Purple highlights are a new, fun way to instantly vamp up any punk princess’ look! With bright, ultraviolet hues, you’ll have fun creating a modern and stunning color melt for your locks.
Traditional highlights can be created with bright, ultraviolet hues to dark, rich shades of purple, including lilac, lavender, and periwinkle on the lighter side, to burgundy, plum, and violet on the other color spectrum.
According to Carly Roe, an expert hair colorist in Carlsbad, California, “Placing pastel hair color over any color will not stick. Your hair needs to be very, very pale yellow, to begin with. Think of it as a hair painting canvas. Putting light lavender paint over a black canvas won’t show as much as what you put on a white canvas. Same with hair color. So, if you aren’t naturally blonde, you will need to consult your colorist to see if your hair can handle going as light as necessary.”
Warm skin complexions work amazingly with purples with more of a red hint, while cool tones pair with bluish-purple shades.
When it comes to purple hairstyles, maintenance is a breeze since you won’t be going full-blown, solid violet on your hair. Just make sure you own color-safe products at all times, and you’ll be rocking this luxurious hue superbly!
Before your next hair appointment, check out these inspirational pictures of the best ideas for purple highlights!
#1: Electric Purple Highlights in Brown Hair
Opt for electrical purple highlights in brown hair if you’re looking for purple hair ideas. Ultraviolet highlights with soft waves for an eclectic girl like you! Get your Teen Titan Raven hair on, and get ready to save the world with your purple strands and radiating beauty. Purple highlights on dark brown hair look perfect on long tresses, styled with soft waves to show off the dimension.
#2: Dark Purple Highlights on Black Hair
These highlighted streaks on a black base were achieved with a balayage and shadow root. In the example photo, these fashion shades were done with violet by Pravana. These purple highlights on dark hair were created by pre-lightening from 1 1/2 below the dark roots to the ends. Once washing and drying the hair, we began our second process by applying a level 1 in semi-permanent by Baco. Then purple feathering and balayaging section by section with the violet! So many women can achieve it without pre-lightening (bleaching, hydrogen peroxide, etc.). Also, once the hair is pre-lightened, the violet will tone, possibly turning the ends to a lovely lavender! The top of the base area is kept dark for a low-maintenance result.
#3: Dark V-Cut Hair with Purple Highlights
Dark v-cut hair with purple highlights is a great way to draw some attention to your locks! Purple hairstyles are very popular. Styling your hair smoothly or with waves is a great way to show off your beautiful dimension.
#4: Saturated Purple Highlights
Try saturated purple highlights for a fun pop of color. Fashionable and fun, violet colors are head-turning and generally fade beautifully out of hair for low-commitment women.
#5: Neon Purple Accents
Add neon purple accents to violet hair, making your overall hair color pop! With dark roots, the hair can grow out without harsh lines. Nothing is boring about this multi-dimensional hair hue. You will see the gorgeous hues of purple whether you style the short purple hair straight and sleek or by adding some waves.
#6: Purple Lowlights
Adding purple lowlights to a gorgeous light blonde is the perfect hue to try if you want to upgrade your hairstyle. The good news for blondes is that the fade-out will be stunning. It will likely fade to a pastel purple and then back to blonde. Don’t be afraid to have fun with your blonde hair with purple highlights.
#7: Dark Brown Hair with Purple Highlights on a Bob Cut
Brunettes can have fun with pops of chunky purple highlights on short hair, too! Who would have thought that dark lavender highlights would go well with your brunette hair in a cute bob cut? Well, this dark brown hair with purple highlights proves you can!
#8: Straight Gray Hair with Purple Highlights
Consider purple highlights on grey hair. Icy lilac highlights enhanced by smokey gray color are perfect for a mysterious, magical night out. Leaving the base color darker and not having to go full-on purple hair color is an option many women can enjoy.
#9: Lavender Highlights
Pastel purple or lavender purple highlights on brown hair appear bluish, luxurious, and oh-so-irresistible! These light purple strands would look great on short, straight, wavy hair.
#10: Blonde Hair with Purple Highlights
The purple color mix of royalty is right at your fingertips or ends! Glow up your look with a vast array of lavender purple highlights on blonde hair with darker purple tips. A classic straight bob cut looks great with such a color of platinum blonde with purple highlights.
#11: Caramel Hair with Subtle Purple Highlights
Gorgeous grape purple hair highlights bring dimension to light carmel hair. The faintness of this purple hair dye has a huge effect on the overall appeal of the style. Do you want it to look more natural? Opt for light brown hair with purple highlights instead.
#12: Purple Ombre Hair
Flaunt a purplish ombre hair color, as it looks fun and bright and is an instant attention-grabber! If you like such a vivid shade, California-based stylist Joya Smith suggests blonde-toned white hair with purple highlights.
“I did a complete full highlight, then used a purple shampoo. A toner followed the process to get the blonde perfect,” Smith notes. “Finally, I applied the purple dye in an ombre placement technique.” Don’t the ends look like a vibrant purple dip dye job, while the top is the lightest blonde and can almost be called white hair?
