How long does purple last in hair?

Like other vibrant shades, purple tends to fade rather quickly, though the rate varies depending on your hair's porosity, how often you wash it, and other factors. You can generally expect it to last for anywhere from four to eight washes if you used a semi-permanent dye.

Why did my purple hair turn green?

Color can sometimes oxidize and turn out differently than expected, especially if your hair has been overprocessed. If you experience a color mishap, it's best to see a pro. You can ask your colorist for a color correction service to get any unwanted tones out of your hair and reapply your desired shade.

How do you maintain purple balayage?

When you have any pastel or colorful shade in your hair, it's always a good idea to shampoo less frequently and with lukewarm or cool water to help preserve the tones. Similarly, you'll want to cut back on heat styling and use a product with UV filters to protect your hair from heat and UV damage that can fade color. You can also use a toning shampoo or conditioner to boost purple tones as they start to fade.

Purple Balayage Is The #1 Hair Trend Taking Over Pinterest

Fresh off the back of the silvery gray hair takeover and a well-overdue obsession with pastel strands, we present to you the ultimate fusion that's both edgy-cool and rocker-chic. Introducing balayage in all shades of lilac, lavender, and indigo: This trend combines the soft technique of hand-placed highlights with a hot and versatile hue. Think of it as the answer to a bold hair shakeup that all of us who normally “play it safe” have been waiting for.

Intrigued? To get the full lowdown on what’s involved and how much maintenance it all takes, we touched base with Hershesons colorist Katie Denn in London and Felicia Dosso from Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York.

Dosso says purple balayage includes individually painted strands of hair that, after lightening, are glossed and toned to a purple or violet shade. While the balayage technique has been around for years, it's become "extremely popular" because of how low-maintenance it is.

As for the purple color, Dosso says glossing balayage tends to be a fun and easy way to have cool-girl hair. It creates an "edgy look without over-processing it." she says.

“These kinds of colors require the hair to be lightened first to an almost blonde shade so that there’s no undertone coming through from your natural hair,” Denn explains. “For that, your stylist will most likely need to bleach sections where the purple is going to fall, unless you already have very fair [or platinum] hair.”

In terms of what shade is right you for, it depends a lot on your own personal tastes, of course, but the color of your hair can be a factor, too. “Ash purples and lilacs are perhaps the most trend-led shades, as they’ve followed on from the tones of gray we’ve been seeing, although with darker hair you could go for something deeper,” Denn explains. “Personally, I’d steer away from the reddish and pinker tones, and stick more closely to shades of true purple and ash lilacs.”

When it comes to drastically changing up your hair color, perhaps try a wig first to see if it works with your skin tone. If you try it on and feel like you need to add makeup to make it work, chances are it will be a lot of work to maintain.

But, never fear: If you're ready to take the jump, we've got you covered when it comes to this cool fusion. Keep scrolling for the ultimate guide to the purple balayage trend, plus some hair inspiration photos, too.

Meet the Expert

• Katie Denn is a hair colorist at Hershesons in London.

• Felicia Dosso is a hair colorist at Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York.

Purple Balayage

How to pronounce it: Balayage is pronounced bah-lee-ahge.

Choosing a shade: Look for grey or ash lilac tones. Someone with cool undertones can wear all violets, Dosso says, whereas someone with warmer undertones can wear warmer tones of the violet spectrum, like lilac.

Maintenance level: Keeping a purple tone is high-maintenance, but balayage is more low-maintenance, only needing touchups every six months, according to Dosso. Toning hair or going for a glossing treatment (or trying an at-home gloss) is a matter of preference, though she suggests doing so every few weeks to maintain the purple color.

Goes great with: Rosy blush, silver eyeshadow, metallic eyeliner

Similar shades: Lavender, midnight purple, mermaid colors

Price: Typical coloring starts at $200, but it depends on the salon.

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Cosmic Purple Tones

Chiyuki Fruta at Union Salon in Brooklyn used a bunch of mauve colors to create a smoky purple we're loving. Just look at this amazing and intense blend of light pinks and purples. They're super dreamy and really sell this style tenfold. Sign us up!

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Royal Purple Balayage

Ashlyn at Salon 5th Ave in Arkansas City, Kansas really has the purple balayage trend down. With a vivacious mix of deep and lighter purples on a naturally dark base, these waves look like pure royalty. The Matrix colors used, Royal Purple ($16) and Admiral Navy ($21), clearly back this up.

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Shiny Purple Waves

Back view of wavy hair with multi-toned purple balayage — @alfredo_lewis

Dosso says purple balayage turns out best on a medium-to-light brown natural base. These shiny purple waves, which almost seem to glow in color, offer a prime example—you can even see how the natural base sharpens those vivid purple tones.

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Silvery Purple Lob

It's all about personal style. This lob takes a more understated approach to the trend with subtle silver and lilac hues. The expertly blended look has us almost second-guessing the true shade here.

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Cool Purple and Warm Blue

Purple Balayage Cool Blue Ombre — @celebluxury

The style doesn't always have to fade to silver. Take this beautiful look, which flawlessly transitions to a deep navy hue, for example. Feel free to play with different variations when it comes to the purple balayage trend.

Because this style has to be pre-lightened, make sure to stock up on extra moisturizing masks and treatments per Denn's advice, but don't forget about oils, as well. Coconut oil, and jojoba oil offer amazing hydrating properties to keep hair soft and strong.

