It can be tough to decide on a new hair color when there are so many choices out there, but before you commit to another shade of red or brown check out these eye-catching purple hair color ideas.
Shades of purple hair can work on almost anyone because it comes in almost any tone and it can be as subtle or as bold as you desire it to be!
How to Get and Maintain Purple Color Hairstyles
Women have been adding purple hues to their hair for decades but purple hair has never been as versatile as it is today. Purple hair has become one of the top requested vivid hair colors because of the variety of shades available.
All of the existing shades can be mixed and diluted to give a custom result creating an endless number of shades of purple hair. All of the options with the tones and hues of purples makes it appealing for many individuals because it can be customized to work on all skin tones and hair types. Purple hair allows an individual to express themselves through something as subtle as a purple balayage or a higher maintenance look like pastel purple hair.
Maintaining the vibrancy of your purple should be determined by your hair care professional, but in most cases a purple hair color will need to be refreshed every 4-6 weeks. If you’re hoping to go longer in between appointments, try washing your hair with color protecting shampoo and rinsing it in cold water.
Once you start to notice your purple hair fading, apply a tinted hair mask or start using a color enhancing shampoo. Both of these things are considered temporary hair colors and will help to revive your color so you can go longer in between appointments!
The Best Purple Hair Ideas
Check out the variety of purple hair color ideas, there is a shade for everyone no matter what their lifestyle, desired maintenance routine, or current color is.
1. Low Maintenance Lilac Dream
Part of what makes this look so gorgeous is the contrast and different hues of purple. From black and purple hair to pastel purple hair, this look has it all. These colors work best on naturally dark hair and a variety of skin tones.
Instagram / @paintslikeschmidt
2. Natural Velvet Twist
This subtly violet tinted hair is stunning and looks so natural. Her natural brown hair at the base really helps to stabilize the color. This look will work best on people who have naturally dark hair.
Instagram / @k.s.colors
3. Vivid Violet
These gorgeous head turning purple tones are no joke and neither is the maintenance. A look as bright and solid as this one requires a touch up about every 4 to 6 weeks. Before committing to this color make sure it fits into your routine.
Instagram / @hairbyfranco
4. Pastel Purple Hair
This stunning hue of pastel purple is such a unique color and can take years to perfect. A color like this has to be applied to hair that has been previously lightened to the color of a banana (remember the science of color levels, do you?).
Instagram / @catecutdye
5. Cool Toned Purple Balayage
A dimensional purple balayage with blue face-framing highlights is great for anyone who wants to avoid having any harsh regrowth line and keep their hair relatively low maintenance. This particular shade of purple is going to work best as a color for cool toned skin.
Instagram / @paintitblonde
6. Violet Ombre
If you’re feeling bored with your natural hair color and are craving a change, a purple ombre might be for you. This is a great way to add a bit of vibrancy to your naturally dark hair color.
Instagram / @haircolorkilla
7. Cool Eggplant to Rich Velvet
Attention all natural dark brunettes! Enhance your beautiful color with this cool toned eggplant and warm velvet color. The combination of purple and blue is iconic and makes a stunning hairstyle for women with both warm and cool toned skin.
Instagram / @locksbylauryn
8. Fiery Violet and Magenta
This gorgeous pink and purple hair contains mostly warm hues and works great with naturally warm hair and skin tones. Before you dive right in to a color as bright and vivid as this, it’s important to know this color will need to be maintained every 4 to 6 weeks.
Instagram / @msnataliejean
9. Light Purple Hair
These rose tones and pastel purple hair is scroll stopping! Almost anyone can rock this color because it has both warm and cooler hints of color. However, it is typically only achievable for an individual who can be pre-lightened to a level 9 or 10.
Instagram / @xostylistxo
10. Warm Toned Purple
If you’ve got warm undertones, this is the perfect shade of purple for you. This particular shade almost has hints of pink in it, giving it more of a magenta color with warmer purple hues.
Instagram / @angiehairstudio
11. Dimensional Lilac
A huge part of what makes this look so gorgeous is the depth at her root. You can see that at her base she has purple highlights which slowly transitions down to full on lilac. Keep in mind that a pastel purple like this is typically only achievable on hair pre-lightened to a level 9 or 10.
Instagram / @vanessashairaddiction
12. Lived in Magenta
This bright pink and purple hair is great for anyone looking to make a statement but would work best on someone with neutral to warm undertones. What sets this look apart from others is the darker purple at the base. Having that depth at the base creates a beautiful contrast and can work really well for individuals with naturally medium to dark brown hair.
Instagram / @kawaicat_salon
13. Purple Ice Queen
Looking to add some bold purple color to your hair? Do you have neutral to cool undertones? If you answered yes to both of those questions, this is the look for you. In order to achieve the iciness seen in the photo, pre-lightening to a level 9 or 10 is needed.
Instagram / @hairbyfranco
14. Poppin’ Plum
A great way to keep your hair color interesting is by adding pops of different colors into it like this gorgeous plum color with hues of pink and blue. This color would work great on someone with naturally dark hair and either warm or cool toned skin.
Instagram / @lmariehairr
15. Neon Lavender
Unnatural hair colors are all the rage now. If you are ready to commit, here is an amazing look to try. A neutral purple like this is neither warm or cool toned, which means it can work on almost anyone!
Instagram / @butterflyloftsalon
16. Shades of Magenta
This look is great for someone wanting to have some fun with their hair, but keep it on trend by having it be lived in or dimensional at the base. The shades of purple hair in this look are accompanied by hues of pink to create a warmer purple.
Instagram / @hairbyelm
17. Plum Balayage
Keep it somewhat subtle with a balayage. Something like this is great because it combines your natural brown hair color with pops of a rich plum.
Instagram / @laurenserenastyles
18. Deep Purple
Dark purple hair is unique because it allows you to make a statement but keep it subtle at the same time. A color like this looks great on individuals with medium to dark hair and either warm or cool undertones.
Instagram / @hair_pavlova
19. Subtle and Blended Purple
If you’re new to trying any unnatural colors, start with something like this purple brown hair color. The darkness at the root allows it to be more low maintenance for those with naturally dark hair.
Instagram / @constancerobbins
20. Pastel Magenta
If you’re ready to dive right in to something bold and eye catching, try a pastel magenta like this one. All the warmth this color contains will be certain to highlight your warm undertones and brown eyes.
Instagram / @josh.does.hair
There is an unlimited number of options when it comes to purple hair colors. The first step to trying a purple color is to consider your natural color, your current color, your natural undertones, and your desired maintenance routine. Next, just get an idea of what you’d like, save the photo and bring it to your stylist.
