How To Remove Purple Toner From Hair at Home: Step-by-Step Guide

African American women with 3c curly hair strands with warm purple overtones

So, you went out on a limb and used purple toner to get the perfect shade of blonde. But now the unexpected has happened, and it’s turned your hair into a blue, purple, orange, or silver disaster. What do you do?

Luckily, there are several simple ways that you can easily remove purple toner from over-toned hair. Continue reading to learn how!

Key Takeaways

  • Removing Purple Pigments. To eliminate unwanted purple tones or purple stains from hair, use clarifying or sulfate shampoo as the first step. These shampoos effectively strip away excess purple pigments, particularly from over-toned hair.
  • Alternative Solutions for Stubborn Stains. For persistent purple shampoo stains or violet pigments, mix baking soda with shampoo or dishwashing liquid. These methods are great for tackling more challenging purple residue in the hair.
  • Conditioning After Treatment. After removing any stains, such as by using color remover or bleach wash, it is important to apply a deep conditioning treatment. This helps to restore moisture and protect dry hair from damage.
  • Understanding Color Theory. Purple shampoo works effectively to counteract orange tones or warm tones in blonde locks. It’s based on color theory, where opposite colors on the color wheel neutralize each other.
  • Customizing Treatment Based on Hair Type. Tailor your approach to your hair type and the intensity of the purple hue. Rinse your hair with cold water, and don’t use too much purple shampoo in your hair care routine. This will help prevent over-toning, especially if you have grey hair or silver hair.

How Over Toned Hair Can Happen 

If it’s your first time using purple toner for your hair, then this unexpected color change might have come as a surprise to you. Here are some of the reasons why your purple shampoo or toner might have over-toned your hair. 

The Toner Is Too Strong

A cute mixed-race woman with naturally curly hair wearing a yellow t-shirt and blue jeans

For beginners, many stylists recommend refraining from using toners at home unless it is a toning shampoo. This is due to multiple people ending up with toned purple hair after toning mishaps.

If you chose to use a hair toner at home and ended up with unwanted purple and blue tones, then it could be that the toner was just too strong. To figure out which toner to use in the future, talk to your stylist. 

Your stylist or colorist can help you find a toner that has less of an effect on your hair and does not cause any unwanted tones.

You Applied Too Much Toner 

It is possible that you used the right toner for your hair, but you simply applied too much. You could have also left the product in your hair too long. Next, time reduce the amount of toner you apply or the length of time you leave it in.

You Have Porous Hair 

Hair porosity refers to your hair’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. If you have hair with high porosity, then it may quickly absorb toner and toning shampoos, producing a stark result that you weren’t going for and leaving your hair purple. 

How To Remove Purple Toner From Hair

Young black girl blowing a kiss to the camera while taking a selfie

Several simple methods can be used to remove excess purple toner from your hair and return your hair to a more natural-looking hue. Below, we’ve included the top six ways to remove excess purple toner from your hair.

Clarifying Shampoo

Washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo is the simplest method of correcting over-toned hair – it’s one of the least damaging methods, as well.

To do this method, simply wash your hair thoroughly with a clarifying shampoo, working it through all of your hair. Of course, be sure to focus mainly on the most affected areas. 

Clarifying shampoos are intended to remove product build-up and thoroughly clean hair. These shampoos often strip the hair of its natural oils. This is why clarifying shampoo is great at removing toner from your hair.  

If you don’t have access to a clarifying shampoo, some women have also reportedly had good success using a dandruff shampoo or a regular shampoo (e.g., general-purpose shampoo).

However, the dandruff shampoo is less likely to remove the unwanted color and may require several shampooing sessions to achieve the desired results.

  • If your goal was to actually dye your hair purple with or without bleach, read this article. It will walk you through the process of using a boxed hair dye kit to dye dark hair purple without damaging your hair.
  • If you have blonde hair with yellow tones or orange undertones, you might consider trying a purple shampoo that’s designed to counteract those orange brassy tones.
  • If you have bleached hair, click here to determine how long to wait before applying another harsh chemical treatment to your hair strands.

Keep reading for additional options to fix over toned hair if you don’t have a clarifying shampoo.

