Soft purple roots fading into silver ends usually need a colorist for the bleach, or a spray that washes out after 1 shampoo if you only want a trial.
Most people go wrong on the silver: it leans purple or blue, and Directions Silver left on for an hour over hair bleached white came out purple.
1. Choose the Look
Two looks cover most of what people mean by this color: soft purple roots that fade into silver ends, or an all-over icy purple with darker roots.
Either can run from subtle to bold, so settle on how loud you want it before buying anything.
For a first try, I’d choose the root fade. Purple on top and silver below makes one gradient, while the all-over icy version asks the whole head to carry the purple.
Silver leans either purple or blue, so a silver color on bleached hair can rinse out purple.
One person left silver on white hair for an hour and got exactly that. Pick purple on purpose, or expect it anyway.
2. Choose Spray or Salon Color
- A lighter shade over a darker base usually needs bleach. I’d hand that step to a colorist rather than mix it at home.
- Going from blonde to silver takes a professional silver toner and dye, which can be hard to find. That’s another reason to book a salon.
- For a trial run, grab L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Purple and Silver.
- Spray purple at the roots and blend it through the mid-lengths.
- Add silver on the ends, then blend the two shades where they meet.
- Shampoo to remove it. The spray washes out after one shampoo, so you commit to nothing.
3. Fade Too Much Purple
Wash it out several times before you do anything else. That is the advice with the most agreement, and a very light result may fade on its own within days.
Resist the urge to color over it.
Anything layered on purple only gets darker. A Directions Silver job left on for an hour over hair bleached white came out purple, and the fix was washing, not more product.
Once the purple has faded, a blue-based purple shampoo is the easy next step.
Professional silver toners also work: Pravana Titanium, Ion’s grey product, or Directions. A tiny amount of purple mixed into conditioner can turn hair grey, but only after the old purple has fully faded, or you get the same result again.
I’d skip the yellow-tone neutralizing idea, since the advice on it is split.
Why Silver Pulls Purple
Silver comes in two tones, purple-based and blue-based, and a purple-based silver will look purple right out of the gap. A few washes usually move it toward true silver, and a very light tint should clear within a few days.
Purple that sits in patches has a different cause.
Hair that isn’t evenly lightened can be multi-tonal: some strands are pure white while others still hold pigment. That is how you end up with a stubborn purple patch right beside a section that looks plain white.
I’d treat that as a sign the hair itself is uneven, not that the shade failed, so judge the color after a few washes rather than on day one.
Care for Colored Hair
Permanent purple grey hair needs a different shelf in the shower, and I’d build it in this order:
- Start with color-safe shampoo and conditioner, such as L’Oréal Paris Elvive Color Vibrancy Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner. They limit damage and help the color last longer.
- Add the Elvive Color Vibrancy Repair and Protect Balm. It strengthens fragile hair, repairs damage and smooths the strands.
- Use a mask once or twice a week. I’d pick Elvive Total Repair 5 Power Restore Multi use treatment, made with repair concentrate and proteins to cut split ends and tangles.
- Spray Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Pre-Iron Spray Leave-In on before any hot tool. Flat irons and curling wands are where color-treated hair takes its worst hits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get purple grey hair?
Pick your look first, then decide between spray and salon color. A temporary purple and silver spray is a 1-shampoo trial: purple at the roots, silver on the ends, blended where they meet.
Going lighter over a darker base usually needs bleach, and blonde to silver takes a professional silver toner and dye, so book a colorist for those.
How do I get rid of too much purple in my hair?
Wash it several times and hold off on adding more color.
Product layered over purple only makes it darker, and a very light tint may fade within days. Once the purple is gone, a blue-based purple shampoo or a professional silver toner can steer the hair toward grey.
What is the best purple hair color for gray hair?
For a first try, soft purple roots fading into silver ends is the easiest.
The two shades blend into one gradient, whereas an all-over icy purple puts color on every strand. Decide how bold you want it before you buy anything, since both looks can run from subtle to loud.
Can I use purple shampoo for gray hair?
Yes, a blue-based purple shampoo works well once the purple has faded. If the hair is still too purple, wash that out first, because adding product on top only deepens the color.
