Most people don’t like to change their natural hair color. Some brave souls change their hair color but stick to natural options such as black, brunette, blonde, or even red. The real legends, however, go beyond these basic colors. They experiment with unconventional colors such as green, orange, yellow, pink, blue, and of course, purple.
Purple happens to be incredibly popular amongst all the daring hair colors the modern rebel can try. Isn’t this why you’re considering dying your hair purple too? Trying such a bold color, however, can be risky.
Multiple things can go wrong, ranging from massive stains in your bathroom to the color fading away too fast too soon. To avoid these problems, you need to understand that two things influence hair disasters the most – your technique and the quality of the hair dye you’ve chosen.
We’ll help you with both these variables in the rest of this purple hair dye guide. Read it thoroughly, and you’ll never have to worry about hair color problems. Here’s everything we’ll be covering in this guide.
| Budget |
|---|
 |
| Manic Panic Purple Haze Purple Hair Dye Color 3pk |
| 4.5/5.0 |
| Application Type: Finished formula |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 4 to 6 weeks |
| Very dark purple dye, free of harmful chemicals, has a negligible grapes smell. |
| Check Amazon |
| Best Value |
|---|
 |
| Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Application Type: Finished formula |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 4 to 8 weeks |
| Suitable for multiple base colors, free of harmful chemicals. |
| Check Amazon |
| Top Pick |
|---|
 |
| Special Effects SFX Hair Color Hair Dye Deep Purple |
| 4.75/5.0 |
| Application Type: Finished formula |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 4 to 7 weeks |
| Vegetable-based stain, smells fresh and clean, fades gracefully. |
| Check Amazon |
- How Many Shades of Purple Are Out There?
- Do You Need to Bleach Your Hair Before Dying It?
- How Can You Prevent the Dye from Fading?
- How to Choose A Purple Hair Dye?
- 9 Best Purple Hair Dyes Comparison Table
- Top 3 Premium Purple Hair Dyes: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value Purple Hair Dyes: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Budget Purple Hair Dyes: Detailed Reviews
How Many Shades of Purple Are Out There?
There are as many shades of purple out there as you want there to be. You can take any purple hair dye and mix it with another color to create a different shade. All you need to do is figure out the basics of color theory and understand how different colors interact with each other.
For instance, you can take two hair dyes from the same brand and mix them to create a unique color. Some brands even offer mixers such as Manic Panic’s “pastel-izers” specifically for this purpose.
The color purple, actually, can be taken in multiple directions. Consider.
- If you mix some brown into it, you get mauve.
- If you mix some red or pink into it, you’ll end up with magenta.
- When you mix blue, you move into the lavender territory.
- If you go deep into the purple, you’ll end up with blue.
- Other shades you can consider include eggplant, neon, amethyst, and even silver purple.
It is also important to remember that all hair dyes will fade away sooner or later. As they fade, you’ll see different shades of purple becoming visible. The darker your starting purple is, the more shades you’ll end up seeing before the color fades out completely. It can be helpful keeping this little fact in mind while choosing which shade of purple is right for you.
Do You Need to Bleach Your Hair Before Dying It?
The answer to this question depends on two things – the natural color of your hair and the color you want your hair to be. The lighter the color of your hair, the closer the result will be to the purple shade shown on the label.
This means that blondes will have the most success with bright, vivid, and vibrant purple hair dyes. If you decide not to bleach your hair, you should expect to get purple tints in your hair instead of the color shown on the label. In effect, your hair will stay dark brown or black indoors but will show pretty purple tints in sunlight or under some types of artificial lights.
The majority of purple hair dyes only offer the finished color in the tubes, bottles, or jars. They don’t come with bleaching agents or maintenance products such as color-friendly shampoos and conditioners. Most don’t even come with applicators or brushes.
Effectively, you’ll have to ensure that you bleach your hair before using the product you buy. You can either get the bleaching done at a salon or buy bleaching kits and do it at home.
While most hair dyes are only colors, some do come with bleaching agents such as developing peroxides. Along with these, you’ll often find other accessories such as applicators, shampoos, conditioners, or even aromatic serums. These products are more difficult to apply but do offer a complete solution.
How Can You Prevent the Dye from Fading?
Every hair dye will fade away slowly. The speed with which a hair dye fades will depend on its composition.
Semi-permanent dyes are dyes that coat the hair strand on the outside instead of pigmenting it from the inside out like permanent dyes. As a result, semi-permanent dyes will fade away much faster than permanent dyes.
