As a blonde, I’ve spent years battling brassiness – that unwelcome warmth that creeps into our meticulously lightened hair. Trying out new purple shampoos has basically become an Olympic sport for me. So, when I heard the buzz around Bleach London’s Silver Shampoo, I knew I had to put it to the test.
Bleach London’s Silver Shampoo: What’s the Hype?
Bleach London, the edgy trendsetting salon-turned-product-line, promises that their Silver Shampoo can take hair from brassy yellow to icy blonde. It’s formulated with strong purple pigments meant to neutralize warmth and restore a cool, fresh blonde tone.
Why Does Blonde Hair Get Brassy?
Before we dive into the review, let’s get sciency for a second. When you bleach your hair, you remove the natural pigments, exposing underlying yellow, orange, or even red tones. Brassiness occurs when these warm tones peek through, especially as your blonde color fades.
Silver Shampoo to the Rescue!
Silver shampoos (sometimes called purple shampoos) have purple pigments that act as temporary toners. Purple is the opposite of yellow on the color wheel, so it helps to neutralize and visually diminish those warm tones.
My Hair Before the Test
My natural hair is a deep, rich brown – the kind of color that holds onto its pigment. Getting to a blonde shade that I’m happy with requires multiple lightening sessions (and extra patience on the part of my hairdresser). I usually end up with a warm-toned medium blonde.
I actually like a touch of warmth, but lately, those yellow and orange undertones have been way too prominent. Even with regular use of my regular purple shampoo, the brassiness was breaking through. My goal with Bleach London Silver Shampoo was to achieve a cooler, ashier blonde and hopefully get a few more weeks of brass-free brilliance.
The Bleach London Silver Shampoo Test
While the process itself is similar to other purple shampoos, a few things stood out with Bleach London Silver Shampoo. Here’s my breakdown:
- Wetting My Hair: I always make sure to get my hair completely soaked before applying purple shampoo. This helps distribute the color evenly to prevent patches.
- Applying the Shampoo: I immediately noticed the striking violet color of this shampoo! It’s very pigmented, with a thicker consistency than some of the more watered-down varieties I’ve tried.
- Lathering Up: While it lathered nicely, I also took advantage of this step to give myself a little scalp massage. Purple shampoo can be a bit drying, so this little extra bit of circulation can help keep hair healthy.
- Letting it Sit: As per the instructions, I left the shampoo in for about 5 minutes. However, if you want super intense toning, you could go a little longer. Just remember, purple hair is a possibility if left on too long (and speaking from experience, it’s not always a cute look)!
- The Rinse: I was relieved to see the purple color rinse out easily and cleanly! Some purple shampoos can temporarily stain your shower or leave a slight tint on your hands, but I didn’t have this issue with the Bleach London formula.
The Results…
After rinsing and drying my hair, I was pleasantly surprised! My hair definitely looked cooler, and the yellow tones were significantly toned down. I wouldn’t say it took me to platinum blonde territory, but I achieved a much ashier, brighter blonde.
Pros and Cons
Here’s my honest breakdown of the Bleach London Silver Shampoo experience:
Pros
- Effective Toning: It definitely delivered on its promise to reduce brassiness.
- Vibrant pigment: A little goes a long way, which is good value for money.
- Pleasant smell: Nothing too harsh or chemical-like.
Cons
- Potential for Over-toning: Leaving it on too long could make hair slightly purple (I speak from experience with other purple shampoos!)
- Not for Everyone: If your hair isn’t light enough, the results won’t be dramatic.
- Drying for some hair types: It might be best to combine with a moisturizing conditioner depending on your hair.
Is it Right for You?
Overall, I’d recommend Bleach London Silver Shampoo if you have light blonde hair and struggle with brassiness. It’s a powerful toning option, but be mindful of your hair’s starting tone and be careful not to over-tone.
Important Note: Silver shampoos are best for maintenance, not major color changes. For very brassy or orange tones, you might need a salon toning appointment first.
