Are you in the mood for magical and mysterious purple hair but don’t want to bleach and damage it? Then this article is for you.
Dyeing dark hair purple without beaching is possible. However, you should keep in mind that you cannot really achieve vibrant violet or pastel lavender. But what you can do is give your dark brown or black hair a beautiful purple tone. All you have to do is to choose the right product to work on your hair.
Read on to learn how to dye your hair step by step as well as some product recommendations and tips for the best result.
Permanent and Semi-Permanent: Which One to Choose?
If you want to dye your hair purple but do not want to ruin it with a ton of bleach you will have to tone down your expectations of having super bright purple or violet hair. However, the most important thing is to choose the right product.
There are hundreds of options on the market ranging from permanent hair dyes to semi-permanent. If you are at a loss and do not know which one to go with, you should first get to know how each of these products works.
Semi-permanent hair dyes are not as harsh as permanent hair dyes. There is no ammonia or peroxide in semi-permanent dyes and this is why they are not very aggressive and damaging on the hair.
This kind of hair dyes works on the surface of the hair. They do not go deep into the cortex. This is the reason why semi-permanent hair dyes are not long-lasting and fade after twenty or so washes.
So, if you were planning covering your gray hair with a semi-permanent dye, you better not waste your time and money and look for other options.
If you want to get purple hair without lightening the hair with lots of peroxides, it is recommended to use permanent or demi-permanent hair dye.
Permanent hair dye contains peroxide which lightens the hair color and allows the purple tone to show up much more. Of course, permanent dyes are more damaging to the hair due to the ingredients they are made of.
A less damaging but effective way of dyeing your hair purple without bleaching it would be using demi-permanent hair dyes. These contain no ammonia.
However, they do have a low-volume developer in their ingredient list which will lighten the hair a tiny bit while not being very unhealthy for the hair.
How to Dye Your Hair Purple without Bleaching It
Step 1: Choose a hair dye.
The first thing you should do is, of course, choose the right kind of hair dye. Whether you want to use a permanent or semi-permanent product is up to you. However, you already know the difference between the two and can choose the one that suits your wishes and expectations.
Additionally, pick the right shade of purple for you. There are numerous options, especially by professional hair dyeing brands. The purple shade you choose should suit your skin tone.
Also, do not expect lavender purple to show up on dark brown or jet black hair. So, this is another thing to take into account.
Step 2: Section off the hair.
If you are dyeing your hair at home, you should pay a lot of attention to how you distribute the hair dye. Make effort to distribute the dye evenly throughout the hair so that the end result is not uneven and patchy hair. To do this, you need to section off your hair layer by layer.
To start, put all of your hair up in a bun except for the bottom layer which is below the ear level. Once you are done with dyeing this section, section off another layer right over the first one and continue doing this before you finish dying your entire head.
Try to eyeball how much hair dye you need for every section so that you are not left with no dye for the last layer or two.
Step 3: Protect your skin.
Purple hair dye, like any other, is not only irritating to the skin but it can also stain it. To avoid this, apply some Vaseline around the hairline, back of the neck as well as around the ears. A thicker moisturizer will also work.
Additional steps to take to avoid getting hair dye all over your place is covering your table or counter with paper or plastic and putting on plastic gloves that come with every hair dye.
If you are dyeing your hair on your own and tend to get messy with it, put on an old shirt that you will not feel sorry for in case it gets stained. Alternatively, you can put a towel over your shoulders.
Step 4: Prepare the hair dye.
To prepare the hair dye mix the dye with the cream base it comes with. Shake well to get it well-mixed. You can use either a bowl or the applicator the cream base comes in. If there is a shine oil in the box, you should add that too. However, if you are using a bowl, make sure it is either plastic or ceramic as metallic bowls cannot be used with hair dyes.
Step 5: Apply the dye to the hair.
Having sectioned off the hair it will be much easier for you to cover the hair with the dye evenly from roots to ends. Start applying the dye on the roots and try to work it in well. Then work your way down to the ends of your hair making sure you have covered all the parts.
If you are not using a bowl and a brush and dyeing your hair with the applicator it comes with, feel free to distribute the dye down the hair with your fingers. Make sure you are wearing gloves.
Step 6: Work layer by layer.
Once you are done with the first layer, undo the bun and separate another one. This technique will help you cover your entire head evenly without leaving out any hair. If you have thicker hair make sure to let down thinner layers. Do this until you are done dyeing your entire head.
Also, pay attention to the fine hair around the temples, ears and sideburns.