Usually, semi-permanent dyes start fading as soon as the hair is exposed to moisture. Every time you wash your hair, you’ll see the color in the drain. You’ll also see a lot of color bleed away if you sweat a lot from your scalp. Permanent dyes, on the other hand, will last longer and bleed less.
The fading speed of a hair dye will also depend on two other variables – the base color of your hair and the quality of your maintenance regime.
You’ll see hair dyes fading away faster on darker colored hair. It just seems that way, though. The actual fading speed on dark hair remains the same. It seems faster because lighter shades of the hair dye are not visible on darker bases.
The quality of your maintenance regime will determine how well you protect your hair color from variables that affect it adversely. This means everything from exposure to sunlight and chemicals to how you wash your hair.
For instance, if you spend a lot of time in the sun, the hair dye will slowly get bleached. If you swim a lot with colored hair, you’ll see the color fade away, irrespective of whether it is permanent or semi-permanent.
You’ll also have to minimize how often you wash your hair and the kind of products you use. Ideally, you shouldn’t wash more than once or twice a week. Moreover, you cannot use hot water if you’ve dyed your hair because hot water will always make it run.
For the same reason, you’ll need to avoid all hair products with harsh ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. It is also advisable to keep your hair conditioned to prevent fading.
How to Choose A Purple Hair Dye?
Knowing more about hair dyes and hair maintenance will help you choose the right purple hair dye for your hair. To help you approach the selection process in a more organized manner, here is a list of variables that you should evaluate to determine the suitability of a hair dye for your hair.
Shade of Color
The majority of people choose hair dyes in terms of the shades they produce in their hair. While most people choose by which purple shades they like, we suggest choosing based on your skin tone and dressing style instead.
For instance, darker purple shades may not suit dark-skinned people as they won’t stand out. Lighter, brighter shades on these people may have more of an impact. Similarly, light-skinned people may find darker shades of purple to be more graceful and elegant.
Similarly, your dressing style will define how rebellious you want your chosen shade of purple to be. For example, you can’t really pull off the neon or electric purple look if you don’t dress rebelliously.
Fading Spectrum
The fading spectrum is very difficult to determine because it is slightly different for everybody. Nonetheless, it is still important because the starting purple shade will only stay in your hair for a few weeks. Afterward, the shade will change and may or may not appeal to you.
For example, many purple hair dyes go green, while others become pinkish. As you can see, these two fading outcomes are incredibly different and may not suit everyone.
Lasting Capacity
You’ll also want to take into consideration the lasting capacity of the hair dye even though your hair maintenance regime will have a huge impact on the listed time on the label.
Technically, permanent dyes last longer than semi-permanent dyes. However, in practice, there is a lot of variation. A few permanent dyes don’t last as long as some semi-permanent ones.
For most people, semi-permanent dyes will last for three to six weeks. If you’re very careless with your hair, you can expect more color loss wherein you’re back to how you were in two to three weeks. If you’re an extremist about your hair, though, you can make the color last for months!
Ease of Application
Ease of application is another variable you should take into account. Hair dyes that come with multiple separate components such as developers and serums will be tougher to manage than single-bottle finished color hair dyes.
A hair dye that comes with the right accessories will be easier to manage. For instance, if you’re being provided gloves and applicators, then the hair dye will be very easy to apply.
Unfortunately, very few hair dyes come with applicators or brushes. You’ll have to arrange for these yourself.
Chemical Composition
The chemical composition of the hair dye also matters. If the hair dye contains a lot of chemicals, then this may cause health concerns. Artificial chemicals can not only damage your hair but also affect the health of your scalp. For example, hair dyes with ammonia in them can cause a lot of dryness in the hair and scalp.
It is even possible that a hair dye contains a chemical that causes a severe reaction in you. There are reports of people fainting away as soon as a hair dye was applied to their hair. To avoid alarming reactions, we recommend going for natural hair dyes that don’t contain chemicals such as ammonia, peroxide, and ethyl alcohol.
Smell
Some users also like to take into account the smell of the hair dye during and after application. Hair dyes of different colors will have different smells. Purple hair dyes usually smell fruity, with their scents being compared to berries or grapes.
However, these are natural hair dyes. Chemical hair dyes, on the other hand, will smell of the chemicals they contain with ammonia being the most common.
