What does blue shampoo do?

Blue shampoo deposits blue-violet pigments onto the hair to cancel out unwanted brassiness, copper tints, orange tones, or redness. Similar to a salon gloss treatment, it coats chemically lightened hair to neutralize these warmer tones with a cool-toned hue.

How often should you use blue shampoo?

According to Murphy, you can use blue shampoo as often as desired, but it ultimately depends on the state of your hair. "If your hair is porous and white, then you may need to use [it] only a few times a month, as you don't want a purple hue. If you have blonde [or] gray hair in good condition, you can use [it] as often as you like," he explains. "If in doubt, ask your stylist."

How do you apply blue shampoo?

Apply blue shampoo to wet hair in the shower. Lather it around, focusing on the color-treated sections, and allow it to sit for three to five minutes. Then rinse it out and use a conditioner like you normally would. Some blue shampoos call for using gloves to avoid getting the color on your skin, but most will wash clean from your hands when you rinse your hair.

The 16 Best Blue Shampoos of 2023

The 15 Best Blue Shampoos of 2022 — Byrdie / Chloe Jeong

Ombré, sombré, balayage, and classic highlights are great for adding dimension and lightening up brown hair. But unfortunately, bleach and other brightening treatments often go hand-in-hand with brassiness. Sound familiar? Before rushing back to the salon for an untimely touch-up, consider an easier solution: blue shampoo.

The technology isn't new, though it used to be reserved only for blondes (in the form of purple washes). "Violet is the opposite of yellow, so it will freshen up and help counteract unwanted yellow tones in blonde or gray hair," explains celebrity hairstylist Kevin Murphy.

While fair-haired folks often deal with a yellowing effect, brunettes are faced with an orangey hue. Blue shampoos are one way to combat this by neutralizing the coppery color with a cool-toned finish. Just bear in mind that "blue" is somewhat subjective. So while you'll find plenty of undeniably cobalt options, many lean toward indigo and even violet.

We conducted hours of research on the best blue shampoos out there, evaluating each formula on active ingredients, results, and how well they repair hair. We also took into account different hair types and concerns, from dry and damaged to brunettes and blondes. After consulting with three celebrity hairstylists, and considering dozens of top rated picks, we landed on the following best in show.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

MATRIX Total Results Brass Off Shampoo

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Best Budget:

Not Your Mother’s Triple Threat Blue Treatment at Amazon

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Best Drugstore:

Eva NYC Brass to Sass Brunette Shampoo

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Best Splurge:

Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Balayage Hair:

Redken Color Extend Toning Shampoo

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Best for Brunettes:

John Frieda Blue Crush for Brunettes Blue Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Blondes:

Phyto Phytoargent No Yellow Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Highlights:

Fanola No Orange Shampoo at Amazon

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Best for Ombré:

dpHUE Cool Brunette Shampoo

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Best Gray/Silver Hair:

ORIBE Silverati Shampoo at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
FAQ
How We Researched
Why Trust Byrdie

4.6

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What We Like

Formulated for brunettes
Great value for its quality
Nice scent

What We Don’t Like

Not for sensitive skin

While there are many standout blue 'poos on the market, Matrix Brass Off shines above the rest. Formulated specifically for lightened brunette hair, this sulfate-free hair wash deposits blue-violet pigments to minimize brassiness. In other words, it creates a stunning cool-toned finish that brings out the intended effect of your color-treated hair. The vanilla-rose scent doesn't hurt either.

Whether you're rocking highlights, ombré, or balayage hair, you can count on this shampoo to neutralize any unwanted warm tones. Use it every other day, and leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing for an extra boost of brightness.

Price at time of publish: $20 for 10.1 oz

Not Your Mother’s Triple Threat Brunette Blue Treatment Shampoo

Courtesy of Walmart

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Moisturizing
Produces notable results

What We Don’t Like

Contains PEGs
Not ideal for blondes

Want something a little easier on your wallet? We're big fans of Not Your Mother's Triple Threat Brunette. Use this blue treatment shampoo two or three times a week to cleanse your scalp and give brassiness to the boot.

Price at time of publish: $8.99

Amazon

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Lathers well
Pump bottle
Makes hair soft

What We Don’t Like

Potentially too heavy for fine hair

Eva NYC makes the best option from the pharmacy aisle. Brass to Sass calls on blue pigments to banish orangey tones and reveal the multidimensional beauty of brunette hair. In the brand's clinical trial, 93% of users said their hair looked freshly colored after a single wash.

