- The purple shampoo should be left on your hair for 1 to 5 minutes according to the intensity of the unwanted colors you want to neutralize.
- Then, if your hair is really orange, you shouldn’t leave the purple shampoo in for even half a minute. You run the risk of ending up with reddish-brown hair.
- What you should use on your orange hair is a BLUE SHAMPOO, and here’s why.
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Sometimes, toning shampoos remind me of the fuss there was about Brazilian straightening several decades ago.
Of course, the reasons are different.
With hair straightening, it was about the toxicity of the treatment.
As regards toning shampoos such as purple, opinions revolve around how long they should be left in.
Recently, with so many “specialists” around, I have heard the most unlikely things, from half an hour to fifteen minutes.
However, the purple shampoo should be left in between 1 and 5 minutes according to the brand you choose.
For example, Fanola’s No Yellow recommends 1 to 3 minutes, while Shimmer Lights and Matrix Total Results claim that their purple shampoo acts between 3 to 5 minutes.
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So many opinions generate confusion, which leads me to think, are you sure your hair needs a purple shampoo?
Purple shampoo neutralizes unwanted yellow tones.
If you look at a color wheel, a fundamental colorimetry tool, purple is opposite to yellow.
What would happen if you used purple shampoo on your orange hair and left it in for 5 minutes?
Your hair would turn a reddish-brown color. And if you want more accuracy, the resulting color would be a reddish-ochre.
What should you do, then?
If your hair is really orange, I insist on the word “really,” you should use a BLUE SHAMPOO.
It’ll be as easy to find as the purple shampoo. Almost all manufacturers of purple shampoo also have blue shampoo.
For example, Fanola makes purple No Yellow shampoo and blue No Orange shampoo because blue neutralizes orange and purple neutralizes yellow.
So, before asking yourself how long to leave the purple shampoo in, you should properly evaluate the shade you want to neutralize.
While these shampoos are harmless, they change the color of your hair. If you choose the wrong color, you could end up with a color you don’t like.
Toning shampoos have temporary effects. However, if you choose one with very strong pigmentation and leave it in longer than necessary, your shade will change completely.
It brings us to the next question.
If my hair is orange and I have to use blue shampoo, how long should I leave it in?
I have to admit that you’re incisive on the subject of timing. You found your perfect match because I’m incisive on the subject of hair color differentiation.
So, before we talk about how long you should leave the shampoo in, I suggest that you observe your hair carefully and good natural light.
Think about the color wheel.
- Is your hair light orange or dark orange?
- Maybe it’s just orange?
Then, you already have the confirmation of what you need: a blue shampoo.
Therefore, we can move on to talk about how and for how long to apply it on that ugly orange.
However, not so fast. You need to know what intensity of orange you have on your hair. It’s not the same to leave it in for 3 minutes on a dark orange as it is on light orange.
So, keep the following tip in mind when using the blue shampoo:
- If it’s dark orange, leave it in for up to 5 minutes.
- If it’s orange, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Finally, if it’s light orange, leave it in for up to 3 minutes.
And if you still have some doubts, the blue shampoo is applied to remove orange tones on dark blonde 6, blonde 7, and light blonde 8 hair.
As you can see, the darker the orange, the longer you should leave the blue shampoo in.Now, I’ll let you in on a secret.
I recommend you leave it in for only 2 minutes the first time. Then, dry your hair paying attention to the color.
If you still see the orange, wait 48 hours and repeat the application.
This way, you can control the tone that your hair reaches and you’ll avoid the unpleasant surprise of rinsing your hair and finding it blue. Just like the purple shampoo, the blue shampoo works from the first application.
You can also take into account the manufacturer’s instructions:
- Fanola No Orange: leave in for 1 to 3 minutes and apply up to 3 times a week.
- Shimmer Lights by Clairol: leave in for 3 to 5 minutes and apply up to 2 times a week.
- Matrix Total Results Brass Off: leave in for 3 to 5 minutes and apply once a week.
- Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo: leave on for only 3 minutes and apply twice a week.
But in addition to the manufacturer’s instructions, now you know that the times may vary according to the intensity of the orange.
So, for example, if you choose Matrix Total Results Brass Off shampoo and you want to neutralize a light orange hair, although the manufacturer recommends leaving it in for 3 to 5 minutes, you can leave it in for less time.
When we talk about toning shampoos, common sense is also important.
Sometimes, common sense fails. You could also miss reading the manufacturer’s instructions. Then, problems arise. What problems am I talking about?
I left the blue shampoo in longer and my hair turned blue. How do I fix it?
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First, don’t despair. Color-treating shampoos don’t contain chemicals that penetrate the hair core. So, the color change is not permanent.
What can you do to fix it?
- Discontinue the use of blue shampoo immediately.
- Start using sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to shampoo your hair
- Apply a clarifying or ph-balanced shampoo twice a week.
The moment you stop using blue shampoo, the blue in your hair will start to fade with every wash.
But, if you can’t wait for the blue to fade, I recommend using a clarifying or ph-balanced shampoo which contains sulfates and will quickly remove the blue pigmentation.
You should only use it two or three times, but never on the same day. Sulfates can dry out your hair. Apply conditioner and leave it in for 3 minutes to soften your hair.
Conclusions
Toning shampoos are necessary for the beauty routine of any woman who wants to remove the unwanted color from her hair.
However, make sure you choose the right shampoo according to the shade you want to remove.
This is as important or even more than the time you should leave it in to avoid ending up with a different color from the one you want.