While it is possible to mask the smell of the hair with the use of strong-smelling conditioners, it is always better if you like the initial smell in the first place.
9 Best Purple Hair Dyes Comparison Table
| Product Name | Application Type | Volume | Cost per ounce (*Approx.) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pravana Chroma Silk Creme Hair Color | Finished formula | 3 ounces | $3.58 per ounce | Check Price |
| Special Effects SFX Hair Color Hair Dye Deep Purple | Finished formula | 4.8 ounces | $3.25 per ounce | Check Price |
| Splat Rebellious Fantasy Complete Hair Color Kit | Developer-based | 4.25 ounces | $2.58 per ounce | Check Price |
| Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye | Finished formula | 8 ounces | $2.37 per ounce | Check Price |
| Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Dye | Finished formula | 6.76 ounces | $2.37 per ounce | Check Price |
| Joico Intensity Semi-Permanent Hair Color | Finished formula | 4 ounces | $2.22 per ounce | Check Price |
| Manic Panic Purple Hair Dye | Finished formula | 3 x 4 ounces | $1.99 per ounce | Check Price |
| Punky Purple Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Color | Finished formula | 3.5 ounces | $1.9 per ounce | Check Price |
| L’Oréal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color | Developer-based | 7 ounces | $1.28 per ounce | Check Price |
Top 3 Premium Purple Hair Dyes: Detailed Reviews
1. Pravana Chroma Silk Creme Hair Color
Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0
Pravana is deservedly viewed as a premium brand when it comes to hair care. It manufactures high-quality hair products without the use of artificial ingredients. It’s ChromaSilk series contains several hair dyes with a wide variety of colors.
This purple hair dye from the brand is a part of that series and is noteworthy because it contains silk amino acids. This is an important inclusion because the human body doesn’t view silk amino acids as foreign. This allows them to penetrate deep into the hair carrying various ingredients.
In the case of this product, the silk amino acids act as carriers for the dye, taking it deep into the cortex of the hair. Additionally, this hair dye also contains keratin amino acids. Keratin amino acids can help create a bond between the dye and the hair since the hair is made up of keratin. Keratin amino acids, of course, also strengthen the hair in the process.
While it is a strong hair dye, this purple hair dye is best suited to hair that has been lightened in advance. On unbleached hair, it cannot produce anything more than basic tints. On the other hand, it is strong enough to stain everything on and around you.
You can expect your bathroom to be purple for the next few days if you don’t plan on using a strong cleaning agent after dying your hair. You should also remember to arrange accessories such as an applicator because this product doesn’t come with any.
In terms of lasting power, there are conflicting reports. Some people say that it didn’t stay in their hair for more than a couple of weeks, while others said that it lasted for two months or even more.
The difference between the two groups was that the latter paid special attention to hair color maintenance. They washed their hair less, avoided moisture where possible, and kept their hair conditioned.
Some even regularly touched up the color by mixing some hair dye with their favorite conditioner. They could do this because the hair dye doesn’t have an atrocious smell. It smells good, with the scent being compatible with most other hair products.
Who’s it for: If you’re one of those people who know how to take care of their hair, you will be able to get the most out of Pravana ChromaSilk Crème purple hair dye.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 4 ounces |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 3 to 6 weeks |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Can last a really long time |
| Tints unbleached hair |
| Silk amino acids infused |
| Most people like the smell |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Disappears very quickly without proper care |
| Very messy to apply |
| Bleeds when damp or wet |
| Doesn’t come with accessories |
2. Special Effects SFX Hair Color Hair Dye Deep Purple (Top Pick)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
This product from Special Effects may be one of the most expensive purple hair dyes in the market, but it is also one of the best since it is nearly flawless. It has a semi-permanent cream formula that delivers deep and dark purple onto the hair.
This means that it should suit most skin tones and dressing styles. However, if you don’t like the shade, you’ll have the option of going for the “pimpin’ purple” variant as well. Pimpin purple has more red in it and is closer to magenta instead of blue on the color spectrum.
One of the standout features of this hair dye is that it performs better than its competitors on unbleached hair. It will show better results than most other hair dyes if your hair color is light brunette or lighter.
It is a fairly long-lasting hair dye as well, especially if you use it on lightened hair and stick to a proper hair color maintenance regime. On most hair types, this dye would stay for anything between three to six weeks. On pre-lightened hair, it will last even longer.
