Purple Archives - celebpeek

Pictured, left to Right: Jim Winship, Steve Heap, John Gallery, Claire Drakely, Rick Stainton, Iain Baird.

The Purple Guide welcomed visitors to the Showman’s Show meetings tent for a morning of interactive discussions about developments to the outdoor events industry’s cornerstone guidance publication, 23^rd October, 2025.

The Purple Guide is curated by the Event Industry Forum (EIF), whose Chair, Steve Heap, introduced proceedings. He explained:

“Having grown from12 to 45 chapters since it was taken over by EIF from the HSE, the Purple Guide is undergoing a reformat and design update to make it a more consistent, user-friendly for subscribers to use.”

“This year, we launched The Purple Guide Lite, which gives condensed guidance with an event management plan for the thousands of (often voluntary) organisers putting on events up to 500 capacity, who don’t need 45 chapters of guidance.

He then introduced the panel comprising Jim Winship (Director of EIF and editor of the Purple Guide), Ian Baird (EIF Director and member of the Local Authority Event Organisers Group (LAEOG), and John Gallery (research lead at UK Events). Jim said:

“With around 5,000 event professionals subscribing to The Purple Guide, we are responding to user feedback to make it easier to reference the vast amounts of guidance, pointing to legislation and best practice in outdoor events.

“We are also developing an international version which will be launched in the New Year This will focus on best practice guidance, leaving aside the legislation, which can vary greatly from country to country.”

This led on to one of the most significant discussions of the morning session, where the panellists described their hope for the imminent agreement of the Secretary of State for Business & Trade agreeing to the launch of a Primary Authority scheme in relation to the Purple Guide. This would give the Purple Guide quasi legal status with one local authority acting as advisors to the Forum and subscribers. Jim explained:

“Primary Authority” is a national scheme allowing businesses to form a statutory partnership with a single local authority to receive assured, consistent regulatory advice on compliance matters.

“This single point of contact for interpretation of legislation and guidance would be a major step towards achieving a consistent approach for organising outdoor events across the country. This would enable businesses working across different areas of the country to operate with greater confidence and help to minimise the risk of conflicting advice or enforcement actions from different local authorities.

“The development of a Primary Authority around The Purple Guide would be the first time the scheme has been applied to a guidance document.”

Ian Biard and John Gallery then spoke, and there was an informative Q&A session with the delegates.

Claire Drakely, Senior Lecturer at the University of Northampton, The Power of Events Project Strategic Lead for Research, Insights and Policy, then took to the stage to launch the Outdoor Events Impact Survey. She explained:

“The survey will provide valuable information to support the outdoor event industry’s leading trade bodies’ engage with the government, armed with accurate up-to-date statistics. It will also provide invaluable data for event organisers.

“This groundbreaking survey has been a year in the making, supported by funding from the Purple Guide Grants scheme. We encourage everyone involved in the outdoor sector to download and register on the Events Industry Insights App (free) now and provide their information to build a comprehensive overview of the socio-economic impacts of this vast sector.”

The Outdoor Events Survey is open for eight weeks and will:

Robustly articulate the economic value and impact of the outdoor events industry and its supply chain across the UK, including employment and visitor statistics, and event and attendee spend
Identify the number of people attending outdoor events with consideration of urban and rural differentiation and associated economic impact
Collate an overview of the social and cultural impact of the outdoor events industry, specifically in relation to local communities and local authorities

Claire continued:

“We are relying on industry-wide participation, so we have designed an easy-to-access survey on the Power of Events App to make this as time-effective as possible, recognising that everyone is under time pressure.

Rick Stanton, Power Of Events CEO, joined Claire to reiterate the invitation. He said:

“I urge all outdoor event professionals to participate in the survey to create a significant piece of information so that we can properly represent the industry to government, local authorities, and commercial stakeholders.”

For anyone with lightened, bleached, or gray hair who wants to maintain a cooler tone, the best purple shampoos are a “smart, low effort way to keep blonde and silver hair fresh, bright, and salon-worthy between appointments,” says celebrity hairstylist Ricky Mota. It’s science meets color theory: The violet and purple pigments work to neutralize unwanted yellow and brassy tones in blonde, platinum, white, or gray hair.

Vogue’s Favorite Purple Shampoo

Best Overall

Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo

Jump to review

The thing is, there’s an art to choosing the right option for you—the wrong purple shampoo can dry out your strands, so it’s worth investing in a high-quality, nourishing formula. Plus, moderation is key—use it too often, and you risk veering into violet territory.

