A clear unlabeled glass bottle of pale lilac liquid standing on a pale travertine ledge

Purple shampoo, explained

What makers say it is for, and how the law sees it.

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It does not change our guidance. Affiliate Disclosure

What it is

Purple shampoo is a shampoo that is purple or violet in color. Makers describe it as a shampoo for blonde, bleached, or gray hair that looks yellow or brassy. We have not tested any product, and results vary.

A cosmetic, by law

The FDA says the law defines cosmetics as products intended for "cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance," and it lists "cleansing shampoos" and "hair colors" among them. We describe purple shampoo in those terms: how hair looks.

Color additives

The FDA says color additives, with the exception of coal-tar hair dyes, need FDA approval before they are permitted for use in cosmetics, and that the approval is for their intended use. That FDA approval covers a color additive, not any shampoo.

What a claim can say

The FDA says a product intended to "affect the structure or any function of the body" is a drug, and it gives claims that products will "restore hair growth" as an example. We write about purple shampoo in appearance words only: color, tone, and how hair looks and feels.

Does it work?

We do not say. We have not tested any purple shampoo, and we publish no before-and-after results. Follow the label directions, and read our guide to using purple shampoo.

Purple shampoo. A cosmetic, in appearance words, per the FDA.

Sources: FDA, Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?); FDA, Hair Dyes; FDA, Hair Cleansing Products.

FAQ

Does the FDA approve shampoos?

The FDA says cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, "are not approved by the FDA before they go on the market."

Is purple shampoo a hair dye?

We do not say whether any product is a hair dye. Read the product label, and follow its directions and any "Caution" statement on it.

General information, not medical advice. Follow the label. We suggest testing a new hair product on a small patch of skin first. Keep it out of your eyes, and stop use if irritation occurs. For hair dye, the FDA says to do a patch test every time and never to dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. See a doctor or dermatologist about scalp problems or hair loss.

A white tube and rolled towel beside a clear unlabeled glass dish of pale lilac liquid

How to use purple shampoo

Label first, then the basics.

Two identical clear unlabeled glass bottles side by side, one pale lilac and one pale blue

Purple vs blue shampoo

Two colors, as makers describe.

A frosted glass bottle and a plain white bottle standing on a stone ledge

Is shampoo a cosmetic or a drug?

The claim sets the rules.

Next: using purple shampoo