Throughout that time, this dye would keep the hair conditioned too. If you mix some of this dye into your favorite conditioner and use that regularly, then you’ll not only keep the color vibrant longer but also help with the conditioning. Since this hair dye doesn’t have a bad smell, you should be able to use it for touchups. It has a nice, clean, and fresh scent.
Of course, you’ll have to minimize how much you wash your hair. Like all hair dyes, this one bleeds freely when exposed to moisture. In fact, it will bleed heavily through the first few washes. As it bleeds, the color will fade. Fortunately, this is one of those few hair dyes that fade gracefully, so you don’t have to worry about looking weird.
The stain itself is vegetable-based which means that it is vegan-friendly. In fact, it hasn’t even been tested on animals so it is completely cruelty-free too. Finally, it is manufactured right here in the US which ensures that proper quality standards were kept during the manufacturing process.
This purple hair dye doesn’t come with any accessories. You’ll only get a bottle of the dye. This means that you should prepare for the procedure in advance by getting the right accessories. Lighten your hair at least two days in advance and arrange for brushes and mixing bowls.
Also, make sure you have strong cleaning agents and oils handy. This dye, like all hair dyes, is extremely messy. It can not only stain your entire bathroom but also your scalp and skin.
Who’s it for: If money is not a restriction for you, then you should go for the Special Effects purple hair dye, which is easily one of the best in the market right now.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 4.8 ounces |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 4 to 7 weeks |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Lasts a good amount of time |
| Tints unbleached hair |
| Conditions hair too |
| Fades gracefully |
| Smells fresh and clean |
| Vegetable-based stain |
| Vegan-friendly |
| Cruelty-free |
| Made in the US |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Messy to apply |
| Bleeds excessively when damp or wet |
| Doesn’t come with accessories |
3. Splat Rebellious Fantasy Complete Hair Color Kit
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Splat is a great brand to consider if you’re looking for extremely strong purple hair dyes. The specialty of Splat’s hair dyes is that they last really long. In fact, if you’re very careful about maintenance, then this hair dye will stay in your hair for as long as 12 weeks or even longer.
Even though this hair dye lasts a really long time, it will start fading fairly early. Luckily, it doesn’t fade into strange colors and is quite graceful about it. There will never be a moment when you won’t like the color of your hair.
The shade we’re reviewing here is the Lusty Lavender, which is dark purple, but if you’re interested in other shades, then you can consider the Pink Fetish Rose which is reddish-purple or even the Rose Quartz which is a pastel version of purple.
This product isn’t the finished color. Instead, it is a hair coloring kit. This means that you get color, bleach, and peroxide in the box. The application process, however, is not overly complicated, provided you follow the instructions included in the box. It even comes with gloves, which should minimize the risks of dyed skin and cuticles on your hand.
However, a brush is not included, and we strongly recommend using one. Without a brush, this hair dye will get very messy very quickly. Moreover, if you have long hair or particularly thick hair, then we suggest getting another bottle of bleach. The bleach provided in the box may not be sufficient for your needs.
The hair dye should ideally be used on bleached hair but can also deliver results on unbleached hair. While the color will be more prominent on lightened hair, subtle shades and tints can be achieved on unbleached hair as well.
The brand also says that its hair dye has a unique formula that delivers vivid colors. The hair dye also conditions the hair like many other modern hair dyes. Further, it smells like grapes, which should appeal to fans of fruity scents.
Who’s it for: If you want your purple hair dye to last really long in your hair, then get Splat Rebellious Fantasy Hair Kit.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 4.25 ounces |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 4 to 12 weeks |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Very strong hair dye |
| Lasts a good amount of time |
| Tints unbleached hair |
| Conditions hair too |
| Fades gracefully |
| Comes with bleach, peroxide, and gloves |
| Smells like grapes |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Very messy to apply |
| Bleeds excessively when damp or wet |
| Bleach quantity not sufficient for most people |
| Doesn’t come with a brush |
Top 3 Value Purple Hair Dyes: Detailed Reviews
4. Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye (Best Value)
Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0
This hair dye from Arctic Fox is one of the most popular in the market. In fact, it is so successful that it competes with premium-quality hair dyes. One of the reasons why it is so successful and popular is its versatility.
Formally named “Purple Rain”, the color of this hair dye is a deep, dark, and shiny purple. It is the darkest purple you can get without it becoming blue. This dark shade doesn’t only ensure that this hair dye suits most skin tones and dressing styles but also hair colors.
