What does purple conditioner actually do?

[Mistyvale]

What is the point of purple conditioner? Can any hairdressers explain what it actually does to your hair/colour - asking as I box dye my hair but the L’Oréal excellence that I use that advertises 100% grey coverage also says don’t use the purple conditioner that is included on any grey hair, so just wondering why?

So I feel qualified to answer this because I’ve recently launched myself into a full on purple hair products buying spree. It has completely revolutionized my highlighted blonde hair. I have naturally warm undertones so my blonde hair often goes brassy or yellow and as much I insist on cooler or ashy tones whilst I am having my hair done it just seems to always end up looking a bit ‘trashy’ (for lack of a better word).

I wouldn’t waste my time on conditioners although I do use the following as I also have an MK treatment done once every few months:
https://mycro-keratin.com/product/tone-treat-silver-shampoo/
https://mycro-keratin.com/product/mycro-keratin-tone-treat-silver-conditioner-250ml/

But was has really made my blonde stay cool are th following (there are a lot of products here and I don’t use them all at once)
https://blondhairandbeauty.co.uk/products/milkshake-icy-blond-toning-spray?_pos=3&_psq=icy+blonde&_ss=e&_v=1.0

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paul-Mitchell-Platinum-Toning-Drops/dp/B0C3K9CBV6
I mix the above in with my K18 leave in treatment

https://www.justmylook.com/products/kadus-professional-toneplex-pearl-blonde-mask-200ml
this is however the holy grail of keeping your blonde fresh in between salon visits (I use this toner and the satin grey in the same kadus toneplex)

I can’t say the science behind purple products but I just know that if you don’t like that yellow brassy blonde post highlights then use the above.

Also to say that I just read your post about box dyes and perhaps the warning is because actual grey hair is quite porous and you do risk having actual purple hair rather than it neutralizing yellow hair with a purple product.

Brings back memories of my nan having purple hair…

I have edited to add that I think I am correct in saying that natural grey hair will absorb the purple as it’s porous. Purple products are good for and suggested for blonde hair that needs neutralizing.

Yeah the short answer is it'll turn your greys into a purple rinse.

I use purple shampoo and conditioner on my silver hair. It makes it bright and shiny. But don’t leave it on too long as it will give you a purple rinse eventually.

Purple is opposite orange on the colour wheel. It neutralises it to get rid of brassiness.

@Mistyvale , the purple conditioner contains violet-colour pigments, and if you use it on grey hair it will look a bit purply.

@TheGrinchWasHere ,did you answer the OP?

Yes eventually I did.

I just get so excited about my purple products!

Couldn't be bothered to read all of it.

If you ever have blonde highlighted hair that needs to be toned out of brassy yellow, it will help. If not, you are right not to be bothered.

I used purple shampoo, not conditioner, on my 80%-90% grey/white hair, rather than on dyed hair. It gradually reduced the yellowish tinge my hair had developed, as purple is the opposite of yellow on the colour spectrum.
As PP said, it made the silver brighter. No purple tinge, probably as I only used it around once every three washes as it is quite drying.

It does brighten my grey hair. Son said silver fox colour, not purple. It's the shampoo not conditioner though.

Thanks all - I’ve been using a dark ash blonde colour but it is more brown than blond however I think I’ll avoid the purple conditioner for now as not quite ready to look like my nan!

I use it on my naturally grey hair and it brightens the lighter greys so that they look silvery.
There is a warning on the bottle not to use it over-frequently - can't recall whether this is once a week or every other wash. I think if your hair is already dyed it might be too drying?

@Mistyvale You really have to use a fierce conditioner for any colour change. I use Kerastase Blond Absolu Ultra Violet Masque (you leave it in for a bit) and it might dye my silver hairs mauve if I leave it in much longer than they suggest (I do sometimes for fun) but it does tone down brassy locks that I developed after growing out my colour. I quite like it!