Brass can be a welcome addition to interior design—or, for that matter, a party band—but it’s decidedly less charming in the hair. Enter the best blue shampoo. When brassiness appears, colored hair takes on unwanted warm hues, including orange or red tints to brown hair and yellow or gold in ashy blonde tresses. The best blue shampoos help you keep your cool, neutralizing unwanted tones while delivering added benefits like softness and shine.
However, blue shampoos aren’t for everyone. They’re not the same as everyday shampoos; and, nope, they’re not purple shampoos, either. To help us dive into the blue—and why, precisely, it belongs in some cleansing regimes—we solicited tips from celebrity stylists and color experts. Discover their favorites, plus everything you need to know about the best blue shampoos for brunettes, highlighted hair, and more, below.
Vogue’s Top Blue Shampoo Picks:
In this article:
Matrix Brass Off
- Why we love it: George Papanikolas, a bi-coastal colorist for models like Jessica Stam and Annie McGinty, keeps this blue shampoo on standby. “Matrix Brass Off balances out unwanted warm tones on my highlighted brunettes and brondes,” he says. Infused with color-depositing, blue-violet pigments, “It’s designed to target the unwanted orange tones on highlighted hair for a universally flattering finish,” Papinkolas explains. Plus, the vegan formulation is enriched with vitamin E oil to add a boost of shine.
- Key ingredients: Sodium laureth sulfate, coco-betaine, glycol distearate, sodium chloride, cocamide mipa, sodium lauryl sulfate
- Size: 10.1 fl oz
Joico Color Balance Blue
- Why we love it: Fancy a blue shampoo that’s on the cutting edge? “Joico Color Balance Blue instantly reduces unwanted brassy tones with smart-release technology,” says Korab, who likes the product for lightened brunette hair in particular. Indeed, the color-correcting formulation—which has a peppy, citrusy scent—is powered by a unique liposome delivery system. The system works to strengthen and protect the hair by continually infusing it with nourishing ingredients such as keratin, rosehip oil, and arginine. The brand recommends using the wash two to three times a week, letting the shampoo sit for three to five minutes each time before rinsing it out for maximum absorption.
- Key ingredients: Blue pigments, green tea extract and UV absorbers, Smart Release technology
- Size: 10.1 fl oz
dpHUE Cool Brunette Shampoo
- Why we love it: This shampoo gets the color-correcting job done, while fortifying hair with a few added perks. “dpHUE Cool Brunette Shampoo is great because its blue pigments neutralize orange and red tones,” Korab says. “It also contains conditioning ingredients like silk proteins and hibiscus flower.” The sulfate-free formulation is gentle enough to cleanse the hair without stripping it of color, and it’s enriched with silk proteins to prevent breakage.
- Key ingredients: Silk proteins, hibiscus flower extract, blue pigments
- Size: 8.5 fl oz
Davines Heart of Glass Silkening Shampoo
- Why we love it: Davines Heart of Glass Silkening Shampoo gives the hair a glassy boost of shine—and it’s one of the rarer blue shampoos designed for blondes. Infused with nourishing baobab extract, “This is a great option,” Korab says. “It contains natural blue pigments derived from jagua fruit, which neutralizes unwanted warm tones.” The Italian-made formulation is sulfate-free, and its display-worthy, glossy black packaging doesn’t hurt its appeal.
- Key ingredients: Baobab seed extracts, jagua fruit
- Size: 8.45 fl oz
Bondi Boost Brunette Booster Shampoo
- Why we love it: “The BondiBoost Brunette Booster works wonders to remove unwanted brassiness— it’s amazing for kicking warmth to the curb,” says Liv Thomas, an in-house stylist for the Australian brand. She recommends using the sulfate-free shampoo on towel-dried hair and letting it sit for 15 minutes to maximize toning and hydration. “The blue pigment neutralizes and counteracts orange and yellow tones to create a clean, cool brunette and extend the life of color,” she says. Meanwhile, botanical ingredients such as baobab seed extract and Kakadu plum douse the hair with moisture.
- Key ingredients: Baobab seed extract, squalene, Kakadu plum, saw palmetto
- Size: 16.9 fl oz
Eva NYC Brass to Sass Brunette Shampoo
- Why we love it: “I love Eva NYC Brass to Sass Brunette Shampoo because it effectively neutralizes brassy tones while nourishing and adding shine to brunette hair,” says Korab. The sulfate-free formulation leans on blue tansy extract to diminish brassy tones and hydrate the hair; it’s also packed with free-radical-fighting antioxidants including juniper berry and spirulina. It shouldn’t take long to see the effects: According to the brand, it takes just one wash to revive the mane with a freshly colored look.