Ahead, everything you need to know about using and choosing the best purple shampoo; plus, Vogue’s favorite formulas to keep color bright and cool-toned, refresh highlights between salon visits, and help reduce brassiness from sun or heat exposure.

In This Story:

Best Overall: Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo

Kérastase

Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo

Why We Love It: For maximum hydration, Kérastase’s Blond Absolu formula is supercharged with hyaluronic acid, while highly-concentrated deep purple pigments restore blonde and gray shades to their original hue. The addition of edelweiss extract boosts both moisture and shine, according to Mota. Though it’s on the pricier side, you’ll only need to use it once a week, so a single bottle should last a while. The brand recommends leaving it on for at least two minutes (or longer, depending on how much you want to tone down brassiness). for best results
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, edelweiss flower, ultra-violet neutralizers
Best For: Blonde hair, grey hair
Size: 250 mL

Best for All Hair Types: Dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo

Dae

Violet Hour Purple Shampoo

Why We Love It: No matter your hair type, whether straight, wavy, curly, or coily, Dae’s Violet Hour Purple Shampoo effectively tones down brassiness while nourishing strands with botanical ingredients like quinoa protein and cactus flower. According to celebrity colorist Rita Hazan, “It’s sulfate-free, vegan, and has a pleasant citrus scent, leaving blonde, gray, or lightened hair bright without drying it out.” However, she cautions that using it too often or leaving it on for too long can result in a slight purple tint.
Key Ingredients: Cactus flower extract, quinoa protein, moringa leaf extract
Best For: Blonde, gray, and lightened brunette hair
Size: 300 mL

Best for Bond Repair: Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Purple Shampoo

Olaplex

No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Purple Shampoo

Why We Love It: With its patented bond building technology, Olaplex’s violet, highly concentrated shampoo repairs and protects hair while tackling brassiness. Best used two to three times per week, this works well on both natural blondes and grays, as well as highlighted and chemically-treated strands. It comes in two sizes, 250 mL and 1000 mL, so if you opt for the larger one, you’ll never have to worry about running out. Plus, complete the regimen with Olaplex’s purple toning conditioner to ensure hair looks shiny and balanced after each wash day.
Key Ingredients: Violet toning agents
Best For: Blonde, grey hair
Size: 250 mL, 1000 mL

Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Shampoo

L’Oréal Paris

EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Shampoo

Why We Love It: For those who don’t want to break the bank or simply wish to test drive the benefits of purple shampoo before splurging on a luxury option, this under-$15 pick from L’Oréal is a great place to start. A drugstore favorite, L’Oréal’s sulfate-free EverPure formula protects color with just the right amount of purple pigments, while hair-loving hibiscus, which is rich in vitamin C, helps boost hair growth and retention. Mota calls it a “great affordable option,” noting that it’s “sulfate-free and easy for weekly maintenance.” It’s not just for true blondes either, as it helps neutralize brassy yellow and orange tones in blonde, bleached, highlighted, and silver hair.
Key Ingredients: Purple dye, hibiscus
Best For: Blonde, bleached, highlighted and silver hair
Size: 200 mL

Best Nourishing: Leonor Greyl Soin Repigmentant Icy Blonde

Leonor Greyl

Soin Repigmentant Icy Blonde

Why We Love It: To hydrate extra-parched dry hair, Leonor Greyl’s brightening purple conditioning treatment is infused with meadowfoam seed oil, rice proteins, and babassu butter. Mota notes that it’s technically more of a conditioning treatment than a shampoo, describing it as a “natural, nourishing pigment treatment that tones and softens.” After shampooing, work it through the scalp to the ends and leave on for two to five minutes weekly to remove yellow tones, enhance color, and neutralize very light blonde to blonde hair.
Key Ingredients: Meadowfoam oil, almond extract, babassu oil
Best For: Blonde hair
Size: 200 mL

Best for Damaged Hair: dpHUE Cool Blonde Shampoo

Why We Love It: To keep your blonde fresh and cool, dpHUE’s gentle cleanser is infused with purple pigments and nourishing ingredients like silk proteins to improve elasticity and prevent breakage. While some purple shampoos can be quite harsh, Mota says this one leans the other way, describing it as “effective yet gentle.” The trick is to leave it on for up to five minutes, then follow with the brand’s Cool Blonde Conditioner once a week to keep hair looking bright and free of brassiness.
Key Ingredients: Purple pigments, silk proteins
Best For: Cool blonde hair
Size: 250 mL

