Purple hair is a fun, eye-catching hair colour that allows you to express your creativity and personality. However, as with any vibrant hair dye, the purple colour will eventually begin to fade with washing and exposure to sun and other elements. The colour that purple hair fades to can vary depending on the original shade of purple and your natural hair colour underneath. Generally speaking, purple hair tends to fade into softer shades of light purple, pink, or silver.
Original Purple Hair Colour
The starting shade of purple hair dye makes a difference in the faded colour result. Darker, richer purple shades like eggplant or plum will fade into lighter tones of purple. Lighter purples, lilacs, or lavenders will fade to very light purples or silvery grays. Here are some examples of original purple shades and what they often fade to:
| Original Purple Shade | Faded Colour |
|---|---|
| Dark eggplant purple | Lighter purple |
| Medium plum purple | Lavender purple |
| Light lilac purple | Very pale purple or silver |
The darker and more intense the original purple colour, the longer it will retain vibrancy before fading to a lighter shade. Light pastel purples fade the quickest.
Natural Hair Colour
Your natural hair colour underneath the purple dye also affects the faded shade. People with light blonde or platinum hair will likely see their vibrant purple fade to a lighter purple or pale silvery shade. Brunettes may see their purple fade to a pinkish hue before going completely back to brown. Blondes with yellow undertones may see their light purple go banana yellow.
Here are some examples of how purple fades on different natural hair colours:
| Natural Hair Colour | Faded Purple Colour |
|---|---|
| Platinum blonde | Silver or light lavender |
| Light blonde | Very pale purple |
| Strawberry blonde | Pinkish purple |
| Golden blonde | Yellowish lavender |
| Medium brown | Muted pink purple |
| Dark brown | Hint of purple to brown |
The lighter your natural hair, the longer the purple colour will last before fading. Darker natural hair means the purple has less time to fade through shades and will revert back to brown relatively quickly.
Washing and Exposure
Washing your hair frequently and exposure to sun, chlorine, and other elements will speed up the fading process from purple to lighter shades. Here are some tips to make purple hair last longer:
– Wash hair 2-3 times per week maximum with cool water and sulfate-free shampoo
– Use conditioner specifically for colour-treated hair
– Avoid chlorine by wearing a cap when swimming
– Limit sun exposure by wearing a hat or using protective hair products
– Use dry shampoo between washes
– Get frequent touch up colour treatments
Following a strict hair care routine can optimize colour retention and prevent excessive fading. But in general, expect vivid purple hair colour to only last 4-6 weeks before significant fading occurs. The lighter the initial dye and natural hair, the quicker it fades.
Colour Deposit Treatments
Using weekly colour depositing treatments can help prolong your purple hair colour and prevent brassiness as it fades. Look for colour depositing shampoos, conditioners, and masques in shades close to your original purple. Many brands make these specifically for unnatural hair colours.
Using these once a week will deposit a small amount of colour pigment with each use to keep your hair vibrant for longer. It will also prevent your purple hair from fading into brassiness or weird off-tones.
Refreshing the Colour
To keep your purple hair looking freshly dyed, you’ll need to get your roots touched up every 4-6 weeks and a full colour refresh every 2-3 months. Go back to your original shade of purple dye or try something new!
It’s easier to touch up your colour while it has only faded slightly, rather than letting it fade completely back to your natural colour. Less bleaching and prepping is required when your colour just needs a little boost.
Dyeing Over Faded Purple
Once your purple hair has significantly faded, you can dye over it with a new colour. But you’ll need to prep your hair a bit first for the new colour to take evenly. Here are some tips:
– Strip the faded purple colour with a colour remover
– Use clarifying shampoo to get rid of leftover purple pigment
– Bleach bath to lift existing colour and even out porosity
– Toner to neutralize brassiness and ensure even colour deposit
Without properly prepping faded hair, your new colour may apply unevenly and look splotchy. It takes a little extra work for new dye to take evenly over previously coloured hair. But it opens up lots of fun options for colour experimentation!
Embracing the Fade
While freshly dyed purple hair looks gorgeous, the faded, pastel version has its own beauty too. The muted, lighter tones can provide a soft, romantic look.
Rather than constantly battling to prolong the initial purple intensity, embrace the faded ombre effect as it naturally occurs. The gradient of vivid roots to lighter ends can be very pretty.
Appreciating each stage of the purple fading process means you’ll always love the colour you have. Experimenting with different purple shades also helps maximize the fun!
Conclusion
Purple hair is bound to fade, but the colour it fades to depends on the original dye, your natural colour, and your hair care routine. Typically, vibrant purple fades into softer tones like pale purple, pink, or silver. To maintain the richest purple colour, opt for darker shades on light hair and use colour depositing products. But learning to love the faded effect can be rewarding too. No matter what, purple hair is a beautiful way to have fun with your look!