Baking Soda

If purple toner is still visible in your hair after using a clarifying shampoo, then you can follow up with baking soda. Like clarifying shampoo, baking soda can strip the toner from your hair and help fix overtoned hair.

You can also this baking soda wash as a substitute for the clarifying shampoo.

Here’s how to remove purple toner from your hair with baking soda: 

  1. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda with shampoo. You can use a moisturizing shampoo or anti-dandruff shampoo.
  2. Apply the baking soda mixture to your hair wherever you’d like to remove extra purple pigment.
  3. Allow it to sit in your hair for up to 30 minutes, checking often. 
  4. Rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water.

Baking soda will be effective in stripping the hair of the excess toner while also brightening and returning warmer, golden tones to your hair. 

Dish Soap and Lemon Juice

If clarifying shampoo or baking soda doesn’t work, the next cleanser that you should try is dish soap. Many hairstylists and professionals recommend using Dawn dish soap, as it is gentler than other options.

You can also add a small amount of lemon juice to the dish soap to increase its efficacy in removing the purple toner.

Here’s how to use this method: 

  1. Apply dish soap to your hair while it’s soaking wet.
  2. Work the soap into your hair from roots to ends.
  3. Rinse thoroughly. 
  4. If you’d like, you can follow up with lemon juice. Add several drops of lemon juice to your hair and massage thoroughly. 
  5. Allow your hair to soak in the lemon juice for 1 minute. 
  6. Rinse your hair thoroughly. 

Hydrogen Peroxide 

A method that can be a bit more damaging than the others is diluted hydrogen peroxide. Here are the steps for this method: 

  1. Mix equal parts of water and hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. 
  2. Spray the diluted hydrogen peroxide onto your hair, focusing on the most over-toned areas. 
  3. Leave this mixture on your hair for no longer than one minute. 
  4. Rinse thoroughly. 

Commercial Color Remover 

Color remover is another potentially harsh and damaging method. However, it may be more effective than some of the gentler methods listed above and is a good option for extreme cases.

To use this method, simply purchase a color remover kit and apply it to your hair according to the instructions on the packaging.

Bleach (For Extreme Cases Only) 

In extreme cases, bleach may be necessary to remove large amounts of purple toner. Here are the steps to use bleach to remove toner from your hair: 

  1. Mix bleach powder and 10 volume developer. 
  2. Mix equal parts of shampoo and the bleach mixture in your palm and massage it into your hair. 
  3. Allow your hair to soak in the shampoo and bleach for up to 2 minutes.
  4. Rinse your hair thoroughly. 

Learn How To Remove Excess Purple Toner: Video Tutorial

FIX OVER TONED HAIR AT HOME + HAIR STORY W PICS | REYNELL

Protect Your Hair When Removing Purple Toner 

Black girl with dark hair after removing purple toner from her curly hair strands

As mentioned in many of the above methods, removing purple toner from your hair requires stripping your hair of the toner as well as its natural oils.

This can cause excessive dryness and damage to your hair, so you must follow up with conditioning and moisturizing hair products to protect your hair and restore a healthy amount of moisture. 

Deep Conditioning 

In addition to following up with your regular conditioner immediately after using the methods above, it may also be a good idea to deep condition your hair to restore it to health.

Follow the below steps to deep condition your hair: 

  1. Start with freshly washed and wet hair. 
  2. Take a generous amount of deep conditioner and work it into your hair from root to tip.
  3. Detangle your hair using a wide-tooth comb – this will remove tangles and aid in product distribution.
  4. Wrap your hair up loosely and allow the product to sit in your hair for 10 minutes or more.
  5. If you’d like, you can put on a shower cap and wrap a towel around your head to insulate the hair and warm it up. Warming up the hair will open your hair’s cuticle for maximum moisture absorption. 
  6. Rinse your hair thoroughly.

A deep conditioner can be used immediately after any of the above methods, and it can also be used periodically in the following weeks to replenish moisture.

We recommend using a hair mask or hydrating conditioner regularly within your natural hair regimen. However, it is possible to over-moisturize your hair, too.

