How To Dye Black Hair Purple Without Bleach: All You Need To Know
There’s nothing edgier than rocking purple hair. To minimize hair damage, here’s your ultimate guide on how to dye black hair purple without bleach.
In this day and age, having unique and vibrant colors in your hair boosts your self-confidence and allows you to express your personality to the world. The color purple is no exception!
In fact, purple hair has been around since the 1800s when English chemist William Perkin accidentally discovered synthetic dye in the shade mauve. Now, millennials are coloring their hair purple for fashion, art, and as a way to stand out in a crowd using punky colors.
Many people are dyeing their hair with bright colors, but not everyone is willing to risk their crowning glory and natural hair color with harsh chemicals. The use of bleach and other similar solutions are commonly used to achieve vibrant-colored purple hair. This leaves your hair dry, frizzy, brittle and damaged after a month or so. However, there are other ways to enjoy purple hair whilst keeping it soft and smooth.
Ready to dye your hair a wild purple, minus the damage? You’re in luck, as you can actually dye your hair all the colors of the rainbow without causing it serious damage. We’ve finessed the process and compiled the top purple hair dyes on the market – so keep reading to find out how you can dye your black hair purple without the hassle and the hair damage.
What Is Bleach & Why Is It Bad?
Hair bleach is a type of chemical that strips the pigment from your hair, producing a much lighter shade, or blonde hair as a result. This coloring agent works in different ways depending on your current hair state. The darker hair you have, the longer it must be soaked in bleach to become lighter. As you can imagine, this is a highly time-consuming method for people with very dark brown hair or black hair.
Hair bleaching comes with risks, as it needs to be carefully done to avoid frying your hair. One important thing to remember when bleaching is to do a strand test to see how your hair will handle bleach. Additionally, as your hair’s color is being stripped away, the nutrients and moisture are also removed which leaves your hair dull and dry. Proper treatment and aftercare are required to maintain that post-bleached hair glow.
Black Hair? Don’t Care!
If you’re committed to not bleaching your black hair, you may think that it is impossible to rock a fun color. Thankfully, that isn’t the case; all you need to do is find the right product, prepare your hair for the coloring process (minus the damage), and follow the simple instructions after you apply color to your hair.
Like any other color that is applied to non-bleached hair, your purple hair result depends on the original color of your hair. If your hair is black, expect a darker shade of purple. If your hair is brown, expect it to have a lighter purple shade. Purple is a special color in that it pops under direct sunlight – so whether you end up with a lighter or darker shade of purple, the color will still pop every time you walk outside!
Now that you have all the background information, we’ll explore the process of dyeing your black hair purple without using bleach.
Plan your hair dye
When changing your hair color, there are several types of hair dye you can use:
- Temporary hair dye: This type of dye lasts for 1-3 washes only. Temporary hair dyes are best used for special events.
- Semi-permanent hair dye: This type of dye lasts for 8-16 washes. Semi-permanent hair colors are best used if you want to know how the color works for your hair.
- Demi-permanent hair dye: This type of dye lasts for around 20 washes. It is best used if you want to maintain your purple hair without using permanent hair dyes. Demi-permanent hair colors often have an alkaline component that causes lesser damage to your hair.
- Permanent hair dye: This type of dye lasts for 24 washes or longer. It is best used if you want your purple hair to stay for a while. They may not contain bleach, but most of these hair dyes have ammonia that can make your hair strands thin or brittle. This may be the last option you want to use if you are trying purple dye for the first time.
Once you’ve chosen the type of dye you are going to use, the next thing to consider is the specific shade of purple you want your hair to be after coloring it. There are plenty different shades to choose from, such as violet, lilac, dark purple, and more.
Keep in mind that purple hair dye, or any hair dye, fades over time. The shade may vary and change depending on the current condition of your hair as well as your specific hair type. Take these things into consideration before proceeding with the next step.
The Best Purple Hair Dyes For Dark Hair Without Bleach:
1. Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color Permanent
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Garnier Nutrisse is a nourishing color crème that has a non-drip formula with hints of avocado, olive, and shea oil to leave your vibrant colored hair looking and feeling soft and shiny.
Many box dyes won’t work great on black hair, but this nourishing color has been formulated to be used even on dark hair. As this is a permanent color, you can expect the result to last for months.
2. Schwarzkopf Color Ultime Permanent Hair Color Cream
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The Schwarzkopf Color Ultime Permanent Hair Color Cream, like the Garnier hair dye we featured above, is perfect for girls with black hair.
This hair dye promises 10 weeks of show-stopping shine and intense color like no other. We especially love the Charcoal Fuschia shade.
3. Manic Panic Hair Dye
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Manic Panic is a semi-permanent vegan hair color that comes ready to use, no mixing required. This hair dye safely conditions your hair as it is free of harmful chemicals – paraben, phthalates, resorcinol, gluten, and PPD.