This includes all hair colors from platinum to light brown. On darker hair colors, this hair dye will create tints that become visible in sunlight and specific types of indoor lights. On lighter hair colors, the color becomes particularly vibrant and bright. This means that to get the results from this hair dye, you should lighten the color of your hair as much as possible.
Another reason why this hair dye is lauded so much is its lasting capacity. This hair dye can last as long as eight weeks, with some people even claiming more. Even on the lower end, most users have found this hair dye lasting for a minimum of four weeks.
The best part is that this hair dye delivers such great colors for such long times while being gentle on the hair and scalp. It doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients such as paraphenylenediamine (PPD), ethyl alcohol, ammonia, or peroxide. In fact, it conditions the hair while adding color to it.
Further, this is a completely vegan-friendly hair dye that doesn’t contain any animal byproducts. This also means that this is a cruelty-free hair dye. The quality standards and label claims of this hair dye can be taken seriously too since it is manufactured in Southern California, US.
The grape smell of this hair dye appeals to most people as well. The only problem with this hair dye, as is the case with all hair dyes, is that it is messy to apply, stains, and bleeds when exposed to moisture. Another minor flaw is that it doesn’t come with any accessories.
The solution to both these flaws is the same, i.e. arranging proper equipment. For instance, you should have cleaning agents handy so that you can clean your bathroom after applying this hair dye. Similarly, you should have applicators and be prepared for the color bleeding out for the next two to three washes.
Who’s it for: If you want a purple hair dye that balances cost and quality in the best possible way, get this one from Arctic Fox.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 8 ounces |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 4 to 8 weeks |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Suitable for multiple base colors |
| Lasts a good amount of time |
| Tints unbleached hair |
| Conditions hair too |
| Smells of grapes |
| Vegan-friendly |
| Cruelty-free |
| Free of harmful chemicals |
| Made in the US |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Messy to apply |
| Bleeds excessively when damp or wet |
| Doesn’t come with accessories |
5. Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Dye
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
Everyone doesn’t want their new hair color to stay in their hair for so long that it stops being new. For these people, the ability to change their hair color frequently is extremely important. If you’re one of these people, then this hair dye from Lime Crime is perfect for you.
It is a semi-permanent hair dye that isn’t very strong. As a result, it doesn’t stay in the hair for a very long time either. In fact, with the best maintenance techniques, you’ll only be able to pull it up to five weeks. In contrast, without proper care, it will fade away in a couple of weeks.
The color of this hair dye is also quite bold and rebellious, i.e. the kind of shade that most people don’t want to keep in their hair for very long. The Electric Purple shade is quite bright and can be described as the neon version of purple.
Owing to the lightness of the purple, this hair dye is best suited to people with light-colored hair. Its vibrancy will not come out enough on darker colored hair. Therefore, you should make sure that you bleach your hair if you want to use this hair dye.
The hair dye does fade gracefully, though. You don’t have to worry about combating weird shades in your hair during the fading period. Further, while you’ll benefit from paying attention to conditioning your hair, you’ll be happy to know that this hair dye will also contribute to moisturizing your hair.
It can do this because it is a very gentle hair dye. It doesn’t contain any harmful, artificial ingredients such as peroxide or ammonia. It will even soothe your conscience since it is completely cruelty-free. In fact, it is PETA verified and boasts of the Leaping Bunny on the label. The hair dye is manufactured in the US.
The smell of this hair dye is sweet, with some people even describing it as “delicious”. However, others have detected chemical notes to this hair dye’s scent. Therefore, if you’re sensitive to smells, you might want to consider this before making a purchase. The hair dye also doesn’t come with any accessories so you should prepare in advance.
Who’s it for: If you like to change your hair color a lot and prefer dyes that fade quickly, get this one from Lime Crime.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 6.76 ounces |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 2 to 5 weeks |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Conditions hair very well |
| Fades gracefully |
| Smells sweet and delicious |
| PETA verified vegan |
| Cruelty-free |
| Free of harmful chemicals |
| Made in the US |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Doesn’t last very long |
| Not suitable for darker colored hair |
| The smell is a little too artificial |
| Bleeds when damp or wet |
| Doesn’t come with accessories |
6. Joico Intensity Semi-Permanent Hair Color
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Even though most people prefer their purple to be deep, dark, and royal, there are a few people who like their purple to be brighter. This usually translates into reddish-purple shades.
