Adding purple to black hair can create a fun, stylish look. Purple is a creative way to accent dark hair and provide a pop of color. When done correctly, the purple tones blend beautifully with black strands to achieve a striking, yet natural effect. While more vibrant purple shades are eye-catching, softer lavender or lilac purple hues can also complement black hair gorgeously.
There are a few techniques for adding purple to black hair. These include using temporary purple hair coloring products, trying clip in purple hair extensions, getting purple highlights or lowlights at the salon, or dyeing all your hair an all-over black with purple tone. Each method varies in intensity, commitment level, and how long the purple color will last.
The most semi-permanent and damage-free route is using temporary purple hair dye, spray, chalk, or colored mousse. These wash out with one shampoo and let you test drive the purple shade. However, for deeper and longer lasting purple hues, bleaching and/or dyeing at least sections of your hair is required. Lightening your hair first opens up the cuticle and allows the purple pigment to deposit better for vibrant results.
This article will go over different techniques and tips for adding pretty purple hues to black hair safely and effectively. Get ready to embrace your edgy style!
Can You Dye Black Hair Purple?
Yes, you can absolutely dye black hair purple! However, professional hair colorists recommend pre-lightening your black strands first before applying purple dye.
Since black hair is already so dark, depositing light purple dye on it will not show up much, if at all. The purple tones will end up mixing with the black pigment rather than sitting properly on top of the strands.
Bleaching your hair strips away the black pigment and creates a lighter base which purple dye can then adhere to with visible results. Aim for a pale yellow, light gold, or very ashy blonde tone as the ideal lightened base before toning with purple.
How much pre-lightening is needed depends on your natural hair color and shade of purple desired. For a deeper eggplant or violet shade on jet black hair, bleaching to a pale yellow is best. For softer lilac purple hues, a lighter ashy blonde base may work.
Pre-lightening also opens up the hair cuticle to allow the purple dye to penetrate and stain the hair shaft with better longevity. If you skip lightening and put purple directly on black hair, it will mostly coat the outside of the strands rather than soaking in deeply and can wash out faster.
Best Purple Hair Dyes for Black Hair
Here are some top-rated semi-permanent purple hair dyes that show up beautifully on pre-lightened black hair:
| Brand | Purple Hair Dye Name |
|---|---|
| Arctic Fox | Purple Rain |
| Manic Panic | Ultra Violet |
| Punky Colour | Plum |
| Good Dye Young | Riot |
| Lunar Tides | Amethyst |
| Pulp Riot | Nightfall |
These vivid semi-permanent hair dyes allow the purple hue to show through clearly on lightened strands. They are free of harsh chemicals like ammonia and peroxide while still imparting intense, long lasting color that can last 4-8 weeks or more. Follow the instructions carefully and apply thoroughly for best results!
How to Dye Black Hair Purple at Home
Ready to dye your black strands a pretty purple at home? Follow these key steps:
Step 1: Lighten your black hair. Use bleach and 20 or 30 volume developer to lift natural black hair to a very light blonde or pale yellow base. Focus on the mid-lengths and ends if you don’t want to lighten your entire head. Rinse and shampoo hair after lightening.
Step 2: Tone the bleached hair. Apply a violet-based toner to cancel out any brassiness and create an ashy base. Rinse after 5-10 minutes.
Step 3: Wash and thoroughly dry your hair. The purple dye adheres best to clean dry strands.
Step 4: Mix the purple hair dye according to directions. Separate your hair into sections and work the dye through evenly using a tint brush.
Step 5: Let the purple hair color process for the recommended development time. Check for even coverage and re-apply to any missed spots.
Step 6: Rinse the purple dye from your hair until the water runs clear. Use cool water to lock in the color.
Step 7: Shampoo and condition your purple locks! Be sure to use sulfate-free shampoo to extend the vibrancy and longevity of the purple color.
With the right prep and technique, you can achieve stunning purple hair color results on your naturally black strands!