When choosing a color, we recommend going for a bright purple such as the shade Ultra Violet, as the result will not be so shocking on your black hair. Instead, you’ll get a nice tint and gleam of purple, that looks especially beautiful in the sun.
4. Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Dye
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Arctic Fox is a highly pigmented non-staining vegan hair dye that is suitable for dark-colored hair. Its consistency is easy to work with and it has a light scent that’s not harmful to your nose.
Arctic Fox hair dye features a fading process within the color’s tone, so your hair is still vibrant looking after several washes!
5. Got2b Metallics Permanent Hair Color
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The Got2B Metallics hair dye is another permanent hair color that is formulated with dark-haired beauties in mind. This dye comes in multiple interesting color variations, including dark and light purples, blues, greens and reds.
This product can be used by any individual regardless of whether they have straight, wavy, curly, fine, or thick hair. However, it’s not recommended on hair that’s been previously dyed.
Now, let’s get started with the actual dyeing process!
How To Dye Black Hair Purple Without Bleach
Already know what type of hair dye to use and what shade of purple you want? Great! It’s time to properly prep your hair before applying the hair dye.
1. Do A Patch Test
Before getting started with turning your black hair purple without bleach, it’s important to do a patch test of your chosen purple hair dye before committing to it. This will tell you if you are allergic to the hair dye.
A small amount of hair dye on a cotton bud applied behind the ear is all it takes; from there, you can guarantee you will not have any allergic reaction to the purple dye formula you will be using on your whole head.
It’s normally recommended that you do a patch test at least 24 hours before dyeing your hair, but some brands recommend doing it up to 48 hours before – check the label to be sure!
2. Prepare Your hair
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First off, how you approach this step depends on the type of hair dye you are going to use.
For semi-permanent hair, it is generally recommended that you shampoo and wet your hair immediately before applying color (to towel-dried hair). For these dyes, we recommend using purifying shampoo like Prepare To Dye by Manic Panic immediately before applying color.
For permanent colors, you normally apply dye to dry hair. For this reason, we recommend you use the purifying shampoo a few days before you are planning to dye your hair.
Clarifying your hair means removing the unnecessary build-up of residue that develops over time to reveal healthier, more manageable hair. Here’s our recommended clarifying shampoo:
3. Color time!
If done at home, an important tip is to get ready with hair coloring necessities like hair clips, ear caps, and a shower cap. Applying petroleum jelly on your ears and neck to avoid staining is also advisable.
Always wear gloves when applying your product. Make sure to wear an old tee or something you don’t mind getting stained. When you have applied color to your hair, don’t forget to set your alarm or timer first to avoid overcoloring, as this may result in unhealthy, brittle hair.
4. Post-Color Care
To maintain the purple hair color you’ve always dreamt of, use color-protecting hair products after coloring your hair. Here are some products you can use:
1. Marc Anthony Sulfate-Free Conditioner
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Using sulfate-free conditioner helps protect your hair’s color while hydrating, strengthening, and nourishing your newly colored hair.
Marc Anthony is made up of keratin, grape seed oil, and Argan oil to add shine and prevent color from fading quickly.
2. Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo
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Aveeno is trusted as a gentle yet cleansing brand and is well-loved by everyone who uses it. This renewal shampoo has seaweed extract to remove harmful substances from your hair for smoother, more manageable, and vibrant hair.
Plus, seaweed extract is packed with vitamins, minerals, and proteins that are safe for color-treated hair.
3. Innisfree My Hair Recipe Strength Tonic Essence
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This popular Korean brand brings you another must-have for colored hair – essential oils. This type of hair oil relieves the stress of the scalp and strengthens the hair follicle. Jeju, Pine, and Retinispora are infused in your strands for that freshly colored feel!
4. Kerastase Reflection Chroma Riche Treatment Masque
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Specially made for highlighted and sensitized colored hair, this mask brings damaged strands back to life. Your hair becomes soft and supple after using, with protection against harmful UV rays and color fading.
Another useful post-color tip is to avoid frequent hair washes. Use dry shampoo as much as possible. If washing cannot be avoided, use cold water to maintain your dye for longer.
5. TRESemmé Professionals Between Washes Dry Shampoo
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From the makers of beloved salon projects, Tresemmé Professionals will help your colored hair instantly absorb excess oil, remove odor, and add shine to your hair in seconds! Its citrus and vitamin blend revitalizes and pampers hair, making it look and feel better.
Finally, Stay Out Of The Sun
While your color is best enjoyed under the sun, avoid too much sun exposure to prevent color from fading. Harmful UV rays will also dry your hair and make it more brittle, so wearing a sunhat is a great option!
Hair color always fades with time – there’s no way to avoid it. By following the tips above, however, you can prolong its vibrancy and protect your crowning glory, maintaining that after-salon look and hair glow while it lasts.
We hope you found this guide on how to dye black hair purple without bleach helpful! If you’re still looking for more beauty inspiration, check the posts down below.
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