Purple shampoo, the holy grail for blondes, silvers, and those rocking highlighted hair, is designed to banish brassiness and keep your color looking fresh and vibrant. But what happens if you get a little too enthusiastic with your toning and leave it on for far longer than recommended – say, a whopping two hours? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t pretty. Let’s dive into the potential consequences of this purple predicament and how to mitigate the damage.
Understanding Purple Shampoo and Its Purpose
To grasp the impact of leaving purple shampoo on for an extended period, it’s crucial to understand its fundamental purpose. Purple shampoo works on the principle of color theory.
The Science of Color Correction
In the world of color, purple sits directly opposite yellow on the color wheel. This complementary relationship allows purple pigments to neutralize unwanted yellow or brassy tones in light-colored hair. When blonde or silver hair is exposed to environmental factors like sun, hard water, and pollution, it can develop those undesirable yellow hues. Purple shampoo deposits a small amount of purple pigment to counteract this discoloration, restoring a cooler, brighter tone.
Why Timing Matters
The key to successful purple shampoo use lies in the precise timing. The concentration of purple pigment in these shampoos is carefully calibrated to deliver a subtle toning effect. Overuse or prolonged exposure can lead to over-toning, resulting in a range of undesirable outcomes.
The Potential Consequences of Over-Processing with Purple Shampoo
Leaving purple shampoo on for two hours is a significant over-processing event. The consequences can range from mild to severe, depending on your hair’s porosity, color, and overall condition.
The Dreaded Purple Tint
The most immediate and obvious consequence is a distinct purple or lavender tint to your hair. This is because the excessive amount of purple pigment has had ample time to deposit onto the hair shaft. The intensity of the purple hue will vary depending on how porous your hair is. Highly porous hair absorbs color more readily, resulting in a deeper, more noticeable purple cast. This outcome is especially prominent on lighter shades of blonde and highlighted areas.
Dryness and Brittle Hair
Most purple shampoos contain sulfates, detergents, and other ingredients that can strip the hair of its natural oils. While these ingredients are effective at cleansing the hair, they can also lead to dryness, especially when used excessively or for extended periods. Leaving purple shampoo on for two hours exacerbates this drying effect, potentially leaving your hair feeling brittle, rough, and prone to breakage.
Uneven Color Distribution
The prolonged exposure can lead to uneven color distribution, especially if your hair has varying levels of porosity. Some areas may absorb more pigment than others, resulting in patchy or streaky purple discoloration. This unevenness can be particularly noticeable in highlighted hair, where the lighter strands tend to absorb color more quickly.
Dullness and Lack of Shine
The drying effect of prolonged purple shampoo exposure can also contribute to dullness. When the hair is stripped of its natural oils, it loses its ability to reflect light, resulting in a lackluster appearance. The purple tint itself can also diminish shine, making your hair look flat and lifeless.
Potential for Damage and Breakage
In severe cases, leaving purple shampoo on for two hours can weaken the hair shaft, increasing the risk of damage and breakage. This is especially true for hair that is already dry, damaged, or chemically treated. The excessive drying effect can compromise the hair’s elasticity, making it more susceptible to splitting, snapping, and overall fragility.
Assessing the Damage: What to Look For
After accidentally leaving purple shampoo on for too long, it’s important to assess the damage to determine the best course of action.
Check for the Purple Tint
The most obvious sign is the presence of a purple or lavender tint. Examine your hair in natural light to accurately assess the color. Pay close attention to the lighter sections, such as highlights or previously bleached areas, as these will likely be the most affected.
Evaluate Hair Texture
Assess the texture of your hair to determine if it feels dry, brittle, or rough. Run your fingers through your hair and pay attention to how it feels. Dry hair will often feel stiff and lack its usual smoothness.
Look for Signs of Breakage
Inspect your hair for signs of breakage, such as split ends or small, broken pieces of hair. Gently tug on a few strands to see if they stretch or snap easily. Excessive breakage is a clear indication that your hair has been weakened.
Observe Shine and Luster
Evaluate the overall shine and luster of your hair. Healthy hair should have a natural sheen and reflect light well. Dull, lifeless hair is a sign that it has been stripped of its moisture.