Best Professional Purple Hair Dyes
Want to get your black hair colored purple at a salon for pro results? Some top salon brand purple hair dyes include:
– Redken Shades EQ in Amethyst
– JOICO Intensity in Violet
– Pravana ChromaSilk in Violet
– Kenra Color in Violet
– Schwarzkopf Igora Royal in Violet
– Matrix SoColor in Violet
The advantage of professional salon purple hair dye is the expertise of your colorist. They can assess your hair, do proper pre-lightening, and expertly apply the custom purple shade to get a flawless look. The salon dyes also tend to last longer vs. drugstore box kit options when applied correctly.
Book a consultation with a skilled colorist and show them purple hair inspiration photos to map out a plan. They’ll advise you on the process needed to safely achieve vibrant purple locks based on your current hair color and condition.
How Long Does Purple Hair Dye Last on Black Hair?
On properly pre-lightened black hair, purple hair dye can last:
– Semi-permanent purple dye: 4-8 weeks
– Demi-permanent purple dye: 8-12 weeks
– Permanent purple dye: 12 weeks or longer
To extend the longevity as much as possible:
– Shampoo less frequently, about 2-3 times a week max
– Use sulfate-free shampoo and cold water
– Use a purple tinted conditioner or hair mask weekly
– Avoid fading factors like swimming, heat styling tools, and sun exposure
– Touch up your roots as they grow in
Lightened hair tends to fade faster than natural hair. But taking good care of your strands and doing purple refreshing treatments can keep the color vibrant for months. Talk to your colorist about your lifestyle for their upkeep recommendations.
Can You Use Purple Hair Dye on Top of Black Hair?
Although you can apply purple hair dye directly to black hair, it is not recommended by stylists for the best results. As previously explained, black hair is too dark for light purple tones to show through brightly. The purple pigment has nothing to grip and may end up looking murky.
However, there are some options for adding a sheer purple tint or gloss to black hair without lightening first:
– Temporary purple hair spray: These instant color sprays easily apply a light wash of color that shampoos out. Good for a festival or Halloween costume!
– Purple hair masque or gloss: Deep conditioning masks and glosses in purple can impart a subtle lilac sheen. They are clear formulas so the effect is very soft.
– Diluted purple semi-permanent dye: You can add conditioner to dilute purple dye into a glaze consistency. Apply sparingly for a faint purple tint that washes out gradually.
While these won’t give you vivid purple dimension, they can nicely tone down brassiness and add a fun pop of color to black strands without a major commitment.
Best Temporary Purple Hair Dyes for Black Hair
Here are some top rated temporary purple hair dyes and products that give a soft tint on black hair without lightening:
| Brand | Temporary Purple Hair Color |
|---|---|
| Manic Panic | Purple Haze Hair Shadow |
| Lime Crime | Unicorn Hair Tint in Purple Mist |
| Splat | Midnight Crimson Hair Color Spray |
| Joico | Color Balance Purple Shampoo |
| Overtone | Deep Purple Coloring Conditioner |
Have fun trying out these easy to use and removable purple hair products on your black strands before taking the permanent purple plunge!
How to Do Purple and Black Hair Without Bleaching
yearning for pretty purple and black tresses but want to avoid the damage of bleaching? Here are some bleach-free ideas:
– Black roots with vivid purple ends: Dye or bleach only the lower halves of your hair. Keep your regrowth black and rock a fun ombre!
– Weave in purple hair extensions: Add in purple braids, streaks or highlights with removable clip-ins or tape-ins.
– Use semi-permanent purple dye on unbleached hair: Know that the color payoff will be darker and subtle. But great for slowly transitioning to purple!
– Spot color with purple hair mascara: Precisely paint on purple color just to the ends or accent pieces without needing to lighten.
– Purple hair crayons or chalk: Color a vivid purple directly onto your dry, unbleached black strands. Washes out instantly!
Have your cake and eat it too with these damage-free ideas for wearing black and purple hair simultaneously. Consult your stylist for guidance picking the method that suits you best!
Can You Go Purple to Black Hair?