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Purple to Silver Waves

Back-side view of wavy hair with purple to silver ombre balayage — @alfredo_lewis

Luckily, purple balayage tends to work on everyone. Instead of working with certain undertones every time, Dosso thinks it's more a matter of personality. Like with these long, purple-to-silver waves, it takes confidence to be able to rock a bold color.

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Traditional Purple Ombré

Purple Balayage Traditional Ombre — @pulpriothair

Traditional ombré goes from dark to light, like with this low-maintenance look by Gracie Kundra at Evolve Salon and Spa.

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Ashy Purple

This bob keeps things interesting with an allover ashy purple tone on the base and lighter, brighter highlights blended throughout.

The colors used here would do well with a glossing treatment every few weeks to maintain the color. Denn recommends also using a silvery shampoo like Pro: Voke's Touch of Silver ($6), which she says is great for maintaining the ash tones.

Washing your hair with a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner will definitely help in terms of having your color last that much longer. Masks like Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer ($49) are also great for replenishing hair, Denn says.

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Fading to Silver

Back view of wavy hair with half-up braid, hair wrap, and purple to silver ombre balayage — @alfredo_lewis

This dark-to-light ombré begins in a deeper purple before fading to a silvery lilac for a super pretty look you can maintain at home to a certain degree. Look for color-enhancing glosses and temporary tints, but know the only way to truly keep the brightest color is through re-dying strands.

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Moisturized, Healthy Curls

When it comes to curly hair, it's important to keep curls moisturized, especially when they're a vibrant sunset purple as seen here. Dosso recommends Olaplex treatments at least once a week to keep hair healthy, as the product "works to rebuild the injured disulfide bonds, which will ultimately leave you with healthy, shiny hair," she says.

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Vibrant Violet Lengths

These long, flowing waves are a stunning violet hue and also incorporate a few natural undertones. With such vivid color, Denn recommends using a Crazy Color Conditioning Shampoo ($12), which will help boost the shade as it begins to fade. Be careful of using these all over if you’re blonde, though, as it’ll alter the color of your hair overall. She recommends only using this treatment on the sections where you want to brighten the purple to be on the safe side.

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Darker Purple Ends

For those who have fine or previously damaged hair, Dosso always advises doing minimal lightening until your hair is healthier. With an amazing deep purple balayage like this one, hair needs to be healthy and strong, or the style won't work well.

Dosso recommends treatments like Olaplex ($28), saying they're amazing for "strengthening damaged hair and getting it back into a healthy enough state to color."

Unfortunately, when it comes to previous dye damage, the only true aide involves giving your strands some recovery time. While you wait, there are treatments, shampoos, and masks that will certainly help restore your hair to its usual glory.

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Go for Temporary Color

Purple Balayage Temporary Color — @overtonecolor

If you don't want to commit to a full purple balayage, Dosso recommends starting with products like Overtone, as the glossing conditioner comes in many shades (like this lilac and blue mixture). The pigment rinses out after a few shampoos, so you can decide whether you like the shade enough to keep it long-term or would rather try something else.

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Silver and Lilac

Purple Balayage Silver Lilac — @curtiscolorshair

With this silvery shade transitioning into a pretty lilac, it probably requires a good glossing treatment every few weeks, as both experts have mentioned above.

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Bright Purple

Purple Balayage Bright — @kellyawesomesauce

Balayage can start as high or low as you want, though the higher you start, like with this all-over purple, the more drastic of a change you’ll feel.

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In-Between Color

Purple Balayage In Between Lana Condor — @overtonecolor

A great way to start the transition to purple or a bright color, in general, is by incorporating small amounts of low-commitment color into your natural hair. Stylist Matt Fugate gave Lana Condor subtle purple accents using Overtone's Purple Deep Treatment ($29) on platinum dyed extensions.

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Icy and Deep

This purple style created at Lux Salon in Stockton, CA is actually made up of three Pulp Riot shades—including an icy rose gold we're loving.

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Orchid Ends

While colorist Meg Schipani used Sparks Color permanent dye above for this purple orchid style, you can also try out hair chalk for a similar, temporary effect.

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Frosty Lilac

The silvery-purple tones here give a metallic effect and offer an ashier take on the purple hair trend.

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Bright Magenta

Can't decide to go more pink or purple with your balayage? This ombré magenta shade is rich, vibrant, and a happy medium between pink and purple.

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Subtle Streaks

The frosty-lilac, ombre tones here look effortlessly placed for a soft faded look as your hair grows out.

FAQ

How long does purple last in hair?

Like other vibrant shades, purple tends to fade rather quickly, though the rate varies depending on your hair's porosity, how often you wash it, and other factors. You can generally expect it to last for anywhere from four to eight washes if you used a semi-permanent dye.
Why did my purple hair turn green?

Color can sometimes oxidize and turn out differently than expected, especially if your hair has been overprocessed. If you experience a color mishap, it's best to see a pro. You can ask your colorist for a color correction service to get any unwanted tones out of your hair and reapply your desired shade.
How do you maintain purple balayage?

When you have any pastel or colorful shade in your hair, it's always a good idea to shampoo less frequently and with lukewarm or cool water to help preserve the tones. Similarly, you'll want to cut back on heat styling and use a product with UV filters to protect your hair from heat and UV damage that can fade color. You can also use a toning shampoo or conditioner to boost purple tones as they start to fade.