Remedies: How to Fix the Purple Mishap
Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ to mitigate the damage and restore your hair to its former glory.
Wash with a Clarifying Shampoo
The first step is to wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo. Clarifying shampoos are designed to remove buildup and impurities from the hair, including excess pigment. Use a generous amount of clarifying shampoo and massage it thoroughly into your hair, focusing on the areas with the most purple tint. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Deep Conditioning Treatment
After clarifying, your hair will likely be feeling dry, so it’s essential to replenish its moisture with a deep conditioning treatment. Choose a hydrating hair mask or deep conditioner and apply it generously to your hair, focusing on the ends. Leave the treatment on for at least 20 minutes, or longer if desired. Rinse thoroughly with cool water. This will help to restore moisture and improve the overall condition of your hair.
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
An apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse can help to remove excess purple pigment and restore your hair’s pH balance. Mix one part apple cider vinegar with three parts water. After shampooing and conditioning, pour the ACV rinse over your hair, making sure to saturate all strands. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cool water. The acidity of the ACV helps to lift the purple tint and close the hair cuticle, resulting in smoother, shinier hair.
Baking Soda Paste
A paste made from baking soda and water can also help to lift the purple tint. Mix baking soda with water to form a thick paste. Apply the paste to the affected areas of your hair and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Be cautious when using baking soda, as it can be drying. Always follow up with a deep conditioning treatment.
Vitamin C Treatment
Crushed vitamin C tablets mixed with water can act as a gentle color remover. Crush several vitamin C tablets and mix them with water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the purple tinted areas of your hair and leave it on for 20-30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. This method is known for being relatively gentle while helping lift unwanted tones.
Professional Help
If the purple tint is severe or if you are unsure about how to proceed, it is best to seek professional help from a hairstylist. A stylist can assess the damage and recommend the best course of action, which may include a color correction treatment. Attempting to correct the color yourself could potentially lead to further damage if not done properly.
Preventing Future Purple Disasters
Prevention is always better than cure. Here are some tips to avoid future purple shampoo mishaps.
Follow Instructions Carefully
Always read and follow the instructions on the purple shampoo bottle. Pay close attention to the recommended usage time and frequency.
Start Small
If you are unsure about how your hair will react to purple shampoo, start by using it for a shorter period than recommended. You can always increase the time if needed, but it’s much harder to undo over-toning.
Dilute the Shampoo
Diluting the purple shampoo with regular shampoo can help to reduce its intensity. Mix a small amount of purple shampoo with your regular shampoo before applying it to your hair. This can help to prevent over-toning, especially if you have highly porous hair.
Use as a Toner, Not a Shampoo
Instead of using purple shampoo as a regular shampoo, consider using it as a toner. Apply it to wet hair after shampooing, focusing on the areas that need toning. Leave it on for a short period (1-5 minutes), then rinse thoroughly.
Monitor Your Hair’s Condition
Pay attention to how your hair reacts to purple shampoo. If you notice any signs of dryness, breakage, or dullness, reduce the frequency of use or switch to a gentler formula.
Use a Purple Conditioner
Consider using a purple conditioner instead of a purple shampoo. Purple conditioners tend to be less drying and can provide a more subtle toning effect.
By understanding the potential consequences of over-processing with purple shampoo and following these tips, you can avoid future purple disasters and keep your blonde, silver, or highlighted hair looking its best.
What is purple shampoo supposed to do, and why do people use it?
Purple shampoo is designed to neutralize unwanted yellow or brassy tones in blonde, silver, gray, or highlighted hair. These tones can develop over time due to oxidation, mineral buildup from hard water, and sun exposure. The purple pigment in the shampoo counteracts the yellow tones, as purple and yellow are opposite on the color wheel, effectively canceling each other out and restoring a cooler, brighter color.
People use purple shampoo to maintain the vibrancy and desired tone of their light-colored hair. It helps to prolong the time between salon visits for color correction, saving both time and money. By regularly using purple shampoo, individuals can keep their hair looking fresh and prevent it from becoming dull or brassy, achieving a salon-worthy look at home.
What are the potential consequences of leaving purple shampoo on for 2 hours?
