm using a quality, natural product. The fragrance is beautiful!"

If you didn't think there was a big difference between purple hair formulas, Amika's top-notch picks will convince you otherwise. They boast amazing shine-enhancing and restorative ingredients, such as the brand's Bond Cure Technology, quinoa protein, plant butters, and more. To really take things to the next level, I like to pregame my shampoo with the brand's clarifying shampoo.

Pros: Great for addressing and improving damage and split ends, hydrating, works well on all hair types and textures, pleasant scent, very pigmented

Cons: May be too heavy and hydrating for certain hair types

Glowing customer review: "I'm in the process of going fully blonde. Of course, having naturally dark hair, my hair always pulls orange/brassy red tones weeks later after my salon visit, so I decided to try this shampoo/conditioner combo yesterday, and all I can say is WOW! I left the shampoo in for 5 minutes, rinsed, applied the conditioner, and rinsed with cool water, and the results were impressive. My hair is noticeably lighter, brighter, and cooler toned. My husband even commented on how much lighter my hair was and asked what I did. The lather was sudsy, and the scent is really nice."

Is it a splurge? Big yes. If your beauty budget can handle it, R+Co's eco-friendly Bleu line makes one of the best purple shampoo-and-conditioner duos in the game. The formula itself is rich in antioxidants, and it's one of the best shampoos I've tried for super-even dispersal of the violet pigments. (Nothing is worse than coming out splotchy.) It's equal parts reparative and moisturizing, making it the total package in my eyes. One reviewer even mentioned their colorist was impressed with the results!

Pros: Buildable toning benefits with extremely even results, increases hair elasticity and hydration, helps repair damage, vegan, Leaping Bunny certified

Cons: Pricey

Glowing customer review: "I would honestly say this is the best blonde shampoo I have ever used. It makes my blond super bright, tones any orange, and adds a ton of moisture. Since my hair is super bleached and needs all the moisture and strengthening it can get, I use it once a week. GET IT!"

Pureology is one of my most recommended haircare brands, and its purple shampoo and conditioner are no exception. It has a deliciously rich lather (while being sulfate-free) and really does a great job of toning, imparting shine and hydration, and helping to rebuild and strengthen the hair—a total must if you're chemically lightening your strands.

Pros: Helps to strengthen the hair; repairs split ends; leaves hair soft, moisturized, and shiny; features nourishing ingredients and antioxidants; 100% vegan; lathers well; pleasant scent

Cons: May not be moisturizing enough for super-dry hair

Glowing customer review: "I bleached my own hair at home, and it turned orange and brittle. I was so embarrassed and horrified! I saw this product at Ulta and bought both the shampoo and conditioner in the travel size. After ONE USE, the orange is mostly gone, and my hair is a color that exists in nature. My hair feels much softer too. This product is an absolute godsend, and it saved my hair!"

This is another great option for anyone seeking extra repair magic for their blonde strands. The special Triple Acid Protein Complex strengthens while the pure violet pigments effortlessly negate any unwanted brassiness from the hair.

Pros: Gentle, leaves hair soft and smooth, offers repair and damage protection, pleasant scent, lathers well

Cons: Might not be hydrating enough for super-dry hair

Glowing customer review: "This shampoo is amazing! I lightened my hair, and it ended up being a yellowish blonde. After looking through the different options, I decided on this one. Best decision! I washed my hair, left it in for like 4 minutes and then used the conditioner and repeated the process just to make sure that the color penetrated the strands. After blow-drying and flat-ironing, my hair is perfect. The yellow is gone. No purple streaks, and it's not too light. And then on top of that, my hair seems to be shinier and has more volume than it did before (and I put my hair through a couple of processes to get to this point). This stuff is magic. Your results may vary, but I love my results."

Kérastase is a gold standard in the business of haircare, and I adore its Blond Absolu collection, especially. (There's a wide array of products to round out your entire routine in addition to this A+ shampoo and conditioner.) Ultraviolet neutralizers, hyaluronic acid, and edelweiss extract work together to kick yellow or orange tones to the curb while rehabbing stressed and depleted strands.

Pros: Helps address split ends, damage, and breakage; improves softness and shine

Cons: Pricey, some reviewers didn't like the scent

Glowing customer review: "As a fake blonde, I'm looking for a hydrating shampoo. This one is perfect. I get out of the shower, and it makes my hair feel like liquid gold! I use it every other wash, and that is enough for me."