Many people are unsure of what products to use and which ones will work best for them when it comes to hair care. I am one of them, too. But, to help you guys know which products will work for your hair, I tried them on me.
Toner and purple shampoo are both hair products used to maintain hair color. A hair toner, on the other hand, is used to keep hair color from fading, while purple shampoo counteracts brassiness in hair color.
I bleached my hair to add different colors, but of course, I want to maintain its color and vibrance.
Some people believe that using both products together is the best way to maintain hair color, while others believe that one product is better.
So, what I did is research and ask hair care specialists and colorists experts to know what really is the proper way to take care of color-treated hair. Moreover, I tried using toner and purple shampoo to see if both products are really working to maintain the color of my hair.
| Aspect | Toner | Purple Shampoo |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Used to balance the skin's pH, remove impurities, and prepare the skin for additional skincare products | Designed to neutralize brassy or yellow tones in blonde, silver, or highlighted hair |
| Application | Applied to the skin using a cotton pad after cleansing to refresh and prep the skin | Used on damp hair and left on for a few minutes before rinsing to counteract unwanted warm tones |
| Key Ingredients | Contains ingredients like witch hazel, glycolic acid, and hyaluronic acid to clarify and hydrate the skin | Formulated with purple pigments to counteract yellow or brassiness in hair color |
| Hair Type | N/A | Suitable for blonde, silver, or highlighted hair prone to brassiness or yellowing |
| Frequency of Use | Can be used daily or as needed, depending on the formulation and skin type | Typically used once or twice a week, or as needed, to maintain hair color |
| Benefits | Helps to remove traces of impurities and restore the skin's natural pH balance | Counteracts unwanted warm tones in hair color, resulting in a cooler, ashier blonde or silver shade |
| Packaging | Available in various formats including liquid, gel, or mist in bottles or spray containers | Offered in liquid form in bottles or tubes, with varying levels of pigmentation and toning strength |
| Pricing | Positioned as an affordable and accessible skincare product | Positioned as an affordable and accessible haircare product |
| Popular Products | Thayers Witch Hazel Toner, Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant | Fanola No Yellow Shampoo, Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo |
| Availability | Widely available through various retailers and online platforms | Widely available through beauty retailers, salons, and online platforms |
This article will compare toner vs purple shampoo to determine which one is the better option for you.
What is a Toner?
Toner is a service that your stylist can provide after your hair has been highlighted or lightened to increase the color or tone of your blonde. Toners can remove unwanted yellow/orange or brassy hues and add violet/blue tones. Toners can also highlight golden tones that are required for a more blonde look.
Lee Wright, Master Stylist, and owner of the salon use toners to blend or soften highlights to give his clients natural hair. They can be semi-permanently utilized to provide your hair with the blonde look you desire.
What is a Purple Shampoo?
Many brands make violet-based Purple shampoos. These products can be purchased at your salon. These products will help reduce the appearance of yellows and oranges on your freshly dyed hair.
Although they can be great for maintaining the blonde color that you and your stylist have worked so hard to achieve - keep in mind that they are not as effective at fading it.
Shampoos can get too much. Overuse of purple shampoos can cause your hair to become duller and may even shift to a violet/grayish color.
I recommend using a violet-based conditioner at home like Shu Uemura Color Lustre or L'Oreal Professional Color Correction. Your shampoo and conditioner should be used on average every other wash or two washes. It is up to you how often you use it.
If your hair begins turning grayer, reduce the frequency with which your at-home maintenance product is used.
Want more understanding about what does purple shampoos do, see our article.
Is Purple Shampoo the same as a Toner?
Toner is a product that changes hair color by adding pigment to it. This can be in the form of a shampoo, conditioner, or hair mask.
Purple shampoo is a type of hair toner that helps neutralize lightened hair's brassiness. Brassiness is when unwanted warm, yellow tones appear in your hair. It can be caused by things like UV rays, chlorine, and mineral impurities in water.