Best for Brassy Hair: Amika Bust Your Brass Shampoo

Why We Love It: “Amika Bust Your Brass Shampoo is a salon-quality purple shampoo designed to neutralize brassiness in blonde, silver, and gray hair,” says Hazan. It’s infused with nourishing ingredients like quinoa protein and plant butters to help strengthen and hydrate while toning unwanted warm tones. “The shampoo’s violet pigments effectively counteract yellow and orange hues, leaving hair with a cooler, more vibrant appearance.” It also leaves behind a fresh scent of pink grapefruit, apricot, and warm vanilla, turning the chore of wash day into a more indulgent ritual.
Key Ingredients: Ultra-violet pigments, quinoa protein
Best For: Yellow and brassy tones
Size: 275 mL

Best Smoothing: Nexxus Blonde Assure Shampoo

Why We Love It: Nexxus Blonde Assure Purple Shampoo is a powerful yet gentle way to keep blonde, silver, and bleached hair looking fresh and vibrant, says Hazan. “Since it has keratin protein and violet pigments, it effectively neutralizes unwanted brassiness while helping to strengthen and smooth the hair. It does contain sulfates, which can be drying if overused, so make sure to follow with a rich conditioner to keep hair healthy and hydrated.” It also has a light citrus scent that lingers throughout the day, making it an easy way to fish for compliments.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, hydrolyzed keratin
Best For: Blonde, silver, platinum hair
Size: 251 mL

Everything You Need to Know

According to Hazan, “Purple shampoo is a toning shampoo infused with violet pigments designed to cancel out unwanted yellow or brassy tones in blonde, silver, gray, or white hair.” Since purple sits opposite yellow on the color wheel, it neutralizes warmth and keeps light-colored hair looking cool and fresh between salon visits. “It won’t dye your hair purple,” she adds. “Instead, it subtly tones and enhances your color without leaving behind a purple tint when used properly.”

The Benefits of Purple Shampoo

When used sparingly, purple shampoo can deliver a range of benefits. Hazan explains that it helps neutralize yellow and brassy tones, prolong salon color results, enhance shine and brightness, and allow for gentle maintenance between appointments. It also works for both natural and color-treated hair and is especially effective for white or gray hair that has started to yellow. “It removes that hollow tint, leaving white hair crisp and clean-looking,” she says.

Who should use purple shampoo?

Hazan says purple shampoo is ideal for natural or dyed blondes (especially platinum, ash, or icy tones), people with silver, gray, or white hair, those with blonde highlights or balayage, and anyone experiencing yellowing from sun exposure, pollution, or hard water. “It’s generally not needed for darker hair unless there are lighter pieces that need toning,” she explains.

What is the downside of purple shampoo?

“Using purple shampoo too often or leaving it on too long can result in a dull, grayish, or even purple tint, especially on very light or porous hair,” says Hazan. “Too much purple shampoo will dull your hair, leaving it not only an odd color but also lacking shine,” she adds. Overuse can also cause dryness, so Mota recommends using it only once or twice a week and always following with a hydrating conditioner.

How to Use Purple Shampoo

To use a purple shampoo, wet the hair and lather on the formula evenly. “Don’t apply it on dry because the hair is more porous, and it will grab too much of the purple tone,” cautions colorist Richy Kandasamy. Once applied evenly, leave it on for two to four minutes, depending on the amount of brassiness or yellow in the hair. “When rinsing the shampoo out of your hair, use cool water, which will help close the cuticle and seal the color.” Following, apply a conditioner, moisturizing hair mask, or leave-in to lock in hydration.

When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity hairstylists—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.

As it relates to the top purple shampoos, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, lather, the way hair feels following a wash, how long the tones last for, and the hair-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.

Rita Hazan is a celebrity hair colorist (whose clients include Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Aubrey Plaza) and the founder of Rita Hazan Salon.
Richy Kandasamy is a celebrity hair colorist who specializes in color education, technique, and product development.
Ricky Mota is a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Stephanie Suganami and Josie Totah.

Purple

Updates from The Purple Guide

8 Best Purple Shampoos, According to Celebrity Hairstylists