- Key ingredients: Blue tansy, spirulina, juniper berry
- Size: 8.8 fl oz
John Frieda Blur Crush for Brunettes
- Why we love it: John Frieda’s Blue Crush for Brunettes shampoo is another of Korab’s favorites. “I love it for its effective blend of blue pigments, which neutralize brassy tones, and nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and keratin that help to moisturize and strengthen hair,” she says. Claiming to, ahem, crush brassy tones after a single wash, the formula was specifically designed to bring a cooler, brighter hue to highlighted or lightened brunette hair. It’s also formulated with a dual-penetration system, which allows its blue pigments to penetrate deeply into the hair with minimum penetration into the skin.
- Key ingredients: Sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, glycol distearate, sodium chloride, cocamide mea
- Size: 8.3 fl oz
Virtue ColorKick Debrassing Shampoo
- Why we love it: Billed as the only brass-defying shampoo made with all-natural botanicals and colorants, Virtue’s sulfate-free formulation harnesses a proprietary keratin protein molecule, Alpha Keratin 60ku. “The molecule size is the same molecule size as [human keratin],” celebrity stylist Adir Abergel previously told Vogue about Virtue’s multi-patented technology. “So the [ingredient] doesn’t sit on top of hair, weighing it down. It’s actually going into the cortex and filling any breakage.” Suitable for use on all natural and treated hair colors—including silver and gray—the shampoo has a yuzu, chamomile, and creamy sandalwood scent that has aromatherapeutic benefits.
- Key ingredients: Alpha Keratin 60ku, turmeric root extract, violet and lavender flower leaf extract
- Size: 8 fl oz
Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo
- Why we love it: For a Mother Nature-loving brassiness antidote, try Aveda’s Blue Malva Shampoo. “Crafted from naturally derived ingredients, wrapped in earth-friendly packaging, and manufactured with solar and wind power, [Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo] can neutralize brassy tones in all hair shades—especially blondes—and brighten grays, all while being mindful of the planet,” says Ian Michael Black, Aveda’s global artistic director for hair color. He adds that the shampoo, which has a soft, blue-violet hue, gently tones out any unwanted yellow hues in the hair. “For those with gray hair, the plant-powered formula is gentle enough to tone away any unwanted warmth, without leaving the hair with a violet cast,” he says.
- Key ingredients: Blue malva, coneflower, sweet almond bark powder, Centaurea Cyanus flower extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sisodium laureth sulfosuccinate
- Size: 33.8 fl oz
Deva Curl No-Poo Blue Anti-Brass Zero Lather Toning Cleanser
- Why we love it: Deva Curl’s fruit-scented shampoo—or, shall we say, No-Poo—tends to color-treated curls with a Smart Porosity Neutralizing Complex. The proprietary ingredient balances out the hair’s porosity for on-the-spot, uniform toning and brassiness reduction. At the same time, the sulfate-free, dermatologist-vetted formula hydrates curls with ingredients such as glycerin and contains shine-boosting panthenol.
- Key ingredients: Behentrimonium chloride, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, glycerin, isododecane, isopropyl palmitate, ceteareth-20, cetrimonium chloride, disodium edta
- Size: 12 fl oz
Milk_Shake Cold Brunette Shampoo
- Why we love it: Davontaé Washington, a celebrity hairstylist for the likes of Ciara and Megan Thee Stallion, reaches for Milk_shake’s salon-grade Cold Brunette Shampoo when he needs to counteract unwanted warm tones for his brunettes. (The shampoo can also be used on dark-blonde hair.) “This blue shampoo uses milk proteins, which is a great choice because it helps to build up the hair’s structure,” Washington says. “This formula also uses Integrity 41, a special ingredient that makes your color last longer. This is key since you want your newly toned hair to last and not fade back to warm again too fast.” A sunflower-seed-infused antioxidant complex devised by the brand, Integrity 41 is infused with antioxidant polyphenols that protect the hair from free radicals while improving color stability. Washington adds that the Italian-founded brand is an industry-insider favorite, and this product in particular is “backed by colorists.”
- Key ingredients: Milk_shake milk proteins, moringa oil, Integrity 41 (a sunflower-seed antioxidant complex), quinoa proteins
- Size: 10.1 oz
What is a blue shampoo, and who should use it?
Got brassiness? Blue shampoo may be for you. “Blue shampoo effectively neutralizes brassy or orange tones in darker or brunette hair,” says New Jersey hairstylist Jennifer Korab. “It contains blue pigments that help maintain cool and balanced hues. [Blue] shampoo is ideal for brunettes with highlights or balayage, those with color-treated dark hair, and those with naturally dark hair looking to remove unwanted warm tones.” Of note, blue shampoos don’t only cater to dark-haired beauty aficionados. Some offerings, including Davines’ Heart of Glass Silkening Shampoo, are specifically designed to clarify hues in all shades of blonde.
