If you don't have much experience with hair dyes, you may be worried about changing your hair colour especially if you're thinking of switching to a bold and striking shade of purple. There are choices available for dark hair, wash-out options, and both dark purple and lilac hair dyes available for many different hair types and natural colours.
At-home kits can save you money and still provide a pro finish, whether permanent, semi-permanent or temporary. So, to help you out we’ve found the best purple hair dyes on the market, available on top Amazon, eBay and Tesco from brands like L'Oréal, Schwarzkopf, and Directions. Take a look at our picks and buying guide below!
Quick List - Top Purple Hair Dyes
Schwarzkopf
Lightens Hair up to 5 Levels for Pastel Purple Shades
Paint Glow
Deeply Conditioning Semi-permanent Purple Hair Dye
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As you’ve probably guessed, this type of dye will stick around the longest, with some even claiming to last up to 9 weeks. However, between 4-6 weeks you’ll start to notice regrowth, so you may want to consider topping up your roots if you’re going for an all-over colour look.
Permanent dyes are also the best choice for covering up any greys. Also, if you’ve got darker hair and had to lighten or bleach your natural hair, then picking a permanent colour will save you the hassle of having to do those early steps more often.
One point to remember about permanent hair dyes is that they fade, particularly the brighter colours. You may want to consider if you’ll be happy to live with a more faded purple hue before taking the plunge.
Semi-permanent or temporary dyes are the best choice for those who are still searching for their ideal shade or who like to mix up their look often. These dyes can range from those that fade in a single wash (temporary) or between 6-12 washes (semi-permanent), so be sure to check the box to avoid disappointment.
Non-permanent dyes often don't include such strong chemical ingredients, and therefore won’t inflict as much damage to your hair or scalp. This makes them a good choice for people with dry or weak hair, as well as those who often use heated styling tools.
Pastels and lighter colours such as lilac, wisteria and lavender are well-suited to those who have cooler undertones and fairer skin. The pale hybrid of purple and blue is also a more subtle shade for blondes or those with lighter hair who don't want to go full-on purple. Alternatively, a raspberry or pink-toned purple is a great choice if you'd like to go bolder.
To find out whether you have cool undertones, check the veins on your wrist – they’ll appear blue or purple. You will also typically suit silver jewellery, which is another reason these silvery-lilacs will look great on you.
Deeper colours like aubergine, plum, violet or blackberry complement those with medium or darker skin and warmer undertones. Bright purples also won't look too shocking against warmer complexions.
These richer tones can offer a new and exciting twist if you're feeling a bit tired of the same old blacks or browns. Equally, darker varieties of these shades can be a good way of venturing into purple without making too much of a statement.
Again, to find whether you have warmer undertones check the veins on your wrist – this time, they'd appear more green in colour, and in general, gold jewellery tends to suit you best.
Not sure purple will suit your skin tone? Why not think about a red hair dye instead?
Most permanent hair dyes use ammonia to enable the dye to enter the hair shaft more deeply, which in turn creates a longer-lasting dye. Unfortunately, it doesn’t smell too pleasant, so you'll need a space where there is sufficient airflow. It can also make your hair brittle and straw-like when used over long periods of time.
Another ingredient to look out for that's found in both permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes is peroxide. This chemical is used to lighten the natural hair colour so the dye will have a brighter effect, but it can be irritating for those with sensitive scalps.
If you’d like to steer clear of these, plump for a completely natural or peroxide- or ammonia-free option. They may not last as long, but you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you won’t be damaging your hair or putting any animals through those bleaching processes either.
If you're looking for a chemical-free way to dye your hair, take a look at some henna hair dyes.
For those that have naturally dry or thin hair or are concerned about damage, we’d recommend opting for a dye that comes with a complimentary conditioner. These will be much richer than normal conditioners and should help minimise the harsh effects of the chemicals whilst revitalising your hair with natural oils.
Other handy extras to look out for are the tools used to dye your hair, such as gloves and an applicator bottle or brush. Home dyeing can be quite a messy business and you may not have these things on hand, so a dye that comes with these is always a bonus.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Schwarzkopf Live Lightener + Twist|Cool Lilac | ![]() | Lightens Hair up to 5 Levels for Pastel Purple Shades | |
2 | Garnier Olia Bold Hair Colour|Rose Violet | ![]() | Ammonia-Free Permanent Hair Dye | |
3 | Paint Glow Rebellious Colours Semi-Permanent Hair Dye (Pack of 3)|Purple Fury | ![]() | Deeply Conditioning Semi-permanent Purple Hair Dye | |
4 | Schwarzkopf Live Colour + Lift (Pack of 3)|Ultra Violet | ![]() | Purple Dye for People With Dark Hair | |
5 | L'Oréal Colorista Permanent Gel|Dark Purple | ![]() | Deep Violet Hair Dye With a High-Intensity Shine | |
6 | Schwarzkopf Live Ultra Brights or Pastel|Purple Punk | ![]() | DIY Dye That Lets You Mix Your Own Shade | |
7 | Manic Panic Hair Dye|Purple Haze | ![]() | Vegan and Cruelty-Free Dye Straight From the 70s New York Punk Scene | |
8 | La Riche Directions Semi-Permanent Hair Colour|Lilac | ![]() | Popular Peroxide and Ammonia-Free Dye for Purple Hair | |
9 | Smart Beauty Amethyst Purple | ![]() | Vegan Friendly Colour With Anti-breakage Technology | |
10 | Herbal Time Hair Colouring Cream|Aubergine | ![]() | Natural Purple Dye With Henna and Essential Oils |
Taking our top spot is this Schwarzkopf Live Lightener + Twist. It offers you the ability to lighten your hair up to 5 shades, as well as providing a beautiful dusky lilac colour that's very much the height of fashion at the moment – and actually, is known for suiting many different skin tones.