If this is what you prefer too, then Joico Intensity Semi-Permanent Hair Color was made for you. It is distinctly reddish-purple to begin with and becomes even redder as it fades away.
This hair dye takes well to hair as well since it includes considerable amounts of Bio-Advanced Peptides. The peptides also make this purple hair dye thick in terms of its consistency.
This is both a good thing and a bad thing. It is good because it means that it is easy to combine this hair dye with a conditioner. In fact, you can even apply it to your hair that way if you’re looking for shortcuts.
Moreover, you can always use this combination to touchup the color every week or so. This would make your hair smell nice too since the hair dye smells like berries. The downside of the thick consistency is that the hair dye doesn’t flow as freely. This also makes it difficult to apply because it doesn’t spread as much.
Its thick consistency does nothing to make it less messy. The hair dye, like all semi-permanent hair dyes, remains unbelievably messy. It is prone to staining anything it comes in contact with, including your bathroom, your clothes, your linen, and your skin. In fact, if you let your hair become wet, you can expect it to bleed color profusely.
This hair dye doesn’t come with any accessories such as applicators and brushes. You’ll have to arrange for these things yourself. However, it is a cruelty-free product so that should appeal to the environmentalist in you.
Who’s it for: If you like purple with a lot of red in it and prefer thicker hair dyes, you must try this one from Joico.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 4 ounces |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 3 to 6 weeks |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Reddish purple hair dye |
| The formula contains “bio-advanced peptides” |
| The thick consistency makes it easier to mix with other hair products |
| Smells like berries |
| Cruelty-free |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Messy to apply |
| Bleeds excessively when damp or wet |
| The thick consistency makes it difficult to apply |
| Doesn’t come with accessories |
Top 3 Budget Purple Hair Dyes: Detailed Reviews
7. Manic Panic Purple Hair Dye (Best Budget)
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
This is easily the most popular and well-known semi-permanent hair dye brand in the country. This is understandable, too because Manic Panic is the brand that has been helping people rebel since 1977.
Manic Panic’s purple hair dye produces a very dark and very warm look. The look is very graceful and elegant too. However, if you want a lighter shade, it is possible to get it by using the company’s “pastel-izer” product. You can even control the exact shade by controlling the ratio between this dye and the pastel-izer.
Once on, this hair dye can stay in your hair for approximately four to six weeks. However, it can fade away quicker than that if you don’t take care of it. In fact, this is one of the flaws of this product. It requires a lot of maintenance, making it unsuitable for laidback users.
Applying this hair dye is a pain, but then applying any hair dye is a pain. You need to keep cleaning agents ready and rinse your hair four to five times to be free of all the excess dye. This hair dye is particularly prone to bleeding too. It keeps bleeding with every wash until it has completely disappeared.
The good bit is that it doesn’t smell offensive. It has a very mild smell that will only register on people with very sensitive noses. If you’re one of them, you’ll find that it smells of grapes.
The formula of this hair dye is very vegan-friendly. Moreover, the dye is completely cruelty-free, making it the perfect choice for environment-conscious individuals. The dye is also gentle because it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals such as phthalates, ammonia, PPD, or parabens. It is produced in the US as well.
If you’re choosing this hair dye, make sure you have all the equipment you need for the application process because it doesn’t come with any accessories.
Who’s it for: If you want to play with the purple shade you want in your hair, get this hair dye from the renowned Manic Panic brand.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 3 x 4 ounces |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 4 to 6 weeks |
| The Pros |
|---|
| One of the oldest semi-permanent hair dye products |
| Very dark purple dye |
| Other products can be used to modify the purple shade |
| Has a negligible grapes smell |
| PETA accredited vegan |
| Cruelty-free |
| Free of harmful chemicals |
| Made in the US |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Without proper maintenance will fade too soon |
| Messy to apply |
| Bleeds excessively when damp or wet |
| Doesn’t come with accessories |
8. Punky Purple Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Color
Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
If you want a reddish or pinkish purple but found Joico’s offering to be a bit too expensive, then Punky’s Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Color might be more down your alley. This purple hair dye from Punky, in fact, is so pink that it can also be described as a very dark magenta. If this is your color shade, though, this is an incredible hair dye to try.
It contains a color-enhancing keratin complex. This ensures that the dye is compatible with the keratin in the hair. As a result, it takes to the hair well and stays in for a good amount of time too. Of course, it also means that it conditions the hair while coloring it.
Something that makes this hair dye significantly different from its competitors is that it is designed specifically for people who get allergic reactions from hair dyes.