#13: Plum Highlights
A splendidly bold purple plum color is an unexpected highlight, even for light brown and blonde hair! Good thing stylist RayAnne did marvelous work with these purple highlights in dirty blonde hair.
If you’re thinking of getting streaks of plum for your medium-length hair, really consider the different shades available before deciding on both purple and plum highlights. Ask your stylist about variations like mauve, light purple, and even mermaid-colored highlights.
#14: Violet Purple Peekaboo Highlights
Streaks of light purple peekaboo highlights on naturally dark hair are just what you need for a glorified hairstyle. It’s such a good idea to lighten your natural hair color.
Stylist Kiersten took the wavy, blonde layers to the next level with this brunette with purple highlights. A pop of blonde color creates the perfect combo to match with purple highlights on dark brown hair.
#15: Ultraviolet Purple Highlights
Get an out-of-this-world hair color using shades of blue and violet highlights. If you have wavy hair, the texture will give your natural color a stunning dimension. This color also makes a nice and rich purple highlights curly hair.
Colorist Diana specifically combined dark hair with purple highlights to create an extraterrestrial edge in an attainable way.
#16: Blonde Hair with Purple Highlights Underneath
This is a dimensional purple-blonde hair color, a good contrast to going purple ombre. It was created by hairstylist apprentice Brooke Carding of Stratford, ON.
“The best thing about this color is how the curls accentuate the highlights,” says Carding. “Your eyes are instantly drawn to the fun, bright purple hair, which complements the style overall. It is a modern, trendy color that is subtle but makes a statement!”
Are you thinking about the purplish lilac ombre hair? Carding says to go for purple and blonde highlights! “A temporary color that washes out and fades with each wash will help you test out a fashion color. Putting purple hair streaks of peek-a-boo highlights underneath. It’s not a huge commitment. If you want the purple to last, use a shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair, and when using hot tools, adjust them to a lower setting,” she explains.
Any hair type can do these purple ombre highlights – some may require pre-lightening if you want the purple to be brighter. This color will suit any face shape, and if you want to accentuate your face shape, place the highlights around the face to frame it.
Purple highlights in blonde hair will bring out the fun, experimental side of your personality, and because it’s just a peekabo, it is suitable for any lifestyle.
#17: Blue and Purple Highlights
“This is indigo dreaming! Different blues and purples were used on balayaged hair to switch it up and give her something fun,” says hairstylist Reggei Larson of Minneapolis, MN.
Larson says having good heat protection is key to styling your blue and purple hair. “Good heat protection will not only shield your hair from the heat or the iron but also shield your color from fading if you’re big into ironing,” she explains.
Fantasy colors look great on all women, especially these blue purple highlights. Only go for a hair color like this if you wash your hair frequently and are willing to invest in good quality products. Colors like this can last anywhere from 1 to 3 months and sometimes even longer with proper care. Don’t go too light with this shade of purple because it will wash right out!
#18: Black Hair with Purple Highlights
This black hair with purple highlights is edgy/spunky, modern but not too loud! It was created by licensed cosmetologist Janelle Griego of South Valley, NM.
If you’re considering selecting vibrant colors for the first time, Griego encourages you to try these violet highlights on black hair. “Women always feel most comfortable with such highlights. It’s easy to take out if not desired, but also fades out to be a very pretty blonde,” she notes.
Any vibrant color like purple highlights on black hair is very high-maintenance without the correct products! Hair colors like this require effort from you at home, and everything is done for you in the salon. Griego always highly recommends highly pigmented shampoo and conditioner (in this case, purple).
#19: Bright Magenta Highlights
These magenta highlights on shoulder-length hair make a bold statement, exuding confidence and playfulness. They were created by hairstylist Danielle Roniger of Afton, WY.
“We love the vibrancy of magenta as it fits perfectly with a violet metallic tone, creating bright purple hair. You can wear this with straight and curly hair, but it makes the colors pop when curly,” notes Roniger.
Follow your stylist’s instructions to keep your hair healthy and proper at-home hair care. To achieve these vivid colors, you need to be a platinum blonde. With platinum comes damage. If you are already blonde, this is easier to achieve than if you are previously brunette or a redhead.
Blonde with purple highlights can be achieved, and it will just take a few more appointments and a lot of tender, loving care. This type of color is an investment, and the products to keep your hair healthy are your insurance on your investment.
#20: Dark Purple Hair with Highlights
This dark purple hair with highlights is an amethyst purple color melt. Created by hairstylist Karisa Moore of Kew Gardens, NY, she says, “These dark purple highlights are great for women looking for a bright and bold shade. Because the hair was lightened first, vibrancy with this color popped.”
Results may vary depending on your hair, especially if you have virgin or previously dyed hair. Moore recommends you consult your hairstylist to ensure lighter and darker purples are for you. Fashion colors tend to fade quickly, but a quick toner every month and a half can fix that.
If you want something with less maintenance, Moore says to try purple balayage highlights that give much more of a gradient deep purple than one solid color, which requires touch-ups every four weeks.