Furthermore, the dye claims to last up to a mega 28 washes, which is quite something for a colour that's already rather delicate. The box contains aftercare treatment too, which will add moisture and shine to your hair. For these reasons, this product takes our number 1 spot!
This ammonia-free permanent dye from Garnier guarantees to cover 100% of grey hair. Also, it's created using oil extracts, which not only condition and keep your scalp irritation-free but will boost the colouring process, too.
This flattering rose-violet will suit cooler skin types thanks to the pink undertones and is designed to cover blonde to mid-brown hair. With regards to the colour intensity, a reviewer even claimed they thought it was better, and lasted longer than a professional salon dye. Surely it's worth a go on that alone?!
Another semi-permanent natural masterpiece from vegan-friendly Paint Glow, this British-made hair dye is designed to make you stand out from the crowd. 'Purple Fury' adds bright beauty and vibrancy to your hair to get you noticed!
Moreover, this dye has an excellent conditioning effect thanks to the added nourishing ingredients, so although it doesn't provide any 'extras' as such, you shouldn't feel like you need a deep treatment afterwards.
The 'Colour Lift' range by Schwarzkopf has been created specifically for those with darker hair. That's not to say it won't work for you lighter-haired folk, but that it'll work just as well for everyone! The colour should naturally lighten up to 3 levels alongside dying, helping produce a dynamic and energetic colour.
Furthermore, there is a post-dye treatment included, as well as gloves, so all you need is a brush or a willing helper. Our favourite point? This offer includes 3 boxes for just over £14 on Amazon! An absolute bargain.
If you're a brunette looking for those deep tones that will reveal themselves nonchalantly in the bright summer light, then this colour from L'Oréal is perfect. Also, thanks to the fact it's blended with 3 pure dyes, you'll get a high-intensity shine and a strong, shimmering result.
Additionally, this box dye comes with gloves and an intense conditioning kit which should be applied once the colour has been washed out. This will help nourish and reinvigorate your hair.
We love the idea behind this – stick to the original vibrant purple, or mix it with the conditioner to lighten it to a more subtle pastel lilac that suits fairer colourings. Plus, over 3000 people have given it 4 stars or above on Amazon, so it must be doing something right!
Moreover, reviewers have said that they can get up to 8 weeks out of one dye job, and they also love the gentle pink that it fades to throughout this process. As with other products, if you're one of the lucky ones who have long lush locks then you'll probably want to pick up a couple of packets just in case.
Manic Panic is owned by Tish and Snooky Bellomo, who were in the 70s band Blondie. From there they curated the punk rock look and became somewhat tastemakers before exposing it to the world. If anyone knows about making a bold hair statement, it's these lasses.
All of their products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free, too. This is a vibrant, out-there mid-purple that would suit medium or warmer skin tones, and should last between 4-6 weeks depending on how you care for your hair.
British company Directions have been pumping out hair dyes encapsulating every spot on the colour wheel for years now, and they've even found their way onto some famous heads along the way. We love this gentle lilac colour, which will suit your style and tone whether you're a punk prince or a total glamourpuss.
Again, if you have long or thick hair then we would recommend picking up more than one pot as they're only 88 ml, which could leave you with only half a head done. Also, be warned this dye will stain anything so be careful what you wear or sleep on!
If you're looking for an intense colour, that works on fair to light hair, then the Amythest Purple from Smart Beauty is a striking option. The colour plex technology nourishes and rebuilds the micro-bond structure of hair, making it healthier and stronger.
While it is cruelty-free and suitable for vegans, it does contain both peroxide and ammonia. It is also worth considering applying a colour protect serum to avoid the bold colour from fading quicker than desired.
Getting us underway is this natural hair dye that contains henna, essential oils and nettle extract. This is a solid choice if you're known to have a sensitive scalp that could be irritated by harsh chemicals. The semi-permanent dye adequately covers grey hairs and is very simple to use.
Furthermore, this dye lasts 6-8 washes, so depending on how often you clean your hair, it could stay in for over a month! A word of warning though, if you have particularly long (past shoulder length) or thick hair, then the manufacturers recommend using 2 boxes, which inevitably doubles the cost.
There are a few helpful ways to keep your new purple hair looking better for longer, one of which is to avoid washing your hair for at least three days if possible. It's worth using a dry shampoo if your hair is especially oily to keep it looking nice and fresh!
It's also worth using special products designed at retaining dyed colours, such as creams, conditioners, and shampoos. Obviously, you'll want ones aimed at purple hair which will help restore any faded areas and it's well worth washing your hair with colder water in order to keep that colour locked in.
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
No. 1: Schwarzkopf|Live Lightener + Twist|Cool Lilac
No. 2: Garnier|Olia Bold Hair Colour|Rose Violet
No. 3: Paint Glow|Rebellious Colours Semi-Permanent Hair Dye (Pack of 3)|Purple Fury
No. 4: Schwarzkopf|Live Colour + Lift (Pack of 3)|Ultra Violet
No. 5: L'Oréal|Colorista Permanent Gel|Dark Purple
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