Blue shampoo before and after blonde

If you’ve ever taken a chance and bleached your hair at home, chances are instead of achieving that beautiful blonde shade, your mane has got these unwanted orange or copper brassy tones.

But before thinking you’ve messed up your hair forever, get your hand on a blue shampoo that’s especially great for Indian hair. Ahead, we share how a blue shampoo cancels orange undertones of black hair, the difference between purple and blue shampoos, how to use one and the best ones available in the Indian market. 

Table of Contents

Blue shampoo before and after blonde

  • How does blue shampoo cancel orange undertones of bleached dark hair?
  • Whats the difference between purple shampoo and blue shampoo?
  • How to use blue shampoo
  • Best blue shampoos available in India
  • Birds Of Paradyes Fine Tone Toning Shampoo, INR 795
  • Fanola No Orange Shampoo, INR 2,318
  • MATRIX Total Results Brass Off Blue Shampoo, INR 2,317

How does blue shampoo cancel orange undertones of bleached dark hair?

Blue shampoo before and after blonde
Credit: iStock

Simply put, blue shampoo is a neutraliser especially formulated for black or deep brown natural hair colour. These darker hair tones have underlying orange or reddish pigments that get exposed when you bleach them, making it look unflattering.

But these special shampoos that contain blue-violet pigments deposit into the hair to tone and cancel out these unwanted brassy orange tones to give you a beautiful blonde shade. So whether you have blonde locks or even cool-toned highlights, blue shampoo is just the thing for you.

What’s the difference between purple shampoo and blue shampoo?

Blue shampoo before and after blonde
Credit: iStock

If you’re figuring out how to combat your hair’s brassy undertones, you must have come across the term purple shampoo that is highly recommended for everyone with bleached hair. However, this is not for everyone.

Folks with naturally fair-toned hair will face yellow undertones on pre-lightened or bleached hair. Thus, they’ll need purple shampoo to combat the yellow brassiness. On the other side, people with naturally dark hair will experience orange undertones after bleaching them, so they’ll need blue shampoo to counterbalance the brassiness.

The reason behind it lies in the simple colour wheel theory. Blue and orange are the two complementary colours, meaning they cancel out each other, while purple compliments the colour yellow. 

How to use blue shampoo

Blue shampoo before and after blonde
Credit: iStock

When it comes to application, unlike regular shampoos, which you concentrate on your scalp, blue shampoo should only be applied on the bleached section of your hair and then follow up with a nourishing hair mask. To maintain the best blonde shade and avoid unnecessary brassiness, try to use it once or twice a week. 

But if you need to shampoo in the meantime, choose a colour-safe and sulphate-free normal shampoo.  

Best blue shampoos available in India

The hair colour industry has only a handful of good blue toning shampoos easily accessible in India. We’ve rounded up all the best ones you can choose from.

1. Birds Of Paradyes Fine Tone Toning Shampoo, INR 795


Blue shampoo before and after blonde
Credit: Birds Of Paradyes

This brand has single-handedly changed the hair colour landscape of India with their fun yet nourishing hair colours. And now they also have a blue toning shampoo that doesn’t only neutralise orange brassy undertones but also keeps hair healthy with the unique blend of almond oil, aloe vera, amla and hibiscu in its formula.

Buy it here

2. Fanola No Orange Shampoo, INR 2,318

Blue shampoo before and after blonde
Credit: Amazon

Use this shampoo once every three washes to sport beautiful blond hair or pastel shades without the worry of orange undertones. It's also formulated with coconut oil to prevent breakage and tiare flower to nourish hair cuticles. 

Buy it here

3. MATRIX Total Results Brass Off Blue Shampoo, INR 2,317

Blue shampoo before and after blonde
Credit: Ubuy

It’s a professional salon-grade shampoo that neutralises the maximum brassy undertones in just one wash. It also contains vitamin oil to add nourishment and hydration to your bleached, lacklustre hair.

What does blue shampoo do to blonde hair?

What is Blue Shampoo? Just as the purple pigments in purple shampoo neutralize brassy tones in blonde hair, the blue pigments in blue shampoo cancel out the unwanted orange, red, and copper tones that brunettes often battle—especially color-treated brunettes.

What happens if you put blue shampoo on bleached hair?

If you just bleached your hair and it ended up looking yellow or brassy, we're here to help. Thankfully, a bad dye job can be salvaged with the help of purple or blue shampoo. Contrary to how bright and bold the colors may look in the bottle, purple and blue shampoo don't actually dye your hair those colors.

How long does it take for blue shampoo to tone hair?

Hairstyling pros recommend sudsing up with blue shampoo once a week to cancel orange or red tones out of brown hair color. For more toning, leave it in your hair for two or three minutes before rinsing. Don't worry if your blue shampoo hits the shower tile--it will rinse out.

Does blue shampoo cancel out yellow?

If you have brassy orange or even red tones, blue shampoo is your best bet. However, blue pigment won't help with yellow undertones. The reverse is true for yellow undertones. Purple shampoo is great for removing yellowness, but not effective for orange or red tones.