Choosing to dye my hair purple was an extremely daring and thrilling decision that I have ever made. I was interested in seeing how my appearance would change from a deep purple to a softer lavender, and I was looking forward to experimenting with each shade. It was about finding a new way to express myself, not just about the color.
I chose to venture into the vivid realm of purple because I enjoy trying out different hairstyles. I wanted to take you along on my journey, from choosing the perfect shade to taking care of the maintenance. Choosing a color off the shelf is not the only thing involved.
I’ll take you through my experience in this post, covering the difficulties I encountered as well as the times when everything worked out flawlessly. I hope my story informs and inspires your own hair adventures, whether you’re thinking about dying your hair purple or you’re just interested in the procedure.
| Stage | Experience |
| Choosing the shade | I opted for a soft lavender tone instead of deep purple for a more subtle look. |
| Preparing my hair | Before dyeing, I made sure to lighten my hair to ensure the color would show up well. |
| Application process | Applying the dye was straightforward, but I made sure to section my hair for even coverage. |
| Initial result | The color came out brighter than expected, but I liked how vibrant it looked. |
| Fading over time | As weeks passed, the purple gradually softened into a pretty lavender, which I loved. |
| Maintenance | To keep the color lasting longer, I used sulfate-free shampoo and minimized heat styling. |
Initial hair data and the care used
My daughter has medium density, low porosity hair (about 5–6 UGT), and some hair loss from stress and possibly the Covid vaccine. The bob’s length fluctuates by about 10 centimeters. Her scalp was previously oily, but she is now glad that it is dry as a result of taking certain medications. She now washes her hair once every three to four days.
I’m not sure how much of the hair’s quality will be maintained when it is toned with direct pigments after being lightened by 3% with powder due to its short length and lack of plans to grow it out. Despite this, we make every effort to give her hair the best possible care because we want it to be a shining canvas rather than a faded washcloth because of its attention-grabbing bright color.
Currently under care are the Paul Rivera masks, the Loreal Metal Detox line, the ampoule Color Bomb from Qtem, the masks for Insight Damage Hair, Insight Intech, and Cocochoco Intensive Moisturizing Cream (along with the corresponding shampoo). My Promise: Usually, this is sufficient to keep your hair looking healthy. She just wears the masks on her hair while taking a shower; she doesn’t bother holding them or dancing with tambourines. Qtem Botox Instant spray is now the go-to leave-in hair color in 99% of cases. It is perfect for using a hairdryer to style a bob and fully meets all needs.
Such minimalism, that.)
My hair turned out to be a bold and enjoyable shade of purple, which softened into a delicate lavender over time. I gained knowledge about the best tools, methods, and ways to maintain the freshness of my color along the way. From the first thrill to the upkeep difficulties, this experience taught me how to use color to express who I am while maintaining the health of my hair. Here are some tips for making the most out of your purple experience if you’re considering it.
Hair coloring with direct pigments and preparation
Step one – lightening the roots
Naturally, it is impossible to achieve a brilliant purple color without first lightening with an initial UGT level of 5–6. For this reason, we lighten the hair first.
Experience has shown that when the roots spread out, direct pigment toning slightly darkens the natural color. The grown roots also tend to add depth to the color and look quite harmonious for a very long time. Consequently, it had been roughly six months since the last lightning storm.
We used 3% oxide and Bouticle powder for lightning.
I first applied the mixture, pulling back from the roots by roughly 0.5 cm to prevent "burning roots," in order to achieve an even color. Subsequently, we applied the mixture directly to the roots after applying it to the entire head and letting it sit for a little while longer. The heat from the scalp accelerated the process and produced a uniform color on the roots.
You can see that we made a few mistakes at the intersection of the purple and light colors in the final product photo. We later used more lightening mixture to clean them up, but I’ll be more cautious going forward.
After using GOSH to remove the powder and twice soaping our skin, we apply the Insight Post Color mask. Because this mask can be applied to the scalp and effectively soothes it, I adore it with tenderness. I can overlook the texture’s lack of pliability—it practically tries to jump out of your hands and leak into the bath—given this and the effect it has on the hair. However, I’ve already gotten the hang of using it, and I always do so after coloring my daughter and myself.
Stage two – toning with direct pigment
My daughter and I have only tried Bad Girl’s direct pigments thus far. We occasionally look at other businesses, but Bad Girl captivates us with its affordable price for very acceptable quality and its ease of purchase (they bought a plethora of everything in offline stores, even with discounts).
In order to achieve a colder shade in the initial colorings, we combined purple and blue shades; however, since I am now entirely happy with the color achieved from the purple storm shade, we have stopped adding blue.
I applied the pigment in its pure, undiluted form the first few times, but I later realized that it could be diluted after reading reviews, some of which were on our website. And from now on, we always dilute it with conditioner from Angel Marine Death Spa. I dilute it by eye, so I’m not sure of the precise measurements. However, we are always satisfied with the color outcome.
In addition, I add concentrates from Color Bomb from Qtem or Zolotoy Silk, depending on how I’m feeling. As I don’t weigh everything, I mix it all together and add two to three milliliters of Qtem without following a precise measurement.
I adore the mixture’s blueberry sheen before it’s thoroughly combined.
We apply the beaten mixture to towel-dried hair and let it sit for half an hour. Naturally, this is very convenient because there is no strict holding period if s.k. oxide is not used.
The hair is obviously not colored if the pigment is applied to uncolored hair, but the natural shade nevertheless gets a little colder when considering the native UGT levels of 5–6. To achieve a more harmonious combination of naturally occurring roots and dyed length, we always apply the mixture from the roots.
We rinse the mixture off without using shampoo and proceed with our regular drying method (hair dryer + leave-in, finishing with a comb):
Although dying my hair purple was a risky move, it was enjoyable and freeing in the end. The transition from deep purple to lavender gave me the chance to experiment with various hues, each contributing a distinct atmosphere. It’s incredible how much color can affect your self-esteem and attitude.
I picked up a lot of knowledge about keeping colors vibrant along the way, from picking the best products to modifying my regimen. Even though the color eventually turned into a more subdued lavender, it was still worth trying something different.
I would say go ahead and experiment with purple hair if you’re thinking about doing so! Just be prepared for some upkeep and relish how each shade changes your appearance.
