7 Best Purple Shampoos on Amazon for Blonde, Gray, and Highlighted Hair

Brassiness is the enemy of blonde, gray, and highlighted hair. Warm orange and yellow tones creep in over time -- from hard water, UV exposure, and the natural fading of color. Purple shampoo is the fix: the violet pigment in the formula cancels out those warm tones using color theory (purple sits opposite yellow on the color wheel). The result is cooler, brighter, more salon-fresh hair between visits.

Not all purple shampoos are equal. Toning strength, sulfate content, and how long you leave it on all change the outcome significantly. Here are the seven best options on Amazon, ranked by what actually works.

Quick Comparison

1. Shimmer Lights Original Shampoo -- Editor's Pick

Shimmer Lights is the OG. It has been the go-to purple shampoo in salons since the 1980s, and nothing about that has changed. The violet pigment concentration is higher than most competitors, which means it does in one use what some shampoos take three sessions to accomplish. For bleached, highlighted, or silver hair with visible brassiness, this is the fastest fix.

The key is timing. Leave it on for 3-5 minutes for routine maintenance. For very brassy hair, go up to 10-15 minutes -- but no longer. Over-toning will shift your hair to a cool violet or lilac cast, which is the opposite of the goal. Rinse thoroughly and follow with a good conditioner, since the formula is not particularly moisturizing on its own.

At roughly $14 for a large bottle, it is also one of the best-value toning shampoos available. If you want a single product that definitively handles brassiness, this is it.

2. Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo -- Best All-Around

Matrix So Silver is the best balance between toning strength and hair health. Where Shimmer Lights is all power, Matrix So Silver adds moisturizing agents that keep blonde and silver hair from feeling stripped after toning. The violet pigment is strong enough to visibly neutralize brassiness within one wash, but forgiving enough that a few extra minutes won't over-tone.

This is the right pick for people who color-treat their hair regularly and want a professional-quality toning shampoo that also conditions. It is more expensive than the drugstore picks, but the formula difference is real -- especially for blonde hair that is already dealing with damage from bleach or color.

3. Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Conditioner -- Best Conditioner Combo

If Shimmer Lights Original is your shampoo, this conditioner is the natural companion. The same violet-toning approach continues through the conditioning step, which intensifies the overall toning result while adding back the moisture the shampoo removes. For bleached or heavily highlighted hair that tends to feel dry and brittle, this combination makes a noticeable difference in both color and texture.

The conditioner also works on its own for light maintenance -- if your hair is just starting to go brassy and you want gentle correction without committing to a full shampoo soak, this is a lower-commitment approach. Leave it on for 5 minutes, rinse, and you will see a subtle but real shift toward cooler tones.

4. Redken Color Extend Blondage Shampoo -- Best Salon Brand

Redken Color Extend Blondage is the salon professional's recommendation for color-treated blonde hair. The formula is gentler than Shimmer Lights, which makes it safer for regular use on hair that has already been processed through coloring or bleaching. Results build over multiple washes rather than hitting hard in one session -- a trade-off that makes it more forgiving but slower to see dramatic change.

For someone who goes to the salon every 6-8 weeks and wants a maintenance shampoo that preserves their color investment without over-toning between visits, Blondage is the right choice. It is expensive for a shampoo, but the professional-grade formula justifies it for color-treated hair that needs careful handling.

5. Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo -- Best for Highlights

Joico Color Balance is engineered with highlighted and balayage hair specifically in mind. Where stronger formulas like Shimmer Lights tone everything equally, Joico's approach works more selectively on highlighted sections while being gentle on the natural hair underneath. The result is more balanced toning that corrects the brassiness where it appears -- in the highlighted sections -- without shifting the overall tone of your darker base.

The lighter pigment concentration means it works best as a maintenance product for hair that is not severely brassy. If you are heading into a correction situation (heavy orange tones, weeks without toning), start with Shimmer Lights or Matrix. Once the color is where you want it, switch to Joico for weekly upkeep.

6. L'Oreal Paris EverPure Brass Toning Purple Shampoo -- Best Drugstore

L'Oreal EverPure punches above its price point in a category where most drugstore options underperform. The sulfate-free formula is a genuine advantage -- sulfates strip color, so a toning shampoo that skips them is both gentler and more color-safe than most of the drugstore competition. The toning effect is mild compared to salon brands, which makes it almost impossible to over-tone, but also means heavy brassiness will take multiple washes to fully correct.

This is the right starting point for blonde hair that is just starting to turn brassy, or for someone who wants a weekly maintenance shampoo that keeps things in check without dramatic results. For major correction, move up to Matrix or Shimmer Lights and then use EverPure for ongoing upkeep.

7. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Purple Shampoo -- Best for Curly Blondes

Most purple shampoos are formulated with straight hair in mind. Curly and wavy blondes need a formula that cleans and tones without stripping the moisture that keeps curl pattern intact -- and that is exactly what Curl Talk addresses. The sulfate-free formula tones highlighted curls and waves without causing frizz, breakage, or loss of curl definition.

The toning strength is on the lighter end, which is a deliberate trade-off to protect moisture levels. Use it weekly for ongoing maintenance. For heavy brassiness correction on curly hair, follow up with a deeply pigmented toning conditioner or a color-depositing mask rather than reaching for a stronger shampoo that may compromise your curl health.