Two clear unlabeled glass bottles with white caps holding pale lilac and pale blue liquid

Purple vs blue shampoo

Two colors, as makers describe them, and the label rules behind both.

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What makers say each is for

Makers describe purple shampoo for blonde, bleached, or gray hair that looks yellow, and blue shampoo for hair that looks orange or brassy, including brown hair. These are makers' descriptions. We have not tested them, and results vary.

Silver and violet are names

"Silver shampoo" and "violet shampoo" are names makers use. We have found no FDA definition for either name, so read the product label and the maker's directions.

Color additives on the label

The FDA says color additives may be declared on a cosmetic ingredient list without regard for predominance. It says certified colors generally have three-part names, and may also be identified by color and number alone.

How color additives are regulated

The FDA says color additives must be approved by the FDA for their intended use before they are used in cosmetics, with the exception of coal-tar hair dyes. We do not name the colors any product uses.

Which one for your hair?

We do not pick. Follow the label directions, and test a new product first.

Color additives on a label. Per the FDA.

Sources: FDA, Color Additives and Cosmetics: Fact Sheet; FDA, Summary of Cosmetics Labeling Requirements; FDA, Hair Dyes.

FAQ

Does blue shampoo work on brown hair?

We make no claim about any hair color. Makers describe blue shampoo for brown hair that looks orange or brassy.

Are purple and blue conditioners different?

Makers sell purple and blue conditioners too. Our conditioner guide covers what the AAD says conditioner does.

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

Purple shampoo, explained

What it is, in plain words.

A plain frosted glass bottle on a stone ledge in front of a linen curtain

Brassy hair, explained

Sun, pool water, and color.

A plain bottle, a blank ivory carton, and a brass magnifying glass on stone

Reading a shampoo label

Order, colors, fragrance.

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