Leaving purple shampoo on for an extended period like 2 hours can lead to over-toning, resulting in a noticeable purple or lavender tint to your hair. This is because the pigment in the shampoo has more time to deposit onto the hair shaft. This is especially likely to happen on porous or damaged hair, which absorbs color more readily, leading to an uneven and undesirable color outcome.
Beyond the color change, prolonged exposure can also dry out your hair. Purple shampoos are often formulated with sulfates and other cleansing agents that, while effective for removing buildup, can strip the hair of its natural oils when left on for too long. This can lead to brittle, dry, and damaged hair that is more prone to breakage and split ends. It may also cause scalp irritation.
How can I remove a purple tint from my hair if I accidentally left the shampoo on too long?
One of the most effective methods to remove a purple tint is to use a clarifying shampoo. These shampoos are designed to deeply cleanse the hair and remove buildup, including excess pigment. Wash your hair thoroughly with a clarifying shampoo, being sure to lather well and rinse completely. You may need to repeat this process several times to lighten the purple tint.
Another approach is to use a regular, non-purple shampoo with warm water. Warm water helps to lift the color from the hair shaft. Follow up with a moisturizing deep conditioner, as the clarifying shampoo and warm water can be drying. You could also try a color remover specifically designed for hair, but proceed with caution and follow the product’s instructions carefully to avoid further damage.
Will purple shampoo damage my hair if left on for too long, even if I don’t see a color change?
Even if you don’t notice a significant color change, leaving purple shampoo on for an extended period can still potentially damage your hair. The ingredients in most purple shampoos, such as sulfates, can strip the hair of its natural oils, leading to dryness and brittleness. Over time, repeated excessive use can weaken the hair shaft, increasing the risk of breakage and split ends.
The prolonged exposure to the shampoo’s chemicals can also irritate the scalp. This can manifest as dryness, itching, or even inflammation. It’s crucial to follow the product’s instructions and avoid exceeding the recommended contact time, even if you are not immediately seeing an unwanted purple hue. Regular moisturizing treatments are essential to counteract potential damage.
How long should I typically leave purple shampoo on my hair for optimal results?
The optimal contact time for purple shampoo varies depending on the specific product and your hair’s porosity and color. Generally, it’s recommended to start with a short contact time, usually between 1 to 5 minutes. This allows you to assess how your hair responds to the shampoo without risking over-toning. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions on the bottle for guidance.
If you find that the initial contact time isn’t sufficient to neutralize brassiness, you can gradually increase it in subsequent washes, but avoid exceeding 15 minutes. Observe your hair carefully during the process. For best results, apply the shampoo evenly, focusing on areas where brassiness is most prominent. Monitor the color change and rinse thoroughly when the desired tone is achieved.
What types of hair are most susceptible to turning purple after using purple shampoo?
Hair that is highly porous or damaged is more susceptible to absorbing excessive purple pigment. Porous hair has a rougher cuticle layer, allowing the purple pigment to penetrate deeper and faster than in healthy, less porous hair. Chemically treated hair, such as bleached or permed hair, is often more porous due to the damage caused by these processes, making it more prone to unwanted purple tones.
Additionally, very light blonde or silver hair is also more likely to show a purple tint. Because these shades lack significant natural pigment, any added color, even a small amount of purple, will be more visible. Fine hair, as opposed to coarse hair, also tends to absorb color more quickly and evenly. Individuals with these hair types should exercise extra caution when using purple shampoo and carefully monitor the contact time.
Are there alternatives to purple shampoo for maintaining blonde or gray hair?
Yes, several alternatives exist to help maintain blonde or gray hair without the risk of over-toning with purple shampoo. Blue shampoo is one option, and it is formulated for brunettes with highlights to neutralize orange or red tones, but can also subtly tone blonde hair without the strong purple pigment. Color-depositing conditioners are another option, offering a gentler approach to toning.
Additionally, using a clarifying shampoo regularly can help prevent brassiness by removing mineral buildup and product residue that can contribute to yellow tones. Hair glosses and toners applied by a professional can also provide a long-lasting and customized color correction. Finally, protecting your hair from sun exposure and using products designed for color-treated hair can help prolong the vibrancy of your blonde or gray locks and reduce the need for frequent toning.