Purple shampoo can help counter these effects and keep your hair looking its best. It is a toning shampoo used to help maintain the color of the hair for all shades of blonde. It also keeps hair looking healthy and vibrant.
Purple shampoo is usually known as a color-correcting toner to keep your hair from its color without going to the salon.
Other considered toners could be hair glosses. This strengthens hair strands and boosts its shine. Semi-permanent hair color is also a toner that refreshes hair color.
Is Purple Shampoo Able To Replace Toner?
While purple will not replace your regular toner, it can be a great alternative if you need it. It's designed to keep blondes from becoming brassy and help maintain a neutral or ashy color between stylist visits.
Purple shampoo is a toning shampoo used for all shades of blonde hair to help preserve its color and keep locks looking healthy and vibrant. The shampoo essentially acts as a color-correcting toner for your hair, saving you both time and money by avoiding trips to the salon.
Purple shampoo and purple toner serve the same purpose - they both help to reduce unwanted yellow and orange tones in your hair. But that's where the similarities end. These two products are very different in a number of ways.
For starters, toner creates immediate results while purple shampoo works gradually. Additionally, the products are applied differently - toner is applied like a hair dye while purple shampoo is used like any other shampoo.
So, if you're trying to decide which product is right for you, it's important to keep these differences in mind. Choose the one that best suits your needs and preferences!
Watch our guide on mixing hair dye with shampoo.
What is the Difference Between Purple Shampoo and Toner? Are They the Same Thing?
Both purple shampoo and toner can be used for the same purpose. Both are used to reduce undesirable yellow and orange hair colors. They do not have much in common. They are very different products.
The toner has immediate results, but the purple shampoo is gradual.
The products are also applied differently. A toner is applied as a hair dye, while a shampoo with purple is used just like any other shampoo.
This is the significant difference between purple shampoo and toner.
Let's not forget to help you decide which product is right for you.
There are two things to remember when deciding on which product to use:
Do you have experience in coloring hair? Are you looking for immediate results, or do you prefer to wait?
I recommend purple shampoo if you don't have any experience with hair dye.
If you are an expert at coloring hair, either product might work.
Toner is the only way to get immediate results.
How does Purple Shampoo Work? How does Toner Work?
Toner and purple shampoo can be used for the same purpose.
Both products can neutralize any yellow or orange hair tones.
Let's take, for example, medium blonde hair. You fell in love with the new color as soon as you left the salon. The new-look was loved by all your family members, friends, and coworkers.
It didn't last.
Your beautiful blonde turned orange in just a few short days.
The hair industry was very generous. You don't have to choose between two products for your hair problems.
- Purple shampoo
- Toner and printer
These products can also be used for other purposes.
Let's take, for instance, bleaching your hair. Your hair may turn yellow or orange depending on its natural color. These tones can be neutralized by using a purple shampoo or toner.
As I mentioned, both products do the same thing. What is different about them?
- The purple shampoo contains pigment.
It deposits pigment in hair, which neutralizes unwanted yellow tones.
- Toner, on the other side, works as a hair dye.
You apply it to damp hair using a 20 volume developer. It takes five to fifteen minutes.
The developer allows the pigments in the hair to penetrate the strands.
To allow the purple toner to penetrate the hair's cuticle, the developer will open it.
This instantly neutralizes orange and yellow tones.
Which One Works Faster? Toner or Purple Shampoo?
Toner has immediate results, while purple shampoo gradually changes the yellow tones.
- You can apply toner-like hair color. You will notice a difference in the color of your hair immediately. Also, you will see immediate results.
- Purple shampoo, however, tones hair slowly every time it is washed. This product will gradually reduce the amount of yellow and orange tones in your hair.
Toner can be applied to the same results in four to five washes.
As I stated initially, toner is necessary if you don't want to see orange tones today.
Which PRODUCT is EASIER to APPLY?
Purple shampoo is more accessible to apply than toner.
