When looking to add a splash of purple to brown hair, the shade of purple you choose can make all the difference in the end result. Certain purple shades will show up vibrantly on brown hair, while others may blend in too much and not create the desired effect. The level of brown hair color also impacts how a purple shade will show. Knowing what purple shades best complement different shades of brown hair is key to achieving a stylish and eye-catching look.
How Hair Color Works
To understand what purple will show up best on brown hair, it helps to first understand some basics about hair color. Hair color is based on underlying pigments in the hair shaft. The two primary pigments are:
- Eumelanin – This pigment creates brown and black shades.
- Pheomelanin – This pigment creates red, gold and copper shades.
The combination and concentration of these two pigments in the hair produces all the natural hair colors from platinum blonde to black. Hair color is often categorized by a level system from 1 to 10. Level 1 is pure black and level 10 is the lightest platinum blonde.
When coloring hair, semi-permanent or permanent hair dyes work by depositing artificial pigments into the hair shaft. For purple shades, the color molecules are quite large, which is why vibrant purple has trouble penetrating coarser or thicker hair. The artificial pigments mix and interact with the existing natural pigments in the hair.
Best Purple for Light to Medium Brown Hair
For light to medium brown hair, shades like level 4 to level 5, some excellent purple options are:
- Eggplant – A deep purple with red undertones that will add bold vibrancy.
- Violet – A bright purple that makes a statement.
- Lilac – A light pastel purple that subtly peeks through.
- Orchid – A soft pinky-purple that lightly grazes the brown.
These shades contain enough coolness and depth of tone to show up on light to medium brown hair beautifully. The cool tones of the purples play nicely against the warm brown tones and allow both hues to stand out.
Best Purple for Dark Brown to Black Hair
For darker brown shades, like level 3 to 4, and black hair, level 1 to 2, some excellent options are:
- Vivid Violet – An intense, striking violet shade that makes an impact.
- Royal Purple – A rich, deep purple with blue undertones.
- Plum – A reddish-purple hue that adds subtle warmth.
- Eggplant – The classic bold purple for dark hair.
Because darker hair has more natural pigment, bolder and brighter purple tones are needed. The depth of color shows up well and makes the purple pop. Cooler-toned purples like violet and royal purple work best to contrast the warm, dark hair.
Best Application Techniques
How you apply purple hair dye also impacts how it shows on brown hair. Some recommendations are:
- Full Color: Applying purple as an all-over color will create the most vivid and uniform results from roots to ends.
- Highlights: Using purple as subtle highlights throughout brown hair can provide a fun pop of color.
- Balayage: Hand-painting the purple dye in soft wisps along the strands creates a blended, ombre effect.
- Root Smudge: Concentrating the purple at the roots and diffusing it outwards can make regrowth less noticeable.
Choosing technique based on the shade of purple and desired end look can help maximize the impact of the purple against the brown base.
Tone Matters More Than Brightness
When selecting a purple for brown hair, the specific tone matters more than how bright or vivid it is. A pastel lilac and a neon violet may seem equally bold. However, the lilac’s cool, bluish tone will show up better and add more dimension on light brown hair. While the warmer violet can overpower and clash with the color underneath.
Similarly, a lighter plum or orchid shade can sometimes show better than very bright eggplant on darker brunette hair. The red-violet undertone in plums plays nicely with the warm brown tones compared to the cooler eggplant.
Fading Effects
Purple shades are known to fade faster on pre-lightened or bleached hair compared to unprocessed hair. But they can still fade quickly on natural hair as well, sometimes in as little as 4 to 8 washes.
Cooler-toned purples like violet and lilac tend fade to a more subtle lavender or silver hue on brown hair. Warmer shades like plum and magenta will fade to tinted brown shades.
Using a color-depositing shampoo or conditioner can help refresh the purple tones between full coloring treatments.
Complementary Colors
Certain other colors worn with the purple hair can impact how it shows up against brown hair. Some complementary options include:
- White – This brightens and intensifies the purple hue.
- Black – This creates bold contrast against the purple color.
- Greys – Ashy cool greys allow the warmth of the purples to stand out.
- Blues – From navy to pastel, these accentuate the purple tones.
Avoid pairing with other warm colors like orange, red or yellow. These can cause the purple to appear more muted and muddy against the contrasting undertones.
Conclusion
The most eye-catching and dimensional purples for brown hair rely heavily on choosing the right undertone. Cool-toned purples work best on light brown hair while richer, darker purples make a statement on darker brunette locks. And applying the purple shade evenly all over or concentrating it heavily at the roots maximizes its impact. With the right purple choice, you can create a stylish look that puts a fun spin on traditional brown hair.
