After having blue hair, a fantastic and often seamless transition is to purple. Purple is a complementary color to blue, creating a harmonious and balanced look.
Embracing Purple Tones
Choosing purple after blue hair is an excellent way to refresh your look while often working with the existing blue pigments in your hair.
Why Purple Works So Well
Purple is situated next to blue on the color wheel, making it a natural progression that can create a beautiful gradient or a cohesive new shade. Shades of purple, from light lavenders to deep plums, can blend effortlessly with residual blue tones, often resulting in a unique, multi-dimensional effect. The red and pink undertones found in many purple dyes can also help neutralize any slight greenish tints that blue hair sometimes fades to, providing a cleaner canvas for your new color.
Recommended Purple Shades
When considering purple, you have a wide range of options to explore:
- Lavender: A soft, ethereal purple that can look stunning as blue fades.
- Deep Plum: A richer, darker purple that offers a sophisticated and vibrant change.
- Periwinkle: A beautiful blue-purple that provides a gentle shift while maintaining a cool tone.
Specific color options known for their vibrant purple hues include Purple AF, Periwinkle, and Girl's Night, which are excellent choices for achieving these desired looks.
Preparing Your Hair for Purple
For the best results, it's generally advisable to allow your blue hair to fade significantly before applying a new color. While purple can be quite forgiving over blue, a faded blue base will help the purple pigments show true to tone and prevent unexpected color shifts.
Other Potential Hair Color Transitions
While purple is a highly recommended and complementary choice, several other directions are possible depending on your desired outcome and the current state of your blue hair.
General Color Theory Considerations
- Fading is Key: For any vibrant color change, ensuring your blue hair is adequately faded is crucial. The lighter and more even your base, the truer your new color will appear.
- Neutralizing Undertones: Blue hair often fades to a teal or greenish tint. To neutralize these unwanted tones before applying a new color, you might use a red or pink-based toner or dye. For instance, a light pink can help counteract green before applying a warmer shade.
- Going Darker: Transitioning to a darker shade like brown or black is generally simpler, as these colors can often cover remaining blue pigments. However, be mindful that sometimes blue undertones can still peek through, creating a cooler-toned brown or black.
- Staying in the Cool Family: If you love cool tones, you could transition to a deep teal or emerald green, which naturally flows from blue.
To help visualize your options, consider this overview:
| Transition Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Purple Tones | A harmonious and complementary choice that works well with existing blue undertones, creating a balanced and often multi-dimensional look. Shades like lavender or deep plum are excellent. |
| Neutralizing Shades | If your blue fades to green, using a red or pink-based color can neutralize the green, providing a more neutral base for subsequent dyes or creating a vibrant new pink/red hue. |
| Darker Colors | For a less intense change, going to a rich brown or black is often achievable, though existing blue may influence the final cool tone. |
| Similar Hues | If you wish to remain in the cool color family, deepening to a vibrant teal or a rich emerald green can be a beautiful and natural progression from blue. |
Ultimately, the best color for you will depend on your personal preference, your hair's current condition, and how much fading you're willing to achieve.