So, you shouldn’t deep condition more than 1-2 times per week, and you shouldn’t leave a deep-conditioner in your hair for a prolonged amount of time.

Using Moisturizing Products

In addition to conditioner and deep conditioning treatments, you should also incorporate moisturizing products into your routine to maintain moisture in your hair as it is recovering.

Some of the products include leave-in conditioners, oils, and creams. There are many products out there to choose from, so research, shop around, or consult a stylist to find the best ones for you.

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Key Takeaways

Welcome to our FAQ section. We answer your most common questions about removing purple toner from hair. Here, you’ll find simple advice to remove purple pigments and make your hair look natural again.

How Do I Get Rid of the Purple Tone in My Hair?

Use a clarifying or sulfate-free shampoo to remove purple tones from your hair. These products effectively eliminate purple pigments and purple stains. These shampoos are designed to cleanse deeply, removing unwanted violet pigments. They’ll help you restore your hair’s natural color. For best results, apply the shampoo thoroughly, focusing on areas with the most intense purple hue.

What Is the Fastest Way to Remove Toner From Hair?

The fastest way to remove toner, especially over-toned purple, from hair is by using a clarifying shampoo or a bleach wash for more stubborn cases. Clarifying shampoos are formulated to strip away excess toner efficiently. A bleach wash can rapidly lighten and remove toner but should be used cautiously to avoid damaging the hair.

How Do You Get Purple out of Your Hair Without Damaging It?

To get purple out of your hair without causing damage, use a gentle sulfate-free shampoo or a mixture of baking soda and shampoo. These methods help to remove the purple tint without stripping the hair’s natural oils excessively. Follow up with a deep conditioning treatment to maintain the health of your hair and avoid hair dryness.

What Color Does Purple Toner Cancel Out?

Purple toner is used to cancel out yellow or orange tones in hair, as per color wheel theory. It’s particularly effective for achieving a cooler, more natural blonde shade. It can also remove brassy tones from grey or silver hair.

Can Purple Shampoo Remove Toner?

Purple shampoo helps manage and balance toner. It doesn’t usually remove toner completely. Its main job is eliminating yellow or orange tones in blonde, grey, or silver hair. It doesn’t remove the purple color or purple pigments.

Can You Tone Purple Out of Hair?

To remove purple from your hair, use products that counteract or neutralize the purple color. You can try color-correcting shampoos or toners with opposite shades on the color wheel. For example, a toner with warm tones can help balance out too much purple.

What Toner Cancels out Purple?

A toner with yellow or gold pigments can help cancel out purple, as these colors are opposite purple on the color wheel. This approach is often used to neutralize unwanted purple tones and return hair to a more natural or desired color.

Why Does My Hair Look Purple After Toner?

Your hair may look purple after applying toner if the toner was left on for too long or was too strong for your hair type. This can result in over-depositing purple pigments, leading to an unwanted purple tint or shade.

Will Baking Soda Remove Toner From Hair?

Yes, baking soda mixed with shampoo can effectively remove toner from hair. This natural mixture works by gently lifting the toner from the hair strands. It works incredibly well for lighter purple or violet pigments. It’s a less harsh alternative to chemical treatments but should be followed by a hydrating conditioner to prevent dry hair.

If your hair has been over-toned, it’s not the end of the world. While you might not be able to immediately go back to your natural hair color without a little work, we have provided some quick fixes for getting rid of the unwanted color.

The good news is that there are many quick and simple ways to remove purple toner from your hair and restore it to the correct color. We hope that the information in this article enables you to remove that extra toner, either restoring your original hair color or revealing a color that you absolutely love.

Kenneth Byrd, with a BS in Accounting and Management Information Systems and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has over 15 years of experience and is a recognized authority in hair care. Co-founder of Curl Centric® and Natural Hair Box, Kenneth has dedicated himself to promoting ethical and scientifically-backed hair care practices. Rigorous editorial guidelines, industry recognitions, and features in numerous media outlets evidence his expertise. Kenneth’s commitment to transparency, quality, and empowerment has positioned him as a trusted voice in the field, empowering readers to confidently embrace their natural beauty.

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