P.S. I obviously didn't leave the purple shampoo on long enough, how long do you recommend?

I would clarify and then lighten. I've experimented with purple shampoo but definitely found that leaving it on TOO long gives a sickly purple cast to my hair. I've used Clairol purple shampoo for quite some time, but recently bought Matrix Brass Off and I think I like if better.

My new stylist also introduced me to the Malibu C haircare products and I believe they work to greatly keep my brassiness at bay. We do have hard water which is really bad on colored hair. You might Google the products and see if you think they'd be good for your hair. I'm buying the system (shampoo, conditioner and weekly balancing treatments) on Amazon.

I'm a bit confused...shimmer lights is a shampoo and conditioner, not a "permanent hair color" as far as I know.

Unless you mean something else?

I have gray hair and don't color it. I have tried quite a few "purple" shampoos and Joico is the one that works for me. I just use it as a shampoo and don't let it sit on my hair. Also use the purple (only faintly so) conditioner. Once I was have lunch outside with my daughter and she said, "mom, you can probably cut back on the purple shampoo a bit." :) In certain lights sometimes I can see a hint of lavender, but it actually doesn't bother me. It's better than yellow.

I just reread what you wrote Oakley and saw you did the hair color. Sorry for missing that!

My friend likes the Joico one too. She also has used Shimmer Lights and doesn't like it and has tried Ion and said it was just ok. She would use apply the shampoo, add a cap and leave it on 30-60 min. or she didn't feel it didn't much. She says she felt they all were drying to her hair though. She heard good things about Redkin's. but never tried it. Maybe try a hair mask afterwards.

Oops, made a mistake. For hair coloring I'm using Loreal Paris Summer Lights gelee.

Purple Shampoo is Clairol Shimmer Lights.

Jen, I read about Matrix and heard it's pretty good. I did the minimum time which was three minutes and it barely took the brass out. Should I go up to ten minutes?

LOL Bunny! I have some gray that I actually like because the strands blend in and look like highlights. Even before I lightened my hair.

The brassiness is mostly on top of my head even though I saturate the hair color all over. Maybe I won't put as much on the top next time.

Sometimes the brassiness/yellowing is from excessive heat during blow drying/curling or flat ironing especially when using styling products with colorant. Learned that years ago from someone here who used to be a hair stylist. I can see her avatar in my mind, but can’t think of her name. Anyway, purple shampoo, a colorless heat protectant, and setting the hair dryer and flat iron on low solved my problem.

The brassiness on the top of your head could be a result of the color you're using not having enough lift to get past that penny-brass shade on your roots. That's common in DIY color and something I struggle with too. Some lowlights in that area may help create a more natural look.

Delilah, the hair product is heat activated. Either with a blow dryer or sitting in the sun. But you may be right since the top of my head gets a lot more heat than the rest.

Jen, this hair coloring is gradual. The more you use it the lighter the hair becomes. I've used it four times now and it has made a huge difference. Just like the Summer Blonde I used to use except it wasn't heat activated.

If I'm not too tired after shopping today I'm going to wash my hair with a clarifying shampoo, add the lightener to wet hair, and then see if I need purple shampoo.

What's cool about this product is after you saturate your hair with it (wet or dry it doesn't matter), no need to wash it out.

And about your hair? Leave it blonde! :)

Sorry to be so ignorant, (and I realize I could google it) but what's a clarifying shampoo, and how/when does one use it?

I use Aveda Blue Malva.. anywhere from once a week to every other day. Fwiw, my hairdresser puts it on her hair when it is dry. She says is absorbs better and thus works better.

I have never had my hair turn purple .. I do know that dry or damaged hair will absorb more product (of any kind) but I have never had that problem. Of course, I am half blind so maybe I just don't see it!)

Leela, it's basically a strong shampoo to get all the product buildup out of your hair. Not to be used daily. I use it maybe once a month.

Funky, I know some people put it on dry hair but I'm afraid my hair will get purple streaks. I'm just going to leave it in longer when it's on.

Use caution with the purple shampoo. It's won't lighten at all, it's just an optical effect (like bluing for laundry)

If your hair is just lightened to a shade of yellow, then by adding a purple, you may end up with a green tint.

I recently had a disastrous situation with purple shampoo.

If you just want highlights, I would stay away from the purple. jmho.

Penny, I think the effect of purple shampoo may be more beneficial on gray hair. I'm just trying to minimize any yellow tones in my hair. The purple tends to cancel out the yellow. I can see where a blue shampoo could possibly go towards green.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Joico to anyone. I used to wash my hair every day (now every other) and always with Joico purple. If I ever saw a hint of purple, and it was barely noticeable, I'd switch to a non-purple shampoo for a couple of washes. Neutrogena clarifying shampoo is good for that. Now I use the Joico two out of three times a week.

I also use a clarifying shampoo (Paul Mitchell) occasionally (once every 2 months or so), but it really dries out my hair.

Beautiful color, Bunny, and definitely not purple. Love your cute cut too!

I would love that haircut! Alas, I have too much curl that requires too much blow drying and flat ironing....

Thanks, Ida. I've been a little unhappy with this cut, as somehow the long layering I need for lightness and texture got omitted and when its one length my hair wants to be a pyramid shape. This has resulted in experiments with a curling iron and that's ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Bunny, your hair is gorgeous! Makes me want to give up coloring mine, but I don't have such lovely, thick hair.

Delilah, you have beautiful hair too and your style is adorable.

What's the best clarifying shampoo?

Gardener, they're all pretty good. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on one.

Wow Bunny, you really should be a print model for gray hair! Did the gray all come in at once?

Oakley, you are funny and sweet. :) It didn't come in all at the same time, unfortunately. A few gray hairs in front starting around 19 and staying that way through my 20s, early 30s. They were a novelty and didn't affect the overall color of my hair, dark brown with warm chestnut highlights. But throughout middle age the gray increased, not in a very good way, making my formerly richly colored hair faded and frumpy. I wore it really short then. My husband was getting quite gray and he preferred gray on me so I was never motivated to color it.

Suddenly it reached critical mass and it lost its faded warmth and became steely. It threw off my skin tone and colors I used to wear became death on me. It was a long period of adjustment.

I still have dark hair underneath and in back, but I describe my hair as gray.

ETA: I kinda wish my hair was more uniform in color. It's very streaky. I even have this dark section in the front.

But see, it's the streaks that makes your hair special. Kind of a light salt and pepper. Actually it looks like you had a professional turn your hair gray, it's that pretty. Hold your head up and be proud. :)

Very pretty, Bunny!

Mine is about the same color, but it's rather long now....plus a teal streak.

I overheard a stylist say that any shampoo can be a clarifying shampoo if you leave it sit for a few minutes after lathering. I've tried it and it does seem to work.

Bunny, very streaky = highlights and lowlights. People pay lots extra for those ;-)

I love the color and the cut. I hope my hair cooperates and looks like that eventually. For now, I am in the monthly salon visit club. I just started, so we'll see how long I have the patience for the upkeep.

I've used clarifying shampoo to instantly lighten hair color that turned out too dark. Heck, I've used the green Palmolive dishwashing liquid to do this too, and it works like a charm. Dries the hair out and requires intensive conditioning afterward, but it definitely lifts color.