- Use it as any other shampoo. Make sure you read the directions before using them.
- Toner is applied in the same way as hair dye. If you misuse it, you might have blue or purple hair.
Many women see a few YouTube videos and believe they are ready to use toner.
Many YouTubers may not realize that they are either professional hairstylists or experienced hair colorists. This is why they achieve great results.
Don't let anyone fool you into believing that toner is easy to use. It's not, to be honest.
A professional is recommended if you are unsure how to dye your hair and tone it immediately.
Remember, nothing good ever happens in a hurry. You may have heard the expression, Haste makes waste.
It also applies to hair. Sometimes, you need to take some time to think about what product you should use before you decide which one to use.
How Often Should you Tone your Hair?
Toners are great for customizing your hair color and making it more vibrant. If you're not happy with the current color of your hair, a toner can help you enhance it to a shade you're more pleased with. However, it's important not to overdo it with toners. Too much of it can damage your hair.
Color-treated hair usually fades after some time, and bleach-blonde hair often develops brassy tones as it oxidizes. To maintain healthy-looking blonde hair, refresh your color with a toner every 6-8 weeks.
But toning often also depends on your hair type. Many hair care specialists recommend how often you can tone your hair.
Toning your hair is a chemical process that can take a toll on your strands. For best results, wait at least four weeks between toning sessions.
Extend the intervals to 7 or 8 weeks if your hair is dry and brittle. Never tone your hair twice in a row or within the same week to fix an unwanted color result.
The average toner lasts anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks, but this number can differ based on how well you take care of your hair color.
Many factors affect the longevity of your hair color, and there are some things you can do to prevent it from getting stripped. For example, if you use low-quality shampoo, your color will fade faster. Chlorides and sulfates are typically to blame for color stripping. Some toners last longer than others, so if you want to know for sure, ask your colorist!
I suggest following the 6-8 weeks rule since most colorists suggest this timeframe.
Should I use Toner or Purple Shampoo?
Many things in life aren't always black and white.
Toner can be used with a purple shampoo. They can be used together if you do it correctly.
To maintain your color, you can use a toner after applying it.
Read also: Can I use Purple shampoo on Red Hair
Are You Using Purple Shampoo Before or Afterward To Tone?
Pre-lighten your hair and create a clean, dry canvas before applying your final color. Apply a violet shampoo or toner, then bleach the hair.
You might often hear about purple shampoo being used by hairdressers as a way to pre-tone hair before coloring. This is because purple shampoo can help to cool down the yellow or golden tones of bleached hair, making it easier to color or tone evenly.
It's important to note that you can still use a toner after using purple shampoo, or vice versa. If you use them correctly, the two products can complement each other.
For example, if you decide to use a toner, you can start using a purple shampoo afterward to help maintain the color.
Do I Need To Use Purple Shampoo After Bleaching?
It is not recommended if you have severe hair damage. However, if you have blonde hair and want to keep it healthy, you might consider adding a purple shampoo. Be careful not to use too much.
Purple shampoo is essential for anyone with bleached blonde hair who wants to maintain their color and get rid of any brassy, yellow, or orange tones. But you don't have to have bleached blonde hair to use purple shampoo - it can also be used on darker shades of blonde to achieve the same effect.
As soon as you notice any unwanted yellow tones after rinsing out the bleach, you can start using purple shampoo, as it will help neutralize these yellow tones. It also helps in completely rinsing off the bleach from your hair.
But if there are no signs of brassiness after bleaching, I suggest not using purple shampoo immediately. Wait for at least a week before using it.
How often you will use purple shampoo depends on the intensity of the yellow undertones of your hair.
So if you're looking to reduce the brassiness in your hair color, give purple shampoo a try!
Do I Need To Tone My Hair Before Going Blonde?
You should get the desired result with a hair dye. However, if your hair is too dark or lightened by shade, you can apply a toner to help neutralize the brassy tones.
To answer your question, no. A toner is unnecessary, and it does not make any difference in your hair color.
