Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo | Neutralize Yellow Tones & Maintain Blonde, Grey, Platinum Hair

Decoding Brassiness: The Science of Purple Shampoo and Hair Toning

That gorgeous, cool-toned blonde, platinum, or silver you walked out of the salon with… it’s a masterpiece. But then, a few weeks later, something unwelcome starts to appear: brassiness. Those unwanted yellow or orange tones can be frustrating, but understanding why they happen is the first step to conquering them. It all comes down to the fascinating science of hair color and the power of color correction.

Hair’s Colorful Composition

Think of your hair like a complex cable. Each strand has a protective outer layer called the cuticle, made of overlapping scales like shingles on a roof. Beneath that lies the cortex, which makes up the bulk of the hair shaft and contains the pigment melanin. And finally, some hairs have a central core called the medulla.

Melanin is the key to your natural hair color. It’s produced by cells called melanocytes, and there are two main types:

• Eumelanin: This pigment is responsible for brown and black shades. The more eumelanin you have, the darker your hair.
• Pheomelanin: This pigment creates red and yellow tones.

The specific combination and concentration of these two melanins determine your unique natural hair color.

The Bleaching Breakdown

When you lighten your hair, you’re essentially removing melanin. Bleaching agents, typically containing hydrogen peroxide, penetrate the hair shaft and break down the melanin molecules through a chemical process called oxidation. This process doesn’t remove all pigments equally. Eumelanin is easier to break down than pheomelanin.

This is crucial because it explains why brassiness often emerges in lightened hair. As the artificial color fades, and the darker eumelanin is removed, the underlying yellow tones of the remaining pheomelanin become more visible.

Oxidation’s Offense

Oxidation isn’t just about the initial bleaching process. It continues to affect your hair color long after you leave the salon. Exposure to sunlight, air pollution, and even minerals in your water can cause further oxidation of the remaining pigments, contributing to the gradual appearance of brassy tones. Think of it like a cut apple turning brown when exposed to air – a similar oxidation process is happening in your hair.

Color Theory to the Rescue

Here’s where the magic of the color wheel comes in. Imagine a circle divided into sections of different colors. Colors that sit directly opposite each other on this wheel are called complementary colors. These color pairs have a special relationship: when combined, they neutralize each other.

In the case of hair, yellow’s complementary color is purple. This is the fundamental principle behind purple shampoo.

Purple Power

Purple shampoo, like Matrix So Silver, doesn’t dye your hair purple. Instead, it deposits tiny purple pigments onto the hair shaft. These pigments don’t permanently alter your hair color; they simply sit on the surface and counteract the unwanted yellow tones.

Think of it like this: if you have a yellow wall and you shine a purple light on it, the wall will appear more neutral. The purple light doesn’t paint the wall; it simply cancels out the yellowness. Purple shampoo works in a similar way, using pigment instead of light.

Mastering the Method: Using Purple Shampoo Correctly

Using purple shampoo effectively is key to achieving and maintaining your desired cool-toned look. Here’s a step-by-step guide, along with some expert tips:

1. Glove Up: Purple pigments can temporarily stain your hands, so wearing gloves is recommended.
2. Soak and Saturate: Thoroughly wet your hair. This helps ensure even distribution of the shampoo.
3. Lather and Distribute: Apply a generous amount of purple shampoo and work it into a rich lather, making sure to coat all strands evenly, from roots to ends.
4. The Waiting Game: This is crucial! The amount of time you leave the shampoo on depends on your hair’s porosity and the level of brassiness. Start with a shorter time (1-3 minutes) and gradually increase if needed. Highly porous hair absorbs pigment more quickly, so be cautious.
5. Rinse and Reveal: Rinse your hair thoroughly until the water runs clear. Any residual purple pigment left behind could result in a temporary lavender tint.
6. Condition is Key: Purple shampoos can sometimes be slightly drying, so always follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. This helps to smooth the hair cuticle and lock in the color.

Expert Tips:

• Porosity Matters: If you have highly porous hair (often from chemical treatments or heat damage), be extra careful with leave-in time.
• Targeted Application: If you have uneven brassiness (e.g., yellower roots), you can apply the shampoo to those areas first.
• Mix It Up: If you find the purple shampoo too strong, you can mix it with your regular shampoo to dilute the pigment.
• Don’t use it every wash, generally 2 times per week.

Beyond the Bottle: Maintaining Vibrant Color

Purple shampoo is a powerful tool, but it’s not the only weapon in your arsenal against brassiness. Here are some additional tips for keeping your color-treated hair looking its best:

• Sun Protection: UV rays can fade your color and contribute to brassiness. Use hair products with UV protection, or wear a hat when spending extended time in the sun.
• Heat Styling Savvy: Excessive heat styling can also damage the hair cuticle and accelerate color fading. Use heat protectant sprays and try to minimize the use of hot tools.
• Water Works: Hard water, which contains high levels of minerals, can contribute to brassiness. Consider using a shower filter to remove these minerals.
• Gentle Cleansing: Use sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners designed for color-treated hair. These are gentler and less likely to strip away color.

Toning Through Time: A Brief History of Hair Color

The desire to alter hair color is far from a modern phenomenon. Ancient Egyptians used henna and other plant-based dyes to color their hair, and the Romans experimented with various concoctions to lighten or darken their locks. The development of synthetic hair dyes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries revolutionized hair coloring, making a wider range of colors and more permanent results possible. The quest for perfect blonde and silver shades, and the subsequent need for toning solutions like purple shampoo, is a relatively recent chapter in this long and colorful history.

A Sustainable Shade:

It is worth noting the brand’s commitment.
The Matrix So Silver boasts a Cradle to Cradle Certification. This indicates that the product meets certain standards related to material health, material reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.

Wrapping Up the Rainbow

Brassy hair doesn’t have to be a constant battle. By understanding the science of hair color, the bleaching process, and the power of complementary colors, you can effectively neutralize unwanted yellow tones and maintain your desired cool-toned look. Purple shampoo, used correctly, is a valuable tool in your hair care arsenal, allowing you to embrace the vibrant, beautiful hair you deserve.