Silver shampoo

Silver shampoo, it's a maze. In recent years, silver shampoo has become hugely popular. Wherever you look, there are so many types that you can't see the forest for the trees. We thought it was time to provide some clarity in the world of silver shampoos.

What exactly is a Silver Shampoo?

A silver shampoo is a shampoo with purple or blue pigments, used to give blonde, gray, or white hair a cool tint or to neutralize unwanted yellow and orange tones in your hair.

What does a silver shampoo do?

Silver shampoo is used for blonde, gray, and white hair. These are light hair shades; silver shampoo is ideal if you want to give these colors a cool tint. It also ensures that the yellow and orange tones disappear from your hair, also known as warm tones. You might wonder how the violet-colored shades neutralize the yellow/orange tint. Opposite colors neutralize each other. The color yellow is opposite blue/purple on the color wheel.

Can I use only violet shampoo?

This depends on the Violet Shampoo you choose. There are silver shampoos that mainly consist of violet-colored shades and few nourishing ingredients. There are also shampoos that contain more nourishing ingredients, which leaves less room for the violet-colored shades.

If you want to use silver shampoo every day, we recommend one with more nourishing ingredients like the Maria Nila Sheer Silver. If you really want an intense silver shampoo purely to neutralize your yellow/orange tint, then the Fanola No Yellow suitable that contain almost no nourishing ingredients.

Do you actually want both, a silver shampoo with a lot of violet pigment, but also with a lot of nourishing ingredients so you can use it every day? Then you are perfectly suited with the MORE Extreme Silver.

Can Silver Shampoo be used on hair extensions?

Definitely, hair extensions are a bit more sensitive than your own hair, so some extra care certainly won't hurt. We therefore recommend using a silver shampoo that contains more nourishing ingredients. You can also use a mask after using a silver shampoo for extra care, then finish with a conditioner to close the hair cuticles (filled with nourishing ingredients from the mask). 

Can a silver shampoo make your locks purple?

If you've been a bit too enthusiastic, your hair can get a purple tint. No stress.. purple is an easy color to remove. One or two washes with a regular shampoo and you're done. However, to prevent this, it's important that if you have white hair, you choose a silver shampoo that isn't too strong. Then you need less of the Violet Pigments. For example, go for the L'Oréal SE Magnesium Silver Shampoo. The shampoo ensures that your gray or white locks get a natural radiant shine again.

How do I best care for my blonde/gray hair after using a silver shampoo?

The easiest thing you can do is use a set with products that match each other, for example the Maria Nila Sheer Silver Set. This set consists of a silver shampoo, conditioner, and mask that are also free from sulfates and parabens! After washing the hair with a silver shampoo, you can further care for your hair with a good conditioner. Take for example the REF Cool Silver Shampoo in combination with REF Cool Silver Conditioner. After washing the hair, you can also use products like the Indola Blonde Expert Insta Cool Spray to maintain the hair and refresh cool tones. 

How often do you use a purple shampoo?

Depending on the silver shampoo, your daily routine, and your hair. If you have an intense silver shampoo with almost no nourishing ingredients, we recommend on average 3 times a week. However, if you have very white hair, you don't need this. Then you can go for a silver shampoo that contains fewer violet pigments. If you want to wash your locks every day with silver shampoo, we advise a shampoo that also contains enough nourishing ingredients. However, if you really have yellow hair, it is important to use a strong Violet Shampoo that still contains enough nourishing ingredients like the Indola Silver Shampoo #1 Wash. This shampoo refreshes and cleans white, gray, or light blonde hair and neutralizes unwanted copper and yellow tones in the hair. The shampoo contains a special nourishing ingredient that protects the hair structure. A good complement not only to keep the yellow tint out of your hair but especially to care for your locks is the Fanola No Yellow Mask. Cool tones and wonderfully soft locks! The Fanola No Yellow Mask is actually a silver conditioner. 

How long should a silver shampoo be left on?

It varies per silver shampoo and your hair. A stronger silver shampoo like the Fudge Violet Shampoo let it sit for 30 to 60 seconds. If you really have a strong yellow tint, you can leave the silver shampoo on for about 5 minutes. If you have very light hair, be careful that your hair doesn't turn purple. However, if you have light, colored hair, it's better to use a silver shampoo that contains more nourishing ingredients and fewer violet pigments like the Maria Nila Sheer Silver Shampoo or the Schwarzkopf Professional Goodbye Yellow. 

Are there extra products that complement the silver shampoo?

If you really quickly get a yellow glow in your hair, it is recommended to use products containing violet pigments alongside the shampoo and conditioner. Fudge is the absolute frontrunner in this area and has launched two beautiful products on the market. The Fudge Tri-blo Violet Spray was the first. This spray, which not only protects your hair from heat from, among others, your hairdryer, also makes the yellow glow in your hair disappear like snow in the sun! In addition, Fudge launched in August 2018 the Fugde Violet Xpander Foam launched on the market. This brilliant mousse gives your locks volume, shine, and of course a beautiful cool tone. In other words, bye bye yellow glow. 

Are there silver shampoo masks?

There are also some hair masks that contain violet pigments and also neutralize the yellow tones in your hair, just like a good silver shampoo. The following hair masks contain purple pigments, so they seamlessly match your silver shampoo:

• Maria Nila Sheer Silver Masque
• Schwarzkopf Enhancing Mark 
• Goldwell Dualsensens 60sec Treatment

Is silver shampoo bad for your scalp?