Price at time of publish: $12.99

Amazon

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What We Like

Generous amount
Adds silvery brightness
Contains organic ingredients

What We Don’t Like

Results not drastic to some

Aveda's Blue Malva Shampoo comes at a steep price, but you'll definitely get what you pay for. Containing organic ylang-ylang, eucalyptus oil, and lemon, this luxury botanical formula gently cleanses your scalp and adds silvery, cool-toned brightness to color-treated hair.

Price at time of publish: $58

Redken Color Extend Brownlights Blue Toning Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Amazon

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What We Like

Sulfate-free
Prevents warm undertones

What We Don’t Like

Strong smell

We recommend Redken's Brownlights Shampoo for balayage beauties and anyone with traditional highlights. The sulfate-free formula draws on blue pigments to correct brassiness while preventing orange and red undertones from cropping up.

John Frieda Blue Crush for Brunettes Blue Shampoo

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What We Like

Award-winning formula
Prevents warm undertones
Adds much shine

What We Don’t Like

Stains the hands

Formulated explicitly for brown-haired babes, John Freida's Blue Crush neutralizes the most stubborn orange tones and obliterates brassiness. The result? Cooler, brighter color, and a squeaky-clean scalp.

Price at time of publish: $12.99

Amazon

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What We Like

Brightens bleached hair
Diminishes yellow tones
Improves microcirculation

What We Don’t Like

Fragrance too strong to some

Brunette-gone-blonde or natural-blonde-gone-blonder? Whether you're maintaining platinum hair or a dirty blonde look, Phyto's No Yellow Shampoo is your best bet. Its violet pigments brighten a range of lighter shades. According to the maker, walnut leaf and rhatany root help neutralize brassiness and diminish yellow tones.

Price at time of publish: $19

Courtesy of Walmart

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Formulated with coconut oil
Nice scent

What We Don’t Like

A bit drying to some

Highlighted hair? Reach for a bottle of this fancy Italian shampoo. Whether you're looking to eliminate copper tones or cancel out unwanted orange, the rich blue pigments are up for the task.

Price at time of publish: $8.42

Courtesy of Ulta

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What We Like

Cleans thoroughly
Doesn't strip hair
Strengthening

What We Don’t Like

Could lather up better

For the ombré camp, we suggest dpHUE Cool Brunette Shampoo. This ultra-gentle cleanser won't strip or dull color-treated hair. Instead, it neutralizes coppery, orangey tones to keep your hair looking fresh AF between salon visits, while amino acids and hydrolyzed silk strengthen hair.

Price at time of publish: $28

Amazon

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What We Like

Improves elasticity
Adds silvery brightness
Stylist-recommended

What We Don’t Like

Results not drastic to some

"Oribe makes a great silver-enhanced shampoo and conditioner," says hairstylist Shelly Aguirre of Maxine Salon in Chicago. "The Silverati line is perfect for those clients who want to cancel any yellow or dullness with their gray [hair] and also add lots of shine."

Price at time of publish: $46

L'ange

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What We Like

Rich lather
Very nourishing
Gentle

What We Don’t Like

Leaves a residue

Formulated specifically for brown-haired beauties, L'ange's Brunette Boost gently cleanses with a luxuriously rich lather, then deposits blue pigments to banish unwanted reddish, brassy tones.

Price at time of publish: $23

Oligo Professionnel Blacklight Blue Shampoo

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What We Like

Non-drying formula
Strengthening
Vegan-friendly

What We Don’t Like

Could remove orange/yellow tones better

If you prefer sulfate-free shampoo, your best bet is Oligo Blacklight. Made with light brown to medium-blonde hair in mind, the vegan blend eliminates brassiness while repairing damage and strengthening each hair shaft.

Price at time of publish: $24

DevaCurl No-Poo Blue Anti-Brass Zero Lather Cleanser

Courtesy of Ulta

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What We Like

Creates ultimate curl flexibility
Doesn't strip hair
Enhances shine

What We Don’t Like

Creates frizz for some

DevaCurl No-Poo Blue is, by far, the best option for curly-headed folks. The no-nonsense, lather-free formula promises long-lasting color toning, but it doesn't stop there. You can expect bouncier, shinier, livelier curls after every wash.

Price at time of publish: $28

Courtesy of Ulta

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What We Like

Strengthening
Repairs brittle hair
Controls static

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

Frequent color treatments can wreak havoc on your hair, but Joico Color Balance Blue offers a remedy. Featuring blue pigments, keratin, arginine, and rosehip oil, this shampoo pulls out all the stops for repairing, fortifying, and de-brassing brunette hair.

