Social media users jumping on the ‘purple shampoo’ trend, using the product as if it is hair dye, have been mocked online.
On TikTok, the associated Purple Shampoo hashtag has been viewed almost 70 million times, as users struggle to get their head around why teens are applying entire bottles of toning shampoo to their dry hair and leaving it sit for 24 hours.
As the videos continue to surge in popularity, experts like Beyonce’s hair colorist Rita Hazan have warned participants that the only transformation they are likely to see from such over-the-top use of the product is dull, lifeless hair.
Trending: Purple shampoo videos are going viral on TikTok, with almost 70 million people viewing the content, as users cover their locks in an attempt to dye their hair
Transformation: The videos have varying degrees of success, with some users aware that the shampoo is destined to brighten only platinum or silver hair
Fail! Brunette users have also jumped on the bandwagon, much to the confusion of viewers who know that purple shampoo is to remove yellow tones from bleached blonde hair
‘Overuse can make hair dull,’ Rita revealed, adding that this warning applies particularly to those with colored hair.
For those with blonde hair, Rita advises only using purple shampoo once every two weeks, in order to avoid ruining the color.
Confused: Commentors questioned why the purple shampoo videos were trending when there is nothing new about the premise of the product
Purple shampoo works to ‘reverse blonde woes’ by removing yellow tones. The popular products, which have been on the market for several years, also help bleach-devotees to keep their strands conditioned and vibrant without fading overall hair color.
The trend for using purple shampoo as a makeshift hair dye seemed to begin on TikTok about four weeks ago before spreading rampantly.
Countless videos show users with brunette and blonde strands applying the product on to their full head and telling viewers to check back in 24 hours to see the results.
‘Why did she put it on like dye tho it’s a shampoo,’ called out on viewer on a video of a girl who donned plastic gloves to apply the product.
‘It’s shampoo you use it in the shower it’s not freakin hair dye,’ chimed in another viewer on the same video.
In several videos, brunettes apply copious amounts of drug store purple shampoo, from brands like Clairol and Joico, to their tresses – much to the chagrin of others.
‘Uh that is not how it works,’ reads a typical comment under one such video of a user with brown hair.
‘Purple shampoo only works on bleached hair. Purple lifts yellow not brown unless you mixed bleach in there.’
Brunette: A brown haired user who claimed the purple shampoo turned her hair ‘bleach blonde’, right, was dissed online for misusing the product
Dry: Viewers are questioning why users are applying the purple shampoo to dry strands and leaving it on for up to 24 hours
Results: Some blonde users seemed shocked about the effects of purple shampoo, right, which perplexed viewers as the product has been widely used for years
Teenager @Sky.Dash used two full bottles of purple shampoo on her hair.
‘It’s literally the same as before,’ a user wrote as Skylar shared the update.
‘Why are people on this app acting like purple shampoo is a new invention,’ said another.
A user, @ksousa18, recently captioned a video upload, ‘Omg purple shampoo literally made me bleach blonde.’
Commentors fired back with things like, ‘That’s literally not blonde r u joking’ and ‘Um no it didn’t lmao. That’s not how it works.’
Hairstylists and cosmetologists have also been quick to weigh in, urging teenagers to stop the misguided hair videos from spreading.
Product: Some people watching the videos also slammed TikTok users for ‘wasting’ so much product as they used one or two bottles at a time
Blue: User @PriyaVohra was mocked for leaving a blue shampoo (for brunettes) on for so long and then complaining that it turned her scalp blue, right
‘You literally can’t die your hair with shampoo when you have dark toned hair I’m a cosmetologist trust me it’s not gonna do much,’ said one woman.
‘Hi i’m a hairstylist! Purple shampoo will wash out.. it’s going to tone the brass.. it’s not going to be purple if anything it going to be lavender,’ said another to a teenager who left the purple shampoo sit in her light blonde hair for a full day.
One brunette user, @PriyaVohra, opted to use blue shampoo instead as is formulated to neutralize brassy tones.
However, when she uploaded her follow up video a day later, she expressed horror as she claimed the tips of her hair and her scalp had turned blue (though this was not visible to viewers).
‘Your the one that choose to do that no one told you to,’ one commentor responded, while another said, ‘It’s not TikTok’s fault’.
‘Why is this a trend y’all using 40 yr old shampoo techniques like its new’ said another commentor.
Horseplay: A user gave her Shetland pony a makeover with the purple shampoo, prompting other TikTok users to say they do the same
Pooch: One video uploader was dragged for covering her Golden Retriever in purple shampoo
In some instances, TiKTok users have even roped their pets into the viral trend.
One user applied purple shampoo all over her Golden Retriever’s fur while another shampooed their Shetland pony.
The horse owner said: ‘This stuff worked SOO good mixed with the normal stuff I use to brighten her white!!’
Another video shows the owner of a grey horse dousing the animal in purple shampoo. While some viewers expressed concern, other grey horse owners confirmed that this is something that they do too.
On user @Marikathi’s video (in which she clarified that she used ‘dog safe shampoo’, people were perplexed as to the rationale behind coating the pooch in the purple product.
‘So you tryinna take the gold outta your golden retriever,’ asked one baffled viewer while another echoed, ‘u could also just not have gotten a yellow golden retriever but ok’.
Brassy tones be gone! The best haircare products to keep your hair color looking bright and shiny
By Charlie Lankston for DailyMail.com
Slather it on: Kerastase Blond Absolu Anti-Brass Purple Mask ($59) promises to neutralize and perfect lightened, cool blonde, bleached, or grey hair’