If you currently have lightened purple hair but want to go back to your natural black, it is absolutely possible. Here’s how to dye purple hair black again:
Step 1: Color remove your purple. Use a color remover product to strip out the purple pigment from your hair. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
Step 2: Shampoo and condition your hair after removing the purple color.
Step 3: Apply a protein filling treatment. This helps strengthen and repair your strands after the color removal process.
Step 4: Dye your hair back to black using a semipermanent or permanent black hair dye. Choose a dye without peroxide or ammonia to avoid further damage.
Step 5: Deep condition your hair and continue with hydrating masks or oils to nurse your strands back to health.
With some TLC, you can successfully transition your hair from purple back to black again. The color removal step is key for ensuring the black dye takes evenly. Be gentle and patient with your locks through the process.
Purple Highlights on Black Hair
Purple highlights are a stylish way to add a pop of color to black hair without going fully purple. Because highlights only lighten and color selected sections, they cause less overall damage compared to all over lightening.
To get purple highlights on black hair:
– Get thin balayage or foilyage highlights placed strategically throughout your dark hair. Ask for a mix of fine and chunky streaks.
– Lighten the purple highlight pieces to a pale yellow or beige blonde shade.
– Apply the purple hair dye only to the highlighted sections. This maintains a cool contrast against the black.
– Focus purple highlights around the face for maximum impact.
– Consider doing a few underlayers of purple for a fun peekaboo effect.
The striking combo of purple highlights and black roots and lower lengths is dynamic. Play with the amount and placement of purple pieces until you love the look!
How to Maintain Purple Hair on Black
Keep your trendy purple on black hair looking vibrant by:
– Using sulfate-free shampoo and cold water when washing
– Washing only 2-3 times per week to prevent fading
– Using a color depositing conditioner or mask in purple
– Avoiding pools, hot styling tools, and sun exposure
– Keeping your roots freshly touched up
– Getting a gloss or glaze treatment in-between dye jobs
– Using Olaplex or hair masks for continued nourishment
– Getting regular trims to snip away dryness from lightening
– Wrapping hair in a silk scarf or bonnet at night
Caring for color treated hair is so important, especially bleached and vivid shades! With a diligent routine, you can keep that stunning purple on black hair in its best condition.
Purple and Black Ombre Hair
The ombre hair trend is still going strong, and purple and black is a cool color combo for the look. To achieve:
– Lighten just the mid-lengths and ends for an ombre base. How light you go depends on the purple tone desired.
– Apply purple dye starting about ear level down to the ends. Focus the most intense purple on the very ends.
– Feather and blend the purple up into the lightened sections so the demarcation line isn’t harsh.
– Trim off any damaged ends after processing for smoothness.
– Touch up the purple ombre ends as needed. Allow the black roots to grow in naturally.
Amp up basic black hair with an edgy purple and black ombre makeover! It’s a fun way to try out a pop of color while keeping your roots low maintenance.
Best Purple Shampoos for Black Hair
Purple shampoo is great for preserving your purple color between dye jobs while also toning down brassiness in black strands. Some top picks include:
| Brand | Purple Shampoo Name |
|---|---|
| Clairol | Shimmer Lights Shampoo |
| Joico | Color Balance Purple Shampoo |
| Kenra | Brightening Purple Shampoo |
| Punky | 3-in-1 Color Depositing Purple Shampoo |
| Celeb Luxury | Viral Extreme Purple Shampoo |
| Overtone | Daily Purple Conditioner |
Use your tinted shampoo once or twice a week to prevent brassiness in your dyed purples or natural black hair. Rinse thoroughly and follow with regular conditioner for silky soft strands.
Conclusion
Adding show stopping purple hues to your black hair is totally achievable with the right techniques and products. Pre-lightening, using vivid semi-permanent or demi-permanent purple dye, and maintaining it properly allows the color to show through beautifully. Whether you opt for all over color, ombre, highlights, or temporary dosing, purple is a fantastic way to jazz up dark locks. Play with shades from bright violet to pastel lilac to find your perfect purple and black hair combination. Your new bold yet wearable style is sure to turn heads!
