Try using a blue shampoo if your hair is turning a brassy orange. One wash can really make a difference and restore your beautiful colour-treated hair.
Commonly used to neutralise brassiness in brown coloured hairs, blue shampoos work because the colour blue is opposite to orange on the colour wheel.
So, whether you have brown hair, or caramel-coloured highlights, a blue shampoo can really work wonders to counteract those orange hues.
In this article, we talk about the difference between blue shampoo and purple shampoo as well as provide a few before and after photos and a list of the best blue shampoos for brassy hair.
Blue shampoo vs purple shampoo
Photo source: @matrix on Instagram
If you’re familiar with colour-toning shampoos, you might be wondering what the difference between a blue shampoo and a purple shampoo is.
Purple shampoo is used to fight the yellow hues while blue shampoo counters orange-looking hair. (Remember: purple is opposite yellow while blue is opposite orange on the colour wheel.)
Once you’ve identified the undertones in your hair you want to eliminate, choosing between blue shampoo and purple shampoo is easy. Just as a guideline, blonde hair (could be from bleaching) tends to give you yellow tones, while hair dye that has warm colours usually give you a brassy or orange tone after it fades away.
On the other hand, if you want to refresh your hair colour with a hair colouring shampoo, you can totally do that too.
How to use blue shampoo
Photo source: @matrix on Instagram
Incorporating blue shampoo into your regular shower routine couldn’t be any simpler, as all you have to do is use it every other time you wash your locks or perhaps even a few times a month.
Here are the steps to use a blue shampoo:
- Put on some gloves to save your nails from being stained blue.
- Wet your hair and massage the blue shampoo in, making sure to apply it as evenly as possible.
- Let the shampoo sit according to packaging instructions. Typically, the longer you let it sit, the better it will work. (But don’t leave it on for too long, as you might get blue hair instead!)
- Rinse off the blue shampoo and follow up with your usual haircare routine.
- Check out your brass-free hair in the mirror and enjoy your lovely locks.
Blue shampoo before and after
We’ve compiled a few before and after photos of how blue shampoo can really help to lessen those brassy tones. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what you can look forward to.
Photo source: @thatbrunettelauren on Instagram
This close up of brown hair really helps to show how effective a blue shampoo is in neutralising those orange hues.
Photo source: @fudgehair.nederland on Instagram
You can really restore your brown hair to the cool darkness it used to have rather than the bright orange hues you might dislike.
Photo source: @belleandglow on Instagram
While this isn’t really a stark before-and-after photo, this really shows how much a blue shampoo can help. This user was able to keep her balayage locks nearly the same caramel shade after several months, thanks to using a blue shampoo regularly.
Best blue shampoos for brassy hair
Blue shampoos under RM50
Not Your Mother's Triple Threat Brunette Blue Treatment Shampoo
We really like this blue shampoo because it’s one of the few vegan-friendly formulas out there.
It is formulated with blue tansy oil, which is not only safe for natural and colour treated hair, but it also gently cleanses and moisturises.
It retails for US$8.99 (~RM39.54) for 237ml.
Schwarzkopf Goodbye Orange
Vegan and free from animal derived ingredients, this is a highly-pigmented wash for instant tonal deposit that counteracts underlying orange and red tones.
It also gentle cleanses and strengthens the hair in one step thanks to its integrated bonding technology.
It retails for RM42 for 300ml.
Blue shampoos under RM100
Eva Nyc Brass to Sass Brunette Shampoo Most reviewed, vegan
With a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and a whopping 2,531 reviews at time of writing on Ulta, this is by far the most well-loved blue shampoo on the website.
Reviewers love how rich and creamy this blue shampoo is and how it not only made their hair less orange, but also more healthy.
It retails for US$12.99 (~RM57.13) for 260ml.
John Frieda Blue Crush for Bruenttes Blue Shampoo
You can have a cooler, brighter head of brown hair with this brass-fighting blue shampoo which uses crushed blue pigments.
This is a little drying for the hair according to some reviews, so you should use a hydrating mask or thick conditioner after.
It retails for US$12.99 (~RM57.13) for 245ml.
Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo
Rich toning ingredients allow for the instant neutralisation of orange tones and brassiness.
Formulated with a one-of-a-kind liposome delivery system, rosehip oil, arginine, and keratin is continously released into your hair to repair and strengthen it.
It retails for RM69 for 300ml.
Fudge Cool Brunette Shampoo
This is a luxurious shampoo that targets unwanted red and orange tones in colour treated hair. It also effectively cleanses your hair of product build up and impurities.
Even though this blue shampoo isn’t vegan, it is not tested on animals, which is still a bonus in our book.
It retails for RM80 for 250ml.
Matrix Total Results Brass Off Blue Shampoo for Brunettes
This shampoo utilises blue-violet pigments to neutralise those brassy tones while refreshing your hair with cool tones.
Safe for both colour treated and natural hair, go ahead an shampoo away.
It retails for US$20 (~RM87.96) for 300ml.
Blue shampoos under RM150
Redken Colour Extend Brownlights Blue Toning Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Sulfate-free, this colour-depositing blue shampoo is ideal for preventing orange and red undertones in brunette hair.
You can expect a gentle cleanse which won’t strip your hair of its colour, while prolonging cool tones.
It retails for US$24 (~RM105.55) for 300ml.
DevaCurl NO-POO BLUE Anti-Brass Zero Lather Toning Cleanser Vegan
If you’ve got colour treated curls, you’ll benefit the most from this vegan and cruelty-free blue shampoo.
Thanks to its smart porosity neutralising complex, you can enjoy ultimate brass-free curls with greater flexibility, shape, and definition.
It retails for US$28 (~RM123.14) for 355ml.
dpHUE Cool Brunette Shampoo Vegan
Formulated without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, gluten, and silicone, this blue shampoo won’t strip or dull your coloured hair.
You can expect fresh and brass-free tresses, so you can prolong those salon visits.
It retails for US$28 (~RM123.14) for 250ml.
Bouclème Toning Drops
We know that this isn’t a blue shampoo, but you can turn any shampoo of your choice into a brass-neutralising one with this product.
Simply add a few drops into your shampoo or conditioner and use your product as usual. For a deeper treatment, leave on for five minutes before rinsing.
It retails for RM143 for 30ml.
Blue shampoos under RM260
Featured image credit: matrix_with_love & thatbrunettelauren
