Purple is a popular and distinctive color that has long been associated with royalty, wealth, and luxury. While pure purple is quite striking, variations of the color at different saturations and mixes with other hues create a rainbow of “purples” that span the color wheel. One such variation that you may have heard described is the color “dirty purple.” So what exactly causes this variation of purple? Read on to learn more about what a dirty purple is, what causes it, examples of shades that could be called dirty purple, and more.
The Cause of Dirty Purple
First, to understand dirty purple, it helps to review what makes up the color purple. Purple sits between red and blue on the color spectrum. It occurs when mixing the primary colors red and blue. The more red added to blue, the closer the purple shade gets to red and magenta. The more blue added to red, the closer it gets to indigo and blue-leaning shades. When a purple contains a relatively equal balance of red and blue pigments, it becomes a vivid purple that many people imagine when they think of the color.
Dirty purple deviates from a “true” or vivid purple due to the introduction of additional pigments, mainly yellow, black, white, and brown. The inclusion of these muddies or “dirties” the purple, moving it towards a more brown, muted shade. Often dirtier purples contain less saturation or vibrancy than a pure purple as well. Some key influences that make a purple “dirty” include:
- Adding black – Black darkens and mutes the purple hue
- Adding brown – Brown shifts purple towards an earthy, dirt-like shade
- Adding white – White washes out and desaturates the purple
- Adding yellow/orange – Yellowish hues muddy the purple
- Desaturation – Lower saturation = less vivid purple
With these influences, the resulting purple takes on greyish, brownish, or otherwise muted and dirtied characteristics compared to a true, vivid purple. The exact shade will depend on the specific pigments used and their proportions. When someone describes a purple as “dirty,” they are referring to these types of shades.
Examples of Dirty Purple Shades
Many specific shades of purple exemplify what would be considered a “dirty” purple. Here are some examples along with their approximate hex color codes:
| Dirty Purple Shade | Hex Code |
|---|---|
| Amethyst Smoke | #9187C4 |
| Byzantium | #702963 |
| Mountbatten Pink | #997A8D |
| Pale Purple | #C6BCDC |
| Pale Violet Red | #DB7093 |
| Pansy Purple | #78184A |
| Puce | #CC8899 |
| Russian Violet | #32174D |
| Taupe Purple | #50404D |
| Veronica Purple | #A020F0 |
As you can see from the table, these shades range from soft muted purples to deep, earthy variations. They exhibit greyish, brownish, or desaturated qualities compared to a bold purple. Other dirty purples not listed include shades like plum, lilac, thistle, and mulberry.
Is There a Specific Name for Dirty Purple?
While people may describe purple shades as “dirty” to convey they are muted or greyish purples, there is no single, specific name for this type of color. The term “dirty purple” serves more as a descriptive phrase rather than an official color name. However, there are some color names that are closely associated with the idea of a dirty purple:
- Mauve – A soft, pale purple with grey undertones
- Taupe – A brownish grey shade that can take on purple hues
- Lavender – A light, soft purple leaning towards pink/grey
- Thistle – A pale purple-grey color name
- Wisteria – A pale, cool purple tinged with blue/grey
While not exact synonyms, these names describe the muted, soft purples that often get characterized as dirty shades. Someone looking for a muted, vintage, or antique purple may use some of these more specific names in design or fashion contexts.
Uses for Dirty Purples
Dirty purples can be very versatile to work with despite their muted tones. Some ways they are used include:
- Interior design – Dirty purples like lilac, mauve, and wisteria work beautifully in wall paints, textiles, and accessories. The softened tones provide a calming effect.
- Fashion – Deeper dirty purples like mulberry, amethyst, and burgundy add striking pops as accent colors in clothing and accessories.
- Art/Photography – Artists and photographers leverage deeper, greyish purples to create moody, evocative images and paintings.
- Weddings – Soft vintage purples are popular for a romantic, feminine wedding aesthetic.
- Branding – Muted purples work for certain brands wanting to convey qualities like spirituality, nostalgia, or creativity.
Even though dirty purples are less saturated than true or vivid purples, they still provide unique aesthetic qualities. Their earthy, soft tones work well for creating certain moods and styles.
Conclusion
So in summary, while there is no single “official” color name for dirty purple, it refers to shades of purple that skew towards grey, brown, muted, or desaturated versions of the hue. Adding black, white, brown, or other colors to true purple creates these dirty purple variations. Common examples include shades like lilac, wisteria, mulberry, thistle, and more. Dirty purples work beautifully in contexts from interior design to weddings when you want to utilize purple in a softer, more vintage or antiqued style.
So next time you come across a purple that feels more weathered, vintage, or softened than bold vivid purple, you can start calling it a “dirty purple” thanks to its greyer, more muted characteristics. Just don’t actually add dirt to your paint colors or fabrics to achieve the effect!