The company says that it is formulated explicitly without acids and other harmful ingredients so that it doesn’t cause allergic reactions. As a result, it doesn’t contain chemicals like ammonia, parabens, and PPD. The formulation is also vegan-friendly and completely cruelty-free. Further, it smells of grapes, like most natural purple hair dyes in the market right now.
This purple hair dye is also different from its competitors in that it comes with an applicator. Very few hair dyes can boast of this, which is why we appreciate this little feature a lot.
In fact, the applicator is a critical feature because the hair dye is very thick. While this hair dye is already very messy to apply, if it didn’t have the applicator, it would’ve been virtually unmanageable.
One advantage of its thick consistency is that it makes it easier to mix this hair dye with a conditioner. This mix can be used to touchup the look every week or two and counter natural fading.
This hair dye is manufactured in the US, which should appeal to the patriots amongst you.
Who’s it for: If you like your purple to be closer to magenta than royal purple and want to save money, try this hair dye from Punky.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 3.5 ounces |
| Dye type: Semi-permanent dye |
| Duration: 3 to 6 weeks |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Pinkish purple hair dye |
| The formula contains a “keratin complex” |
| Conditions hair too |
| The thick consistency makes it easier to mix with other hair products |
| Comes with an applicator |
| Smells like berries |
| Vegan-friendly |
| Free of harmful chemicals |
| Suitable for people who are allergic to hair dyes |
| Cruelty-free |
| Made in the US |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Messy to apply |
| Can be messy |
| Bleeds excessively when damp or wet |
| The thick consistency makes it difficult to apply |
9. L’Oréal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color
Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0
L’Oréal Paris leads the market in most categories when it comes to hair care. Therefore, it is not surprising that this product features in this list too. In fact, their entry in this list i.e. the L’Oréal Paris’s Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color, is an award-winning hair dye. It won the Hair Color of the Year in 2019.
This hair dye is unique in more ways than one. Instead of creating a single shade of color, it creates a full range of them. Based on dark purple, the actual effect of this hair dye is shimmering color reminiscent of the full prismatic range. The base, however, is very dark purple. In fact, it is dark enough to be close to black.
Another standout feature of this product is that it is a permanent hair dye. The application process of permanent hair dyes is different from semi-permanent hair dyes and involves the mixing of multiple liquids, including a developer and an aromatic serum along with the color.
This hair color kit comes with those liquids along with others, such as color-friendly shampoo and conditioner. It even comes with gloves to prevent unwanted staining of nails and skin. However, if a brush had been included too, then the application process would’ve been even easier.
Technically, a permanent hair dye should last much longer than semi-permanent hair dyes. However, that is not the case here. There are semi-permanent hair dyes in the market that last longer than this one.
Typically, you can expect anything between four to six weeks from this product, and this is a major flaw in our eyes. Moreover, permanent hair dyes aren’t supposed to bleed but this one does so freely. We don’t know how to make sense of this but there are too many reports to ignore this flaw.
Permanent hair dyes also have another flaw. Because they involve so many chemicals, their smell is unappealing. In the case of this product, the smell has tones of ammonia that will not appeal to any of its users.
Who’s it for: If you don’t want solid purple and instead are looking for shimmering color in your hair, try this permanent hair dye from L’Oréal Paris.
| Tech Specs |
|---|
| Product weight: 7 ounces |
| Dye type: Permanent dye |
| Duration: 4 to 6 weeks |
| The Pros |
|---|
| Won awards in 2019 |
| Creates multifaceted purple shades and tints |
| Tints unbleached hair |
| Liquid gel consistency |
| Comes with gloves |
| Comes with a developer,an aromatic serum,a conditioner, and ashampoo |
| The Cons |
|---|
| Doesn’t last long enough for a permanent hair dye |
| Difficult to apply |
| Divisive smell because of ammonia tones |
| Doesn’t come with an application brush |
| Bleeds excessively when damp or wet |
Contents
- How Many Shades of Purple Are Out There?
- Do You Need to Bleach Your Hair Before Dying It?
- How Can You Prevent the Dye from Fading?
- How to Choose A Purple Hair Dye?
- 9 Best Purple Hair Dyes Comparison Table
- Top 3 Premium Purple Hair Dyes: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Value Purple Hair Dyes: Detailed Reviews
- Top 3 Budget Purple Hair Dyes: Detailed Reviews