“Purple hair is a beautiful and rich color but does require some upkeep. The product also plays a major role in the longevity of your dark hair with purple highlights. Make sure to use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Try Davines MINU shampoo and conditioner since it’s designed for colored hair,” she adds.
#21: Red Hair with Purple Highlights
This red hair with purple highlights was custom formulated by stylist Sherry Flack of Troy, OH.
“It features a natural coppery auburn hair color with purple peekaboos that add some sparkle while staying true to the different spicy copper tones,” notes Flack. “Add curls to melt the copper with purple waves.”
Consult your stylist first if you’re considering red, copper, and purple. Fashion colors like this purple are expected to last only a short time. Your colorist should devise a game plan to help you maintain health and vibrancy with home care.
#22: Lilac Highlights on Long Fine Hair
“These accents could be described as lilac, pastel purple highlights. Pastel colors bring life to plain blonde hair. Also, if you have fine hair, try it,” says master hair artist Daisy Englander of NYC.
To achieve this color, Englander explains, “Start by highlighting hair with balayage and foil highlights to achieve a nice platinum blonde. If you want this color, you must first be very blonde/platinum. Use a bond reinforcement to protect your hair throughout the lifting process. You want to go slow and steady with blondes, as their hair tends to be more fragile. Use Manic Panic Professional to create the pastel shade.”
Opt for these lilac highlights if you want to try a pastel purple. It’s more of a vibrant/vivid shade like purple.
First things first! You need to be platinum blonde to get this type of color! Think of applying purple to a white piece of paper; you’ll see its true pigment, right? Now picture applying purple to a yellow or maybe an orange piece of paper. You won’t see the purple as much.
So, the lighter your hair is, the more you’ll see that color. If you want these light highlights and your hair is not light enough, you might want to use a darker purple shade instead until you work your way up to a lighter blonde.
#23: Metallic Purple Highlights
These metallic purple highlights are a natural twist on fantasy hair color. Add subtle streaks of a violet metallic tone to your hair to enhance what you already have.
Hairstylist Wessam Shafek of Arlington Heights, IL, inspires these metallic highlights.
“The main thing to achieve these tones of blonde and purple is to have natural light or pre-lightened hair,” explains Shafek. “To have the pastel or metallic shade of violet, the hair has to be light enough for the soft violet shade hair to grab on. With these types of colors, a sulfate-free color sage shampoo and conditioner is a must to have longevity of the color. Also, wash your hair in cool water.”
Regarding heat styling, Shafek says you have to keep the temperature low! The higher the heat, the faster the color will fade out. High heat expands the color molecule!
#24: Silver Hair + Purple Highlights
“This silver hair + purple highlights states that it’s very wearable even in a professional environment with a pop of color,” says hair artist Yasuko Suzuki of Sunnyvale, CA. “The natural roots blending into silver and purple allows different arrangements for various occasions for colorful hair.”
Suzuki notes, “The dimension looks more accentuated on long hair, but if you don’t have enough length, hair extensions will do.”
Purple highlights will work on any woman who doesn’t mind standing out! However, getting to this color does take a lot of maintenance to get used to.
“It’s best to have healthy hair to lighten to a level 9-10,” she explains. “After lightening to a pale blonde, add alternating colors of silver and purple. Since these cooler tones do not last long, keep the longevity of the colors by washing with color-safe hair products.”
The best part of these colors is that each time you wash and the color gradually fades, it still maintains a very nice color into a beautiful ash blonde. As long as you can spend extra time and effort on maintaining the colors and integrity of the hair, it will work!
#25: Cool Lavender Highlights
Lavender is a favorite hair trend that will be around for a while. This particular lavender shade was created by hair colorist Carlie Roe of Carlsbad, CA.
“This fantasy color is the number one requested unconventional hair color in salon chairs today,” notes Roe. “If you are looking for lighter purple highlights, consider lavender. The inspiration for creating this custom lavender was amethyst.”
Roe is adamant that products are something you’ll want to invest in to keep this color alive. “Heat protectants are a must and color-safe shower products. Heat and non-color Sage ingredients are the number one cause of fading. Yes, that heat category includes water! Use cold water, always,” she adds.
#26: Light Purple Highlights with Curled Ends
These light purple highlights are ideal for women who have always been interested in trying out a fashion color but have yet to commit to the upkeep of traditional full head color. Stylist Caylin Zynger of Calgary, AB, created them.
“The soft purple babylights are subtle streaks to create an ideal surface to add any dimension you can think of, especially with purple.,” she notes. “This is the ideal color to try when you’re looking to go bold because you can let it fade out to an icy blonde or change your mind all over again. Purple tones are a low-risk way for blondes to experiment without giving up their platinum goals.”
Go for it! Purple is a very soft color for almost any woman to try. Once you start with fashion colors, just like these purple streaks in hair, it opens a whole new world of hair possibilities.
Zynger explains, “The best thing about having these purple streaks in brown hair is maintenance. Fashion colors are notoriously hard to maintain; however, the fade-out is a really enjoyable and fun process with this hair color! If you let it go for a few weeks, you get a lovely ash blonde, and if you’re in love with the purple, use Evo Fabuloso Custom conditioner to maintain it.”
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