However, blue shampoo is not for hair of every stripe. According to Sabrina Bias, a Chicago-based blonde specialist and L’Oréal Professional ambassador, “If your hair is treated with a keratin or smoothing treatment of any kind you should avoid blue and purple shampoos with sulfates.” The reason? Shampoo with sulfates can wash away keratin treatments, which can otherwise last for several months.
What’s the difference between blue and purple shampoo?
What’s so special about blue? “In the world of color theory, certain colors neutralize others,” says hairstylist and extension artist Michelle Cleveland. “In the case of blue, it neutralizes orange, whereas purple neutralizes yellow and gold.” Therefore, blue shampoos are most often used on darker hair, while purple shampoos cater to flaxen-haired consumers. Korab elaborates: “The main difference between blue and purple shampoos is their targeted use for different hair colors and the specific tones they are designed to neutralize. Blue shampoo contains blue pigments and is primarily for brunettes and individuals with darker hair, as it neutralizes brassy and orange tones.” Specifically, she reiterates: “It is ideal for brunettes with highlights, balayage, or color-treated dark hair.” On the other hand, “Purple shampoo contains purple pigments and is designed for blondes, individuals with light hair, and those with gray or silver hair, as it neutralizes yellow, brassy tones,” Korab says. “[Purple shampoo] is perfect for maintaining cool, bright tones in blonde, gray, or silver hair, preventing it from turning yellow.”
Key ingredients to look out for
What goes into a blue shampoo? That depends on the formulation, of course, but Korab vouches for certain ingredients in particular. When seeking out a blue shampoo, “Look for ingredients that will ensure the shampoo’s effectiveness and maintain the health of your hair,” she advises. “Blue pigments, such as CI 42090 (Blue 1), are essential for neutralizing brassy, orange tones in dark hair. Hydrolyzed proteins, like hydrolyzed keratin or silk, strengthen hair and improve elasticity.” Of note: dpHUE Cool Brunette Shampoo contains both blue pigments and silk proteins. “Moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin, aloe vera, or natural oils—like argan or coconut oil—prevent dryness and maintain moisture,” Korab continues. One such oil-infused formulation is John Frieda’s Blue Crush for Brunettes, which contains coconut oil. Korab adds that antioxidants, including vitamin E and green tea extract, help protect hair from environmental damage. Joico’s Color Balance Blue Shampoo has green tea extract as a key ingredient, while Matrix Brass Off boosts shine with an infusion of vitamin E oil. Additionally, “sulfate-free surfactants, such as sodium cocoyl isethionate, gently cleanse without stripping natural oils, and UV protectants like benzophenone-4 shield hair from UV damage and color fading,” Korab says. Eva NYC Brass to Sass Brunette Shampoo is a blue shampoo that’s sulfate-free and packed with antioxidants.
Do blue shampoos really work?
“Blue and purple shampoos absolutely work—and should only be used if you want to achieve and maintain an overall cool or icy hair tone,” Bias says. “You should only use it if you have unwanted warm tones in your hair.”
Can I use a blue shampoo every day?
Using blue shampoo every day is not recommended. “Blue shampoo is effective at neutralizing brassy tones in dark hair, but daily use can lead to over-depositing of blue pigments, which might result in an undesired bluish or greenish tint,” says Korab. “Using shampoo of any kind every day can be drying, but blue shampoo is especially drying because of its high alkalinity,” Bias warns. “It should be used once a week or every other week.”
How to use a blue shampoo
When lathering up with a blue shampoo, pay attention to its hue. “Blue shampoos have strong pigmentations so they come out of the bottle as a dark royal blue,” says Cleveland. “These shampoos should be dragged over the hair—think of how you would apply an oil or cream—until the color lightens to pale blue. Once that occurs, you can let it sit on the strands for up to five minutes before rinsing.”
Want to add a soothing step? Before using a blue shampoo, Bias recommends pre-treating the hair with a detox shampoo like L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox (her personal favorite.) “A lot of the time metal is the real culprit for the brass in your hair,” she says, noting that everything from city infrastructure to metal pipes can cause metals to seep into shower water and attach to hair fibers. “Detox and neutralize the metal first, then use a blue shampoo.”
Meet the experts
- Sabrina Bias is a Chicago-based blonde specialist and L’Oréal Professional ambassador.
- Ian Michael Black is Aveda’s global artistic director for hair color.
- Michelle Cleveland is a hairstylist and extension artist.
- Jennifer Korab is a hairstylist, colorist, and hand-tied extension specialist based in New Jersey.
- George Papanikolas is a celebrity colorist whose clients include actress Ellen Pompeo and model Annie McGinity.
- Liv Thomas is a customer care representative and in-house stylist for Bondi Boost based in Sydney, Australia.
- Davontaé Washington is a celebrity hairstylist whose client list includes Ciara, Kim Kardashian, and Megan Thee Stallion.