Price at time of publish: $23 for 10.1 oz

Amazon

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What We Like

Moisturizing
Nice lavender scent
Restores shine

What We Don’t Like

Watery consistency to some

Looking to achieve lighter, brighter hair? Angel Wash is your new best friend. "It contains optical brighteners to revive brown [and] blonde tones that need a little bit of help," Murphy says.

Price at time of publish: $46

Olaplex

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What We Like

Delivers bond maintenance
Helps remove build-up
Increases shine

What We Don't Like

Can only be used weekly

Known for its ability to repair damaged or broken bonds in hair, Olaplex is a tried and true salon favorite for creating healthy, soft hair. This blue formula helps neutralize brassy tones while removing oily scalp build up and mending damaged hair. It's one of the more nourishing blue shampoos out there,

Price at time of publish: $30

Final Verdict

Matrix Total Results Brass Off Color Depositing Blue Shampoo is, hands down, the best blue shampoo available today. We love that it's formulated specifically for lightened brunette hair and that the sulfate-free blend uses blue-violet pigments to provide a brilliant cool-toned finish with no brassiness in sight. Having said that, Not Your Mother's Triple Threat Brunette Blue Treatment Shampoo is an excellent budget-friendly pick, and the Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo is well worth the splurge for those who can swing the price tag.

Meet the Expert

Kevin Murphy, renowned session stylist and haircare developer.
Shelly Aguirre of Chicago's Maxine Salon is a professional stylist with 12 years of experience teaching at salons and tradeshows.
Guy Tang, celebrity hairstylist and content creator.

What to Look for in a Blue Shampoo

Blue vs. Purple

There are lots of blue and purple shampoos on the market. And while they achieve roughly the same outcome, blue is generally intended for brunettes, and purple is for blondes. However, some blue washes lean more toward indigo (and sometimes violet) than classic blue. In any case, you can pretty much count on a reduction in brassiness and an overall cooler-toned finish.

Frequency of Use

Most blue shampoos are intended to be used two or three times a week, though weekly use is often plenty. Be sure to read the directions carefully to avoid overusing it, as the blue pigments could leave your hair with a purple tint. "Sometimes purple or blue toning shampoos can over-tone and cause the hair to look dingy," adds celebrity hair colorist Guy Tang.

Nourishing Ingredients

Since bleach and other hair-lightening treatments are harsh on your hair, you'll also want to look for nourishing ingredients that help moisturize, strengthen, and repair brittle hair. We recommend options containing keratin, argan oil, avocado oil, amino acids, vitamin E, soybean oil, and green tea extract.

FAQ

What does blue shampoo do?

Blue shampoo deposits blue-violet pigments onto the hair to cancel out unwanted brassiness, copper tints, orange tones, or redness. Similar to a salon gloss treatment, it coats chemically lightened hair to neutralize these warmer tones with a cool-toned hue.
How often should you use blue shampoo?

According to Murphy, you can use blue shampoo as often as desired, but it ultimately depends on the state of your hair. "If your hair is porous and white, then you may need to use [it] only a few times a month, as you don't want a purple hue. If you have blonde [or] gray hair in good condition, you can use [it] as often as you like," he explains. "If in doubt, ask your stylist."
How do you apply blue shampoo?

Apply blue shampoo to wet hair in the shower. Lather it around, focusing on the color-treated sections, and allow it to sit for three to five minutes. Then rinse it out and use a conditioner like you normally would. Some blue shampoos call for using gloves to avoid getting the color on your skin, but most will wash clean from your hands when you rinse your hair.

How We Researched

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust Byrdie

Theresa Holland has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020, covering wellness, makeup, skincare, and haircare. For this story, she interviewed two stylists for product recommendations and insight into the science of color-depositing hair washes. Having tried a handful of blue/purple shampoos in the past, she's particularly fond of Fanola and Kevin Murphy. You can read more stories by Theresa on MyDomaine and The Spruce.

The 15 Best Purple Shampoos for Blonde Hair of 2023

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

Dodgson NA (2019). What is the opposite of blue? The language of colour wheels. Journal of Perceptual Imaging, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.2352/j.percept.imaging.2019.2.1.010401
Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: an overview. Int J Trichology. 2015;7(1):2-15. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450
Basit A, Asghar F, Sadaf S, Akhtar MW. Health improvement of human hair and their reshaping using recombinant keratin K31. Biotechnol Rep (Amst). 2018;20:e00288. Published 2018 Oct 24. doi:10.1016/j.btre.2018.e00288