When dyeing hair purple over brown hair, the end result after the purple fades depends on several factors. These include the original shade of brown hair, whether it has warm, cool, or neutral tones, the specific shade of purple used, and how porous or damaged the brown hair is.
The science behind hair color
Hair color comes from melanin pigments. Brown hair contains two types of melanin: eumelanin which gives hair warm reddish-brown hues, and pheomelanin which adds cooler ash-brown hues. The balance of these two melanins in each hair strand determines whether the overall tone is warm, cool, or neutral brown.
When dyeing hair, permanent hair color opens the cuticle layer and deposits new pigment inside the hair shaft. Semi-permanent color coats the outside of the cuticle only. This is why permanent color lasts longer. The artificial pigments added with dye eventually fade and wash out over 4-6 weeks as hair is shampooed.
With purple dye, the main pigment deposited is violet. This is a cool tone. When it fades, the underlying warm or cool brown tones will start to show through again.
How brown hair influences the faded tone
Purple is a mix of cool blue and warm red hues. On warm brown hair with high eumelanin levels, the redness in purple will accentuate the warmth in the brown. As the purple fades, it will leave behind a subtle reddish tone.
On cool brown hair with high pheomelanin levels, the cool blue tones in purple will mesh well with the ash-brown base. When purple fades from cool brown hair, it will reveal more neutral beige-brown tones.
For those with neutral medium brown hair, purple will fade back to the natural balanced warm-cool brown shade.
The purple shade makes a difference
Light pastel purples have more subtle cool tones that won’t overly accentuate warmth from brown hair when they fade out. However, vivid eggplant purple contains much more intense blue-red pigments. This means vivid purple will leave more of a reddish imprint on warm brown hair as it fades.
On the other hand, icy purples with strong blue undertones will accentuate cool ash-brown tones more as these shades fade.
Hair porosity matters
The condition and porosity of your brown hair also affects results. Porous, damaged hair absorbs more purple dye molecules deep into the strands. This extends the longevity of the purple color.
On healthy hair with tight cuticles and low porosity, purple sits on the surface and will fade faster. The purple has less interaction with the underlying brown pigment. This often means the brown returns to its natural tone more swiftly after purple washing out.
Maximizing purple dye retention
To help extend the vibrancy of purple hair color on brown hair as long as possible:
- Use a permanent dye or leave color on for longer
- Apply dye to pre-lightened hair for deeper purple results
- Use a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner
- Wash hair less often, using cool water
- Avoid chlorine and salt water that can strip color
- Use a gloss or semi-permanent tone between full dye jobs
How light or dark the brown is changes the effect
Very dark brown or black hair has a high concentration of eumelanin. When purple fades, this dark pigment will dominate any reddish tones left behind.
On light brown hair with lower melanin levels, the subtle warmth from purple’s fading is more visible.
Medium golden brown hair will likely reflect the most reddish tone as the purple washes out.
Example fading results from purple on different brown shades
| Base brown hair color | Fresh purple result | Faded purple result |
|---|---|---|
| Golden brown | Vibrant eggplant purple | Subtle reddish-brown tint |
| Neutral medium brown | Rich purple | Beige-brown |
| Cool ash brown | Pastel lavender purple | Muted neutral brown |
| Dark brown | Deep plum purple | Slightly warmer dark brown |
Experimenting with temporary or semi-permanent purple
For those with brown hair who want to test out how their natural shade interacts with purple, consider these options before committing to permanent dye:
- Purple hair mascara – adds temporary purple streaks for 1-2 washes
- Purple hair chalk – sticks to strands and shampoos out gradually
- Purple hair gel – glazes surface for subtle pop of color
- Semi-permanent purple dye – fades after 4-8 washes
- Purple hair clip-ins or extensions – instantly add/remove vibrant purple
Maintenance tips for faded purple hair
As your dyed purple hair begins to fade, you have options to refresh the color between salon visits:
- Use a tinted conditioner or mask to add back purple tones
- Apply a demi-permanent purple gloss treatment
- Mix a drop of purple hair dye into your usual conditioner
- Spritz hair with a temporary purple color spray
To neutralize unwanted warm tones as purple fades, try an anti-brass toner or purple shampoo. These contain blue-violet pigments to cancel out yellow-orange hues.
Consult a colorist for personalized advice
To get the most accurate prediction of how purple will fade for you, have a consultation with a professional hair colorist. They can assess your exact base shade, undertones and hair condition in person. A skilled colorist can then formulate and apply a custom purple shade that will fade nicely.
A patch strand test can also be done to preview how the purple dye interacts with your hair before doing your whole head.
Conclusion
When purple color fades from brown hair, a subtle tone shift can occur depending on the hair’s base pigment and the dye’s undertone. However, being aware of the factors that influence fading can help predict the results. Consulting a colorist and trying semi-permanent options can assist with decisions before committing. Ultimately, with proper maintenance, dyed purple hair can retain its vibrant cool tones for longer.