You need to use bleach in order to lighten your hair. If you want to achieve a natural-looking blonde, you should apply a hair toner to your bleached mane. This will help to avoid a garish yellow or brassy orange look.
A hair toner is a product used to neutralize brassy/yellow tones in bleached hair or hair that has been dyed a light color. You should use a toner after you dye your hair as it can take a few shampoo cycles before the natural color of your hair begins to show through and you can better identify which areas are more prone to brassiness.
If your bleached hair isn't toned correctly, you may have to use a toner to correct the issue.
Does Purple Shampoo really Tone Hair?
Purple shampoo is one of the key steps to keep your hair color vibrant and "fresh-from-salon" like color.
Brassiness is the unwanted yellow tones that you may find on your hair strands, especially when you are blonde. This is because of the sun rays or chlorine that cause brassiness to your hair.
Purple shampoo helps cleanse your hair strands and enhance the color of your hair. It has crushed violet pigments which is the main thing of the shampoo. The purple pigment helps tone your hair when you use purple shampoo.
It is purple because purple is opposite to yellow on the color wheel. This means it counteracts the yellow.
Overall, suppose you notice any lightened strands on your hair. In that case, purple shampoo is something you can use to eliminate these unwanted tones and brass.
To prevent brassiness, purple shampoo is the best solution to tone your hair, even at home.
Will Purple Shampoo wash out Toner?
Suppose you're looking to reduce the appearance of orange and yellow tones in your hair. In that case, purple shampoo can be a helpful solution. This type of shampoo is often effective for blondes and using it shortly after toning your hair can help extend the life of the toner.
Wait 3-5 days after applying toner to your hair to get the best results before using purple shampoo.
Using toner to get rid of unwanted yellow tones in your hair is a process that takes time. Coloring your hair doesn't happen instantly, and it can take a while to see the full effects.
For example, it may take 24 to 48 hours for your hair to fully absorb the pigments from the toner and neutralize the yellow tones. Only then will you be able to see if the unwanted tones are gone for good.
Washing your hair with purple shampoo right after applying toner can actually cause you to lose the pigments from the toner. This means that the yellowish colors will still be present in your hair.
The toner works by penetrating the hair fiber to deposit violet pigments that neutralize yellowish ones, making the effects of the toner long-lasting. On the other hand, purple shampoo simply deposits a film of pigments on the outside of the hair that fades with washes.
However, this question is still an argument from all hair care experts. Some stated that it's okay to use purple shampoo after toning.
You don't have to use purple shampoo after you tone your hair, but it may be a good idea. It can help maintain your light hair color, neutralize undertones, or help target the brassiness that your toner left behind.
Is Toner Damaging to your Hair?
No, toner doesn't damage hair. It is used to keep your hair neutralized its tone. But of course, overusing a toner can cause damage to your hair strand, so use it wisely.
Additionally, if your hair is already damaged, toner can worsen the problem. Toner may cause dryness to your hair, too.
Remember that toner is used to adjust the tone of your hair; it does not lighten it but enhances the color. It's like makeup for the hair.
Toner is applied after you bleach your hair. This helps neutralize unwanted yellow tones and enhance your desired color tone.
That being said, toner can be a part of the process, especially when you want to color-treat your hair. It does not cause any damage as long as it is used properly. But, just like any other coloring process, over-using toner may cause damage.
Conclusion
Toner effectively neutralizes the yellowish or brassiness that occurs when hair color fades. Therefore, toner can help preserve hair color and prevent hair color from fading from exposure to sun and chlorine in the water.
The shampoo effectively neutralizes the yellowish or brassiness when hair color fades. Therefore, it can help preserve hair color and prevent fading hair color from exposure to sun and chlorine in the water.
So, here's the verdict. Purple shampoo is superior to toner when it comes to preserving hair color. But, both toner and purple can provide the benefits of maintaining your hair color and preventing fading. So hope you enjoyed my little review post!