Step 7: Set a timer and let it process.
Once you are done applying the hair dye, let it sit in your hair for around 30 minutes. It is best to read the instructions to learn how long you should leave the dye in your hair as it depends on the type of product you are using.
Step 8: Rinse the hair.
After the color has developed, rinse the dye off with cool water. Rinse the hair with just water and avoid shampooing it for the following 3 days. This will help you maintain the hair color for much longer.
Step: 9 Condition the hair.
Most hair dyeing kits come with a conditioner and there is a reason for that. The color-safe conditioner will soften the hair and give them shine.
Dry your hair and enjoy your new image with purple hair.
Best Products for Dyeing Your Hair Purple without Bleaching It
If you have decided to dye your hair dark purple without bleaching it, here are a few product recommendations that will you achieve a great result.
Manic Panic Ultra Violet Semi-Permanent Hair Dye
This semi-permanent hair dye is a good option for getting violet hair with no bleach. This is a cool-toned violet color that will suit many skin tones. It will add a beautiful violet tone to your dark hair and wash off in 4 to 6 weeks.
Garnier Olia Bold Ammonia Free Permanent Hair Color
Permanent hair dyes work better on unbleached dark hair and are more likely to give you a brighter purple shade.
Garnier Olia Bold permanent hair dye in 5.12 Medium Royal Amethyst will give your hair a truly royal purple tone. Not only is this hair dye free of ammonia but it is also rich in nourishing ingredients which will give a nice glow to your hair. This permanent purple dye is also great for grey roots and touch-ups.
Joico Intensity Semi-Permanent Hair Color
Another great option for a semi-permanent hair dye is the Joico Intensity hair dye in amethyst purple. It will give your hair a magical purple touch even if you have not lightened it.
This hair color is easy to use and will last for more than a month and fade in a very beautiful way.
RAW Demi-Permanent Deep Purple Hair Color
If you are looking for something in between permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes, then this demi-permanent product is for you.
This deep purple hair dye will work well on natural dark brown or black hair. It is relatively easy to use as there is no need to mix it with a developer.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to get the best possible result with dyeing your hair purple without bleaching it.
Wear a cap while the color develops. To get the purple hair dye as bright as possible on your dark hair wear a shower cap while you let the color develop. Wrapping plastic around your head will work too.
Use dry shampoo. As purple hair dyes fade quite quickly, try not to wash your hair as often. Use dry shampoo whenever possible to give your hair a fresher look instead of shampooing it every time. In a word, avoid frequent washes as much as you can.
Avoid the sun. Shades like purple fade very quickly and the sun is one of the causes that can accelerate the fading process. Direct sunlight should be avoided if you want the purple in your hair to stay longer.
Avoid chlorinated pool water. Chlorine as an ingredient has bleaching properties. Being in the pool very frequently may dry out and dull purple hair color. Consider wearing a swim cap if you want your purple hair unaffected and vibrant.
Take care of your hair. No matter what color you have dyed your hair into, taking care of it is key if you want your hair to look good and healthy. There are numerous hair masks on the market developed specifically for dyed hair. Use a hydrating mask once every two weeks and conditioner every week to maintain your hair color fresh and beautiful.
Add purple hair dye into your shampoo. If dry shampoos simply don’t work for you and you have to wash your hair at least twice a week, use this trick to brighten the purple in your hair. Add a few drops of purple hair dye into your shampoo and the problem is solved. Try to go for sulfate-free shampoos as they are better for dyed hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to the most common questions on dyeing dark hair purple without bleaching it.
Can you dye dark hair purple without bleaching?
You can dye dark hair purple without bleaching it. However, as mentioned above, tone down your expectations and do not anticipate a bright and vibrant purple color on a dark brown o jet black base.
What happens if you put a purple dye on brown hair?
If you dye brown hair purple without lightening it a few levels, you will end up with a nice dark purple hair color.
What is the best purple hair dye for dark hair?
The best purple hair dyes for dark and unbleached hair are the ones that are the brightest and have a high concentration of purple pigment. If you want the purple to show up as much as possible, opt for ‘punk’ hair dye brands, such as Manic Panic.
Does purple show up in dark hair?
Bright colors like purple do show up in dark hair. However, you should use concentrated formulas for the best results. On unbleached hair, this kind of hair dyes appears very dark and not as bright. They are especially noticeable under the sunlight.
Sherrie Kreder
Thursday 15th of April 2021
Thank you! Great article. Lots of great information and easy to understand:)