Silver shampoo is not directly bad for your scalp. However, you might get a dry scalp if you are sensitive to it. This only concerns silver shampoos that almost exclusively consist of violet pigments like Fanola No Yellow. Our team recommends using a milder silver shampoo such as Maria Nila Sheer Silver Shampoo.

Is silver shampoo bad for your hair?

No, not necessarily. However, if you have dry hair or a dry scalp, it is better to choose a silver shampoo with extra nourishing ingredients. You might also consider a silver shampoo without sulfates. Sulfates remove sebum from your hair and scalp. If you have problems with a dry scalp and still want to use a silver shampoo at all costs, we recommend using a mask after washing. Then finish with a conditioner. Washing your hair with a shampoo, silver shampoo in this case, opens the cuticles. If you then apply a mask, it penetrates your hair. The conditioner then ensures the cuticles close again with the nourishing ingredients from the mask. This way, the mask stays in your hair longer. This keeps your hair well nourished, and you have a beautiful cool tone.

Can I use silver shampoo on natural hair?

Absolutely, silver shampoos, silver conditioners, and silver masks can be used on natural hair. This is no problem at all. Silver shampoo was originally made for natural, gray hair. Later, of course, came the trend to dye your hair in a cool tone. The popularity of silver shampoo started in the early 90s, and back then dyeing hair in a cool blonde tone was not 'fashionable'.

Can I use silver shampoo on dyed hair?

You can definitely use silver shampoo on dyed hair. Silver shampoo is currently mainly used by people who have beautifully cool-colored hair and want to maintain it.

Is silver shampoo free of sulfates and parabens?

Nowadays we naturally pay attention to whether products contain anything harmful, and this is also true for haircare. Silver shampoo generally contains sulfates and parabens, but it is increasingly common that these are left out. The Maria Nila Sheer Silver Shampoo is not only 100% vegan, the silver shampoo is also free of sulfates and parabens. If a silver shampoo is free of sulfates and parabens, this is always indicated in the product description on our site. 

Is silver shampoo suitable for dark hair?

Regular silver shampoo doesn't do much for dark hair because of the following: If you have dark hair, it often contains more red and copper tones. Silver Shampoo is really developed to counteract the yellow tint, hence the violet pigments. However, there is a silver shampoo on the market specially made for people with dark hair, namely the following:

• Fanola No Orange 
• Fudge Cool Brunette
• Schwarzkopf Goodbye Orange Neutralizing Shampoo 

These shampoos ensure that the red and copper tones in your dark locks are neutralized. The Fanola No Orange and the Fudge Cool Brunette therefore contain blue pigments instead of purple pigments, which has to do with the color wheel.

As you can see, purple is opposite yellow and blue is opposite orange. Colors on the color wheel that are opposite each other neutralize each other. 

Is there Silver Shampoo for black and red hair?

If you have dark hair, you are not so familiar with a yellow glow, but a red and copper glow. Silver shampoos with violet pigments then don’t work as they should; violet neutralizes yellow and not orange/red/copper. The Fanola No Orange contains blue pigments, which oppose orange tones on the color wheel. That’s why Fanola No Orange is the best choice when it comes to silver shampoo. Fudge also has a silver shampoo for dark hair and that is the Fudge Cool Brunette. 

Can you use Purple Shampoo on dry hair?

It is not recommended to use silver shampoo on dry hair. Silver shampoo is made to be used on wet hair. Of course, it is also a shampoo that cleans your hair. You would then need to work with a silver dry shampoo. This does not exist yet. Our team therefore recommends not to use silver shampoo on dry hair, but on wet hair. This is for the best result.

What is the best silver shampoo?

There is no such thing as the best silver shampoo. It depends on your wishes and every hair type is different. If you want a silver shampoo that really gives your locks the cool tone and therefore contains the most violet pigments, then you were always good with the Fanola No Yellow, however, a new silver shampoo was launched in 2020 and it’s actually a cross between Fanola and Fudge. At least as much pigment as Fanola, okay actually more, and even more nourishment than Fudge! Yes, really! We are all huge fans of this brand ♡ It is the MORE Extreme Silver However, if you also want your silver shampoo to contain nourishing ingredients because you want to use it daily, then we recommend the Fudge Violet Shampoo We have made a top 5 below with the best-selling silver shampoos.

1. Fanola No Yellow Shampoo - most pigment
2. Fudge Clean Blonde Shampoo - lots of pigment + nourishment
3. MORE Haircare Extreme Silver Shampoo - most pigment + nourishment
4. Schwarzkopf Blond Me Cool Blondes Neutralizing Shampoo  - nourishment + sulfate-free + pigment
5. Ref Cool Silver Shampoo - nourishment + vegan + pigment + sensitive scalp 

Where can I learn more about silver shampoos?

Read our blogs about silver shampoo to learn more! 

• What is the best silver shampoo?
• No Yellow vs. No Orange
• Discover the very latest silver shampoo: More Haircare!
• Everything blondes need to know about the relaunch of BLONDME!    

Where can I ask my question about Purple Shampoo?

If you still can’t figure it out after reading the above, you can always contact our team without obligation via info@haarspullen.nlWe are happy to help you! Prefer to call? That’s possible! You can also visit our pickup point in Zwolle to get silver shampoo advice.