Strong violet pigments cancel yellow-orange brass while a creamy conditioner smooths, detangles, and restores cool tone between salon visits.
If your blonde or gray hair keeps turning yellow or brassy, the right purple conditioner can tone it back to cool and bright without another salon visit.
When blonde, gray, or highlighted hair starts drifting into yellow or orange, everything can look dull and tired. A good purple conditioner steps in where basic moisture cannot, toning down brass while keeping your hair soft enough to actually style.
This guide focuses on purple conditioners that do two things well at once. They add just enough violet pigment to neutralize warmth and they condition enough to offset the dryness that often comes with lightening and toning treatments.
Quick picks
- Redken Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Purple Conditioner: Best overall for highlighted blondes. Strong pigments cut brass quickly while a creamy, salon-style formula keeps hair smooth and detangled without feeling heavy.
- L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Conditioner: Best budget-friendly option. Gentle, sulfate free conditioning that is ideal if you want noticeable toning from a drugstore product that will not rough up fragile hair.
- Joico Color Balance Purple Conditioner: Best for damaged or overprocessed hair. A richer formula with strengthening ingredients that helps brittle blonde or balayage hair feel less like straw while it cools down yellow tones.
- Matrix Total Results So Silver Purple Conditioner: Best for gray, white, or silver hair. Designed to brighten naturally silver hair and soften wiry texture while preventing that dull, yellowish cast.
In-depth reviews
Redken Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Purple Conditioner review
This is the workhorse option for most color treated blondes. Redken Color Extend Blondage Purple Conditioner has strong violet pigments that target yellow and light orange tones, so it works especially well on highlighted, platinum, or icy balayage hair that keeps sliding warm between salon visits.
The texture is thick and creamy, with a classic salon scent that is noticeable but not overpowering. It contains conditioning agents and citric acid to smooth the cuticle, which helps your hair reflect light better and look shinier. Used one to three times a week, it can keep cool tones in place without leaving hair feeling coated.
Compared with L’Oreal Paris EverPure, Redken is more intensive and better for serious brass control, but it is also easier to overdo if your hair is very porous. If your hair is fragile or extremely dry, Joico Color Balance Purple Conditioner may be a safer starting point because it leans more into repair than bold toning.
L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Conditioner review
L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Conditioner is a smart pick if you want something gentle, affordable, and effective enough for weekly use. It is formulated without sulfates, which helps keep the cuticle from swelling and losing color, and it feels lighter on the hair than many salon products.
The pigments are strong enough to cool down yellow in blonde or highlighted hair but slightly softer than Redken Blondage. That makes it a good choice if you are new to purple products or you have medium blonde hair that only needs a subtle tone shift. The scent is a herbal floral; pleasant to most, but it can be a bit much if you prefer fragrance free products.
Compared with Joico Color Balance, EverPure is less rich and less strengthening, so it is better suited to hair that is in decent condition but just looks too warm. If your main priority is maintaining an expensive salon blonde on a budget, this is the one to try first before moving to the more concentrated Redken formula.
Joico Color Balance Purple Conditioner review
Joico Color Balance Purple Conditioner is built for hair that has been through a lot. If your blonde, ombre, or balayage is dry, tangly, or breaking easily, Joico’s formula combines violet pigments with the brand’s peptide complex and conditioning oils to help strengthen and smooth while it tones.
The texture is rich but not greasy, and it gives good slip for detangling in the shower, which is a real plus for fragile ends. The toning effect is noticeable, especially on pale highlights, yet a bit more forgiving than Redken, which makes it harder to accidentally go too cool or slightly purple. The scent leans salon-sweet and can linger, so that is worth knowing if you are scent sensitive.
Compared with L’Oreal EverPure, Joico is better if your hair feels rough, snaps easily, or you heat style often because it adds more repair. If you already have fairly healthy hair and simply want strong toning, Redken Blondage may give you crisper cool results in fewer uses.
Matrix Total Results So Silver Purple Conditioner review
Matrix Total Results So Silver Purple Conditioner is tailored to the needs of gray, white, and silver hair. Natural grays often turn yellow from sun, smoke, or minerals in water, and this conditioner uses violet pigment to neutralize that warmth while softening the wiry, coarse texture gray hair can develop.
The formula has a medium thickness and a clean, slightly floral scent. It does not feel as heavy as Joico, which many people with fine gray hair appreciate, but it still leaves strands smoother and less frizzy. Used once or twice a week, it helps maintain a bright, cool silver tone without turning hair blue when you follow the timing directions.
Compared with Redken Blondage, Matrix So Silver is a bit gentler and easier to spread through medium to short gray hair. If you have a lot of blonde highlights mixed into gray or white, you might alternate this with Joico to get both toning and extra conditioning where hair is most damaged.
How to choose the best purple conditioner for your hair
The right purple conditioner for you depends on three key things: your current color, how damaged your hair is, and how much maintenance you are willing to do. Taking a minute to match your product to your real-life hair will save you from surprises like muddy color or stiff ends.
Match pigment strength to your color
If your hair is very light, such as platinum, icy highlights, or white-gray, you need a more pigmented formula but shorter contact times. Redken Color Extend Blondage and Matrix So Silver both fit this category. For medium blondes, soft balayage, or darker grays that only get a bit warm, gentler formulas like L’Oreal EverPure or Joico give a natural looking result without making you ashy.
Look at the conditioner on your hand before you apply it. Deeper purple usually means stronger toning. When in doubt, start with a shorter leave-in time and build up. It is easier to add more cool tone than to correct hair that has gone too gray or slightly lavender from overuse.
