How to maintain purple hair

The Upkeep of Purple Hair!

To my knowledge, there is no permanent purple hair dye. So I use the semi- or demi-permanent stuff, which fades with each wash. I’ve often felt that I have a choice between clean hair and faded hair, but there are a few things I’ve discovered to keep the fading to a miniumum.

First, if you’ve decided you like how the purple looks and you want to keep it that way, then go to the hair supply store and look for Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo or some equivalent. It’s marketed to tone down the brassiness of hair but it’s also perfect for purple hair, because it’s actually purple itself. There’s a conditioner like it, too.

Also, if you want to go a day or two without washing your hair at all to keep up the color, get a bottle of baby power and dump some on your head, scrub it around, and brush it out. This will help absorb some of the oils of your scalp. Or try dry shampoo.

Bleached hair holds color better than non-bleached hair. But bleaching is hard on your hair, so I’d avoid it if your hair is damaged.

Also… buy a bottle of semi-permanent purple hair dye (or do what I did and mix blue and red if you can’t find the perfect shade). Then mix some of the dye with ordinary conditioner and use this occasionally the way you would any other conditioner. Make sure none of it gets in your eyes, and when you’re dispensing it onto your head, make sure it has as little contact with your fingers as possible because it will tinge them purple.

Another thing you’ll want is dark-colored bath towels, since the dye will bleed onto your towels when you’re drying your hair.

Wash your hair in cold water! Then clip it up and you can still have a nice hot shower for the rest of yourself.

If the color on the top of your head fades more then the rest because of sun exposure, there is a simple way to touch it up. Get an old toothbrush or brush, dip the bristles in your semi-permanent dye and brush it through the top layer of your hair. Let it sit a few minutes or hours and rinse it out.

I had dark red hair for a year and used most of these tips on my red hair, so these tips work with any unusual color–except the tip about the purple shampoo. That one, obviously, only applied to purple-based colors.

I’ve also read that petroleum jelly applied around your hairline before you dye your hair keeps the dye from staining your skin, but I’ve never tried it. I have tried it with lotion, but I didn’t pay enough attention to tell if it worked.

Nail polish remover can sometimes help remove hair dye stains from bathroom surfaces. It you’re not sure how much of a mess you’ll make ( if it’s your first time coloring your hair) cover every conceivable surface with newspaper and keep a roll of paper towels handy. Better to be safe than sorry. The first time I did dark red hair the dorm bathroom looked like a bloody massacre happened; just kidding.

Lastly, make sure you comb the hair dye all the way through your hair, and if you have very long hair or very thick hair, get two bottles of the dye initially or mix it with conditioner to extend it (I did this and it didn’t hurt the effectiveness of the non-permanent dye by much at all).

In closing, have fun with your hair! Remember, hair can be an art form, so be proud to be expressing yourself! Your head is your own canvas!