Consider your hair’s condition
If your hair feels brittle, snags easily, or looks frayed on the ends, prioritize moisture and repair. Joico Color Balance is designed for this type of damage and can stand in for your regular conditioner once or twice a week. For hair that is in decent shape but simply too warm, Redken or L’Oreal will usually be enough.
Fine or easily weighed-down hair often does better with lighter formulas like L’Oreal EverPure or Matrix So Silver, especially near the roots. You can always apply a richer mask or leave-in only on the last few inches if your ends need extra help.
Check the ingredient list for your sensitivities
Most purple conditioners rely on basic conditioning agents, violet 2 or similar pigments, fragrance, and sometimes proteins or oils. If your hair is protein sensitive and gets stiff from keratin or wheat protein, use Joico or Redken less often and rotate a protein free conditioner on off days. If fragrance bothers your scalp, L’Oreal EverPure tends to be slightly softer than bold salon scents, though it is not unscented.
Also pay attention to silicones if you avoid them. Cones like dimethicone can help with smoothness and shine, but too much can weigh down very fine hair. If your hair starts feeling coated, use a gentle clarifying shampoo once or twice a month so your purple conditioner can work properly.
How to use purple conditioner for best results
Using purple conditioner the right way is just as important as choosing the right one. A few small tweaks to timing and application can be the difference between bright, cool hair and dull or over-toned color.
Frequency and timing
Most people do well using a purple conditioner 1 to 2 times per week. Very light or porous hair often needs less frequent use, because it grabs onto pigment quickly. Start by leaving the conditioner on for 2 to 3 minutes, then adjust up or down based on your results.
If your hair is extremely brassy, you can gradually extend to 5 minutes with formulas like Redken or Matrix, keeping an eye on the color. For maintenance once your tone looks good, dial the timing back again so you do not creep into overly cool or flat territory.
Apply where you need it most
Brass usually shows up most at the mid-lengths and ends, or around the face. Focus your purple conditioner there first, then lightly work any remaining product toward the roots if needed. This helps avoid weighing down your scalp area while still toning the parts people actually see.
Comb the conditioner through with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb in the shower so pigment spreads evenly. Uneven application can leave you with cool streaks and warmer patches, especially in heavy highlight or balayage patterns.
Pairing with shampoo and other products
You can use purple conditioner after a regular gentle shampoo or pair it with a purple shampoo for extra toning on days you are especially brassy. If you combine both, reduce the leave-in time of at least one of them to avoid over-toning and extra dryness. Always follow with a heat protectant if you blow dry, since lightened hair is more vulnerable to damage.
On non-toning days, rotate in a hydrating or strengthening conditioner so your hair gets a break from pigment but still stays moisturized. This is especially helpful if you rely on stronger formulas like Redken Blondage or if your hair is highly processed.
Final thoughts
If you want strong, salon-level toning for highlighted blondes and do not mind a bit of trial and error with timing, start with Redken Color Extend Blondage. For a gentler and more affordable routine, L’Oreal Paris EverPure offers reliable brass control with less risk of overdoing it, and Joico Color Balance is a smart upgrade if your hair is already damaged. If you are mostly gray, white, or silver, Matrix So Silver is your best bet for keeping your color bright and your texture soft without extra salon visits.
See also
To keep brass at bay from root to tip, match your conditioner with one of the options in our guide to the best purple shampoos for gray hair or a gentler brightening wash from our favorite shampoos for gray hair.
- Repair and rehydrate with the top deep conditioners for overprocessed blonde hair when your ends feel fried.
- If you want a stronger refresh between color appointments, explore our picks for the best hair color depositing masks that revive faded tones.
- Protect your color from hard water minerals with one of these shower filters for color treated and fragile hair.
FAQ
What does purple conditioner actually do?
Purple conditioner deposits a small amount of violet pigment onto the hair while conditioning it. Because purple is opposite yellow on the color wheel, it helps neutralize yellow and light orange tones that make blonde or gray hair look brassy. Unlike a full toner, it works gradually, so you can maintain a cooler tone between salon visits.
How often should I use a purple conditioner?
Most people do best using purple conditioner 1 or 2 times per week. If your hair is very light or porous, start with once a week and short leave-in times so you do not over-tone. You can increase or decrease the frequency depending on how quickly brass returns and how cool you like your color to look.
Can brunettes use purple conditioner on highlights?
Yes, purple conditioner works well on blonde or caramel highlights in brunette hair. Focus application on the lighter sections rather than your darker base, since the pigment will not show on brown hair. This can help your highlights stay bright and cool instead of fading into a warm, orangey tone.
Will purple conditioner dry out my hair?
Purple conditioners are usually less drying than purple shampoos because they contain more conditioning agents. That said, any toning product can feel a bit drying if you use it too often, especially on highly processed hair. If your hair starts to feel rough, cut back on frequency and rotate in a deeply hydrating conditioner or mask on non-toning days.
What if my hair turns slightly purple or too gray?
If your hair picks up a violet or overly smoky cast, do not panic. Switch back to a regular, non-toning shampoo and conditioner for a few washes and the excess pigment will usually fade out. For a faster reset, you can use a gentle clarifying shampoo once and then follow with a rich, non-pigmented conditioner to restore softness.
Is purple conditioner safe for natural gray hair?
Yes, purple conditioner is safe for natural gray, white, or silver hair and can be one of the easiest ways to keep it bright. Products formulated specifically for gray, such as Matrix Total Results So Silver Purple Conditioner, are designed to address both yellowing and wiry texture. Just avoid leaving it on too long at first, since very light